By Andi Anderson
Alfalfa is a valuable forage crop for livestock, yet it poses a surprising challenge for farmers: the plant can be toxic to its own seedlings. Known as autotoxicity, this phenomenon can lead to stand losses of more than 50 percent and prevents successful overseeding in established fields.
Michigan State University graduate student Paige Baisley is advancing research on this complex issue under the guidance of forage specialist Dr. Kim Cassida.
Her work focuses on understanding how alfalfa releases toxins into the soil and how those compounds affect new seedlings. “It’s very exciting—a very hot topic,” Cassida said, noting the strong interest from farmers and extension specialists eager for solutions.
Baisley’s research includes collecting and analyzing root exudates—the substances released by plant roots—to identify potential chemical pathways for the toxins. She is also examining how crop residue may contribute to the spread of these compounds.
By refining methods to capture and study root exudates, she hopes to pinpoint how the toxins enter the soil and inhibit germination of new plants.
Another key element of the project is exploring the microbial diversity within alfalfa fields. Baisley’s data suggests that alfalfa soils may support richer microbial communities than surrounding grass borders. This discovery raises new questions about how soil organisms interact with the plant and whether certain microbes might reduce or amplify toxic effects.
Collaboration strengthens her work. Baisley partners with Dr. Sarah Lebeis and graduate student Kevin Santiago-Morales, who bring expertise in plant-microbe interactions, and builds on earlier research from Dr. Lisa Tiemann’s lab on switchgrass systems.
What began as a master’s project has now grown into a Ph.D. as Baisley uncovers new leads in this longstanding agricultural puzzle.
While her study continues, the early findings offer hope to farmers seeking more reliable ways to reseed alfalfa fields and maintain productive forage systems. By revealing the connections between plant chemistry and soil biology, Baisley’s research could eventually help overcome one of alfalfa’s oldest and most persistent challenges.
Photo Credit: michigan-state-university-msu
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Alfalfa, Education