Description
Product Description:
Lucerne, also known as Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), is one of the most widely cultivated forage crops, prized for its high nutritional value and adaptability. Known as the “queen of forage crops,” Lucerne provides a rich source of protein, fiber, and essential minerals, making it a highly sought-after feed for livestock. With its deep taproot system, it is drought-tolerant and can thrive in a variety of soil types. Lucerne is primarily used for hay, silage, and grazing, offering high yield potential and improving soil fertility through nitrogen fixation.
Product Characteristics Summary:
🌱 Agronomic Information:
- Plant Type: Perennial legume, known for its deep taproot, which allows it to survive in dry conditions.
- Growth Habit: Upright growth form with a bushy appearance; produces multiple stems and large, vibrant purple flowers.
- Root System: Deep taproot system that allows it to access moisture and nutrients from deeper soil layers, making it highly drought-resistant.
🌾 Forage Quality:
- Forage Yield: High yield potential of 8,000–12,000 kg of dry matter per hectare under optimal conditions.
- Nutritional Value: Very high in protein (15–25%), fiber, and essential minerals like calcium, making it an excellent feed for dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, goats, and horses.
- Palatability: Highly palatable and easily digestible, making it a preferred choice for livestock feeding.
🌞 Resilience & Adaptability:
- Drought Tolerance: Very drought-tolerant due to its deep taproot system, making it ideal for regions with low rainfall or during dry spells.
- Climate Suitability: Thrives in temperate climates but can be grown in a variety of conditions, as long as the soil is well-drained.
- Soil Type: Prefers loamy or sandy soils with good drainage but can tolerate a range of soil types. Best grown in neutral to slightly alkaline soils.
- Frost Tolerance: Hardy to cold temperatures and can survive frost during the dormant phase in winter.
🌍 Suitability:
- Grazing Systems: Ideal for rotational grazing systems, providing high-quality forage throughout the growing season.
- Silage & Hay Production: Excellent for making hay and silage due to its high dry matter content and nutrient profile.
- Soil Fertility Improvement: As a legume, Lucerne helps fix nitrogen in the soil, improving soil fertility for subsequent crops.
- Erosion Control: Its deep root system helps prevent soil erosion and improves soil structure.
🌱 Special Attributes:
- High Yielding: Provides high yields of quality forage multiple times per year (up to 4 cuts annually in some regions).
- Nutrient-Rich: Excellent source of protein, ideal for high-producing livestock such as dairy cows.
- Long Life Span: Once established, Lucerne can last for 4–6 years with proper management, providing a long-term forage option.
- Soil Health: In addition to fixing nitrogen, Lucerne also improves soil organic matter and helps build soil structure.
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