LUCERNE cultivation practices with basic characterizes
- 1. Dr. Mona Nagargade Scientist Division of Agronomy ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi Lucerne or Alfalfa
- 2. Scientific name: Medicago sativa L. Origin: South west Asia Nutritive value: 16-25% crude protein and 20–30% fiber, high protein and vitamin A content, Queen of forage crops Family: Leguminosae family Ploidy: Tetraploid (2n=4x=32) Nature & behavior of growth: Perennial Pollination behavior: Cross pollinated Lucerne or Alfalfa
- 3. Uses/applications 1. Animal Feed:Lucerne is primarily grown as a high-quality forage crop for livestock, including cattle, sheep, horses, and goats. It is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, making it an excellent feed for dairy and meat production. 2. Silage and Hay:It is harvested, dried, and stored as hay or fermented into silage to provide year-round feed. 3. Pasture Crop: Lucerne is used for grazing, especially in mixed farming systems. 4. Soil Improvement: Lucerne is a legume, and its roots form a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, improving soil fertility. Its deep root system helps prevent soil erosion and improves soil structure. Lucerne is often included in crop rotation systems to restore soil nutrients and break pest and disease cycles. 5. Medicinal Uses:Traditionally used for its diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties. 6. Environmental Benefits • Carbon Sequestration: • Its deep-rooting system contributes to storing carbon in the soil, mitigating climate change. • Pollinator Support: • Lucerne flowers attract bees and other pollinators, supporting biodiversity. 7. Industrial Applications • Biofuel Production: • Lucerne is being researched as a potential feedstock for biofuels due to its high biomass yield. • Fiber and Paper: • The plant’s fibers can be used to produce biodegradable materials and paper.
- 4. Introduction It is perennial (3-4 years), persistent, productive and drought tolerant forage legume which contains 16-25% crude protein with 72% dry matter digestibility. It supplies green fodder for a longer period (November - June) in comparison to Berseem (December - April), It can withstand well under low temperatures. It is generally grown during rabi season as an important fodder crop in areas where water supply is inadequate for berseem and winter period is short. In India, lucerne is mostly grown in irrigated areas of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and in Leh area of Ladakh. Lucerne has high palatability for all kinds of livestock as it provides nutritious fodder Due to its high protein and vitamin A content, it is included as a feed component for poultry and piggery.
- 5. Botanical Description Mostly erect to sub-erect perennial herbs, 30–60 cm, Inflorescence a peduncled raceme, Flower: violet to pale lavender Trifoliate leaves
- 6. Climate It can grow in a wide range of climates, but it prefers warm, dry, and sunny conditions. It can tolerate low temperatures and can be grown in areas with high rainfall, but it doesn't do well in cloudy, humid, or wet conditions. Lucerne grows best in temperatures between 15–32°C. The ideal sowing temperature is between 28–32°C. The ideal harvesting temperature is between 15–20°C
- 7. Cultivation Practices Soil: Lucerne needs sandy loam to clayey soil while heavy soils need an efficient drainage system, as the crop does not tolerate water logging. It cannot thrive on alkaline soils but can be grown on acid soils with liberal application of lime. Lucerne prefers a fertile soil, which is rich in organic matter, calcium, phosphorous and potash. Land Preparation: Lucerne requires well prepared field as the seeds are very small. One deep ploughing with 2–3 harrowings followed by planking is sufficient.
- 8. Sowing Time • The best sowing time of the crop is mid October to early November. However, sowing date may spread from early October in the north to late December in the east and south zone. In the temperate zone, spring sowing is done in March. Seed Rate • The seed rate depends upon method of sowing and type of the crop, i.e., pure or mixed stands. In broadcast method, a seed rate of 20–25 kg/ha should be used while line sowing needs only 12–15 kg/ ha but in case of intercropping, it requires only 6-12 kg/ha.
- 9. Sowing Method • It can also be sown through seed drill or desi plough with row to row spacing of 25-30 cm. The seed should not be planted deeper than 1.5 cm. Under broadcast method of sowing, it is very important to cover the seed as soon as possible with soil. Care should be taken that seed should not go more than one cm deep as seed size of lucerne is very small. Varieties • Chetak (S-244), Sirsa Type 9, Sirsa-8, Type-9, Co-1, GAUL-1 (Anand-2), GAUL-2 (SS-627), LL Composite 5, LL Composite 3, Lucerne no. 9-L, NDRI Selection No.1, Anand-3, RL-88, Anand Lucerne-3 (AL-3)
- 10. Cropping Systems It is usually raised after harvest of kharif crops, such as Sorghum, Rice, Soybean, Maize, Cowpea, Cluster bean etc. It can be raised in rotation with almost every grain or forage crop. The most common crop rotations adopted are Maize - Lucerne, Rice - Lucerne, Sorghum -Lucerne, Green gram - Lucerne, Soyabean - Lucerne, Cowpea + Maize (fodder) - Lucerne, Sorghum (grain) – Lucerne - Maize (fodder), Napier grass – Lucerne, etc. Sometimes it is raised mixed with Berseem to get the continuous supply of green fodder till May - June, where Berseem is completely finished in hot months of April and May.
- 11. Nutrient Management • Being a perennial crop, it is beneficial to apply 20 t FYM/ha every year. • Being a legume crop, it fixes the atmospheric N in soil through symbiotic bacteria. • Seed inoculation with Rhizobium meliloti is recommended, where lucerne is being cultivated for the first time. • Besides this, a basal dose of 20 kg N, 60-75 kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O/ha is also required. • Boron deficiency is generally noticed in leached and coarse textured soils. Spray of 0.2% borax, contids boron deficiency. • Iron deficiency, leading to chlorosis, is fairly common in poorly drained alkaline soils. • Liming the soil well in advance of sowing is helpful in areas where soil is acidic. • Application of 20 kg/ha each of S and Zn along with 2 kg/ha of Mo may enhance the effectiveness of biological nitrogen fixation.In subsequent years, annual supplementation of 80 kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O/ha should be done.
- 12. Water management • To obtain good germination, pre-sowing irrigation (palewa) is essential in lucerne. Since, lucerne takes a long time to establish at early stage, very frequent irrigations may be required at the interval of 7-10 days. Later on, this interval may be extended to 25-30 days as its root system gets well established. During summer, interval of irrigation should be reduced to 15-20 days. The crop requires about 15-20 irrigations in a year.
- 13. Weed management •Lucerne takes a long time to establish itself and gives ample scope for weed infestation up to the first cutting. It is very difficult to control weeds in broadcast crop. If crop is sown in lines, weeding and hoeing become easier. First weeding should be done 20-25 days after sowing. Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin @1-2 kg a.i./ha effectively controls Cuscuta.
- 14. Disease and insect-pest management • Lucerne weevil and aphid are two important insects of this crop. These insects can be managed through the application of neem oil @ 30 ml per litre of water. • The most important diseases of lucerne are rust, leaf spot, downey mildew and phytopthora rot. Application of Dithane M-45 (0.25%) as spray is effective for rust and leaf spot control. Spraying with Mancozeb is recommended for control of downey mildew. • Phytopthora root rot occurs in wet soils, especially when free water persists for an extended period. Use of resistant cultivars accompanied by optimum water management is recommended for its management.
- 15. Harvesting management •The first cut is taken 50-55 days after sowing and the subsequent cuts at an interval of 25-30 days, when crop attains the height of 60 cm from the surface of the soil. In a year, 8-10 cuts can be taken between October-April with 80-120 t/ha green fodder and 18-20 t/ha dry fodder. The perennial varieties can be retained for 3-4 years in the same field.
- 16. Difference between lucerne and berseem
- 17. Hay Definition: Hay is dried grass or other green forage plants that are harvested, cured (dried), and stored to provide feed for animals. Key Features: • Preparation: Grass or legumes (like alfalfa, clover, or timothy grass) are cut, allowed to dry in the field, and then baled or stored loose. • Moisture Content: Low moisture (typically 10–20%) to prevent spoilage and mold growth. • Storage: Stored in bales (rectangular or round) in a dry, well-ventilated area to avoid moisture accumulation. • Nutritional Value: Retains most of the original nutrients if dried and stored correctly, but excessive drying can reduce vitamin content. • Uses: Ideal for feeding animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, and goats. Advantages: • Easy to store and transport. • Requires minimal equipment after baling. • Provides roughage essential for ruminants’ digestion.
- 18. Silage Definition: Silage is fermented, high-moisture forage stored in airtight conditions to preserve its nutritional value and prevent spoilage. • Key Features: • Preparation: Grass, legumes, or corn are chopped into smaller pieces and stored in silos, bunkers, or wrapped bales. The forage is compacted to remove air and then sealed to create anaerobic conditions. • Moisture Content: Higher moisture (40–70%) compared to hay. • Storage: Stored in airtight conditions to facilitate fermentation by lactic acid bacteria, which lowers the pH and preserves the forage. • Nutritional Value: High energy and palatability due to fermentation; better suited for high- yielding animals like dairy cows. • Uses: Commonly fed to dairy and beef cattle and sometimes sheep. • Advantages: • Suitable for areas with high rainfall where drying hay is difficult. • High energy content, making it ideal for intensive farming. • Can utilize a wide variety of crops for ensiling.