Alfalfa, Lucerne - 0.5 kg Seeds

Alfalfa or lucerne (Medicago sativa) is a deep-rooted perennial legume rather than a tree, grown as one of the world's most important fodder and green-manure crops. It forms a leafy clump of trifoliate leaves about 60-90 cm tall and produces clusters of small purple-violet flowers followed by coiled spiral pods. In India it is cultivated as a high-protein forage across the irrigated tracts of the north and west, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Lucerne is prized as cattle and dairy fodder because of its very high protein and mineral content, and it is cut repeatedly over several years from a single sowing. Its deep taproot fixes nitrogen and improves soil structure, so it is also valued as a green-manure and soil-building crop in rotation, and the sprouts are eaten as a nutritious salad green.

• Family: Fabaceae
• Native region: Western Asia and the Mediterranean
• Mature height: 0.6-0.9 m
• Growth rate: Fast

Sowing the seed: alfalfa seed is small and usually needs no pre-treatment, so it can be direct-sown. Broadcast or drill the seed shallowly, about 1-1.5 cm deep, into a firm, well-prepared seedbed and keep it moist; germination is quick, usually within 7-14 days. It is best sown in the cool season (autumn to winter) under irrigation, and stands are grazed or cut once well established.