How To Cultivate Lucerne-A Fodder Crop For Livestoc

Lucerne is a protein-rich fodder crop that can provide nutritious forage for dairy cattle and other livestock when properly cultivated and harvested.

lucerne (also called alfalfa),is a useful fodder plant grown to feed livestock such as cows, goats, and rabbits. 

Lucerne is a deep-rooted legume that improves soil fertility by fixing nitrogen, but it needs well-drained soil and careful planting.

What Is Lucerne?

Properly harvested and stored hay provides a valuable source of conserved fodder for livestock during dry seasons when fresh pasture is scarce.

Lucerne is a perennial legume, meaning it can grow for several years and produces protein-rich leaves used as hay, silage, or grazing feed. Its roots can reach deep into the soil, helping it survive dry periods better than many shallow-rooted crops.

Because it fixes nitrogen through special bacteria in its root nodules, lucerne can also improve the soil for crops that follow it. Farmers usually leave about five years between lucerne crops to reduce pest and disease problems.

Choosing the Site

Select a sunny field with fertile, free-draining soil. Lucerne does poorly in waterlogged or heavy clay soil because its taproot can rot.

Before planting, test the soil. Lucerne grows best when the pH is about 6.2 to 8.5; if the soil is too acidic, add lime as advised by a soil test.

Preparing the Land

Clear the land of weeds, stones, and old crop remains.

Plough or dig the soil deeply to loosen it.

Break large clods to make a fine, firm seedbed.

Add well-rotted manure or recommended fertilizer, especially phosphorus, before planting.

A clean seedbed is very important because lucerne grows slowly at first, and weeds can easily take over.

How to Plant Lucerne

Sow lucerne when the soil is warm and moist, commonly at the beginning of the rainy season.

Use good-quality certified seed.

Treat the seed with the right Rhizobium bacteria before planting; this helps the roots form nodules and fix nitrogen.

Sow the seed shallowly, about 0.5 to 1 cm deep. Planting too deeply can prevent germination because the seeds are very small.

You can drill seeds in rows about 10 cm apart, or broadcast them evenly and cover lightly with soil.

Roll or gently press the soil after sowing so the seed makes good contact with moist soil.

Caring for the Crop

Watering: Keep the soil moist during germination and early growth, but avoid flooding the field.

Weeding: Remove weeds early, especially in the first few weeks.

Fertilizer: Apply phosphorus and potassium according to soil-test recommendations; lucerne needs these nutrients for strong roots and good yields.

First cutting or grazing: 

Wait until plants are at least about 20 cm tall or around 10% flowering before the first cut. Cut no lower than about 7 cm to protect the plant’s crown.

Harvesting Lucerne

Cut lucerne for hay when about 10% of the plants are flowering, or when new shoots at the base are 3–5 cm tall. Cutting at this stage gives a good balance between leaf yield and feed quality.

Cut in the late morning or early afternoon after dew has dried, so the hay dries faster.

Leave about 5–7 cm of growth above the soil so the crown and new shoots are not damaged.

Allow roughly 35–42 days between cuts for the plants to recover and regrow.

Dry the cut lucerne properly before baling it as hay; damp hay can heat up and become mouldy.

Grazing Management

Do not graze lucerne continuously for long periods, because this weakens the plants and reduces their lifespan. Use rotational grazing: allow animals to graze one section, then move them and let that section rest for about five weeks.

Avoid grazing or cutting before the crop is well established, unless weeds must be controlled. Keeping the crown intact after grazing or cutting is essential for regrowth.

Pests and Diseases

Common pests include aphids, leafhoppers, cutworms, armyworms, mites, snails, and lucerne flea. Check the crop regularly, especially young plants, and remove weeds that may hide pests.

Important diseases include Phytophthora root rot, crown rots, wilts, rust, downy mildew, and leaf spots. These are worse in poorly drained soil or when the same crop is grown repeatedly in one field.

To reduce problems:

Choose disease-resistant seed varieties where available.

Avoid waterlogged fields.

Remove badly diseased plants.

Use recommended pest controls only when necessary and follow the label carefully.

Crop Rotation

Do not plant lucerne on the same land year after year. A break of about five years between lucerne crops helps prevent the build-up of pests and soil diseases.

Lucerne grows well in rotation with cereals and grass forage crops. Because it fixes nitrogen, it can leave the soil in better condition for the next crop.

Storing the Harvest

If making hay, spread the cut lucerne thinly and turn it regularly until it is dry. Store bales in a dry, well-ventilated place away from rain and ground moisture.

For green feed, cut only the amount animals can eat in a day or two. Fresh lucerne is highly nutritious, but animals should not eat too much wet, wilted lucerne at once because it can cause bloating.

Quick Planting Checklist

• Choose sunny, free-draining soil.
• Prepare a fine, weed-free seedbed.
• Apply lime or fertilizer based on a soil test.
• Treat seed with the correct Rhizobium bacteria.
• Sow shallowly, about 0.5–1 cm deep.
• Keep the crop weed-free while establishing.
• Cut or graze using a rotational system.
• Leave 5–7 cm after cutg and allow recovery time.
• With good drainage, timely cutting, and rotational grazing, a lucerne stand can remain productive for several years.
• Lucerne should be harvested when it has enough leaves but has not become too old and woody. The best time is usually when about 10% of the plants have started flowering, or when new shoots at the base are 3–5 cm tall.Since you're interested to know much on the cultivation of lucerne I know obviously be interested as well in other practical guide on how To grow Leucaena

When to Cut

Cut when plants are about 40–50 cm tall or at early flowering.

Avoid cutting too early, because the plants need time to store food in their roots.

Avoid cutting too late, because the stems become hard and the feed value decreases.

Cut in the morning after dew has dried so the hay can dry quickly.

How to Cut

• Use a sickle, slasher, mower, or other cutting tool.
• Cut about 5–7 cm above the ground to protect the crown, which is the growing part of the plant.
• Do not cut the whole field too low, especially during dry weather.
• Allow the plants to regrow for about 35–42 days before the next cut.
• After Cutting
• Spread the cut lucerne in a thin layer to dry.
• Turn it regularly so it dries evenly.
• Once it is dry, store it as hay in a dry, ventilated place.
• Do not store damp lucerne, because it can become mouldy.

Storing the Harvest

After cutting lucerne, it must be dried properly before it is stored. Lucerne that is stored while still wet can become mouldy, lose nutrients, heat up, and may even catch fire.

Drying Lucerne for Hay

Spread the freshly cut lucerne in a thin layer in the field.

Turn it regularly so all parts dry evenly.

Dry it until the leaves are dry but not easily crumbling, and the stems snap rather than bend.

Hay is usually safe to bale when its moisture is about 15–20%.

Making Hay

Once the lucerne is dry enough, collect it into small bales, large bales, or stacks. Handle the hay carefully because dry lucerne leaves break easily, and the leaves contain most of the protein

.

Choosing a Storage Place

Store hay in a dry, well-ventilated place such as a barn, shed, or raised platform. Keep it away from rain, flooding, and damp ground. If hay is stored outside, cover the top with a waterproof tarp or canvas, leaving space for air to move around the bales.

Keeping Hay Safe

Do not store damp hay in a closed room.

Keep hay off wet soil by placing it on pallets, stones, or a raised platform.

Leave small spaces between bales for airflow.

Check stored hay regularly for mould, bad smell, dust, or heat.

Use older hay first so it does not stay in storage for too long.

Feeding Fresh Lucerne

If the lucerne will be fed fresh instead of being made into hay, cut only the amount animals can eat within a day or two. Do not give animals large amounts of wet, wilted lucerne at once, because it can cause bloating.

Common Problems

The biggest risks are poor drainage, acidic soil, weeds, and planting seed too deeply. Good land preparation, correct soil pH, and shallow sowing prevent most establishment failures.

With a well-prepared seedbed, healthy seed, and proper management, lucerne can provide nutritious animal feed for several years.