There is less danger of bloat because of the higher roughage-fibre intake from the grass component. Everywhere in the world lucerne planted for seed is sown in rows, as this gives the highest seed production. Short-term weather forecasts should be obtained and, if sunny weather is predicted for the following 4-5 days, the process can begin. These stored non-structural carbohydrates are the main source of energy during winter. Crimping of lucerne can shorten drying time by up to a day. Lucerne can be grown on a wide variety of sites and soil types. Lucerne grazing is mainly used in the following regions in South Africa: Where lucerne is chiefly grown for hay, mixtures affect application of fertiliser, harvesting methods and quality. Lucerne belongs to the legume family, which means that, working with soil bacteria called rhizobia, it is able to fix nitrogen to make it available for plant growth. Lucerne hay is cut with a rotary mower or sickle bar mower, usually at the early flowering stage. In other words lucerne plants produce a chemical(s) which suppress the germination and growth of lucerne seedlings. Dryland lucerne must be allowed to grow out at the end of the summer, from February to late March. The longer the hay remains on the land, the greater the loss of leaves. The tap root and crown of the lucerne pump act as the priming mechanism for the plant. Lucerne silage can be divided into three types: high moisture silage made immediately from the cut lucerne while it still has a moisture content of 70%; wilted silage, which has 60-70% moisture, and low moisture silage with a moisture content of 40-60%. Frequent harvesting of immature lucerne (vegetative or bud stage) or harvesting in the autumn, prevents sufficient vegetative regrowth to replace the reserves of non-structural carbohydrates and leads to their depletion in the roots. The critical level of moisture is determined by storage conditions, temperature and ventilation. Lucerne can be cultivated under dry land conditions where the annual summer rainfall is higher than 400 to 500 mm and in winter rainfall areas where the annual rainfall is higher than 350 to 400 mm. This should be followed by a rest period of 40-50 days before animals are again allowed on it. Roll before and after sowing to help achieve fast germination and weed competitiveness. The flowering stage is critical and it is here that moisture can determine the harvest. The energy necessary for regrowth of lucerne after cutting is stored in the form of non-structural carbohydrates in the roots and crown or in the remaining leaves and stems. Soil with hard stony layers or shallow clay layers near the surface should be avoided. First mix the seed thoroughly with inoculate and leave it in the shade to dry before sowing it. If the rest period is too short there will be a loss of lucerne plants, and if it is too long, there will be a drop in quality linked to increasing stem:leaf ratio. There is greater flexibility in the management of irrigation. Grass fodder is used as an animal feed and can be produced in great numbers within 8 days from seed to grass for all livestock & even quicker with Co2 added. Lucerne is more sensitive to pH and to a shortage of phosphate than grasses. In this process, the plant enzymes and aerobic bacteria use the available carbohydrates to form heat and carbon dioxide. Lucerne will provide additional green feed at the start and at the end of the normal winter growing season with peak production in spring and early summer. Sowing Rates & Depth: Seeding rates of 11 - 15 kgs per hectare apply to either bare or coated seed. In the case of planned production of certified seed, these plants have been established from basic seed of the same cultivar. The following spacing is recommended for single rows: It is recommended that the wider spacings should rather be used. In order to prevent seepage from the silo and the production of poor quality silage, the lucerne must remain in the windrows until moisture content is about 65%. There is generally a cyclic pattern in the storage and use of non-structural carbohydrate reserves in the roots. It is generally known that the quality of lucerne hay drops as the plant matures. It is a reliable and economical source of protein because it is independent of the N-concentration in the soil. General guidelines for soil and seed preparation. The main cause of unsuccessful lucerne establishment, however, is poor seed bed preparation. In 1996, this was equivalent to approximately 83 000 ha of pure lucerne and 153 000 ha in mixed pastures. Despite the common name blue-eyed grass, Sisyrinchium is a relative of iris and the fine blue-green foliage is quite reminiscent of the flattened, sword-like blades of an iris, only much finer. (From 750 to 800 kg of water is required for every kilogram of dry matter produced.) Herbicides exist but are limited and it is good practice to obtain a … This will prevent sufficient lactic acid forming, and the resulting high pH encourages the breakdown of plant material. As a result, extra carbohydrate is necessary to allow the bacteria to form the lactic acid, acetic acid and proprionic acid that will preserve the silage. There is less lodging of plants and the lower humidity reduces the incidence of leaf diseases and the amount of waterdamaged seed compared to broadcast stands. Factors such as pollination, abortion of flowers and seed weight are directly linked to correct irrigation management. Deep clay soil, clayey loam or sandy clay soil with a high water retention capacity is preferable to sandy soil. of grasses. The choice of cultivar is determined by the climate and soil type. Honey bees are the only insects in South Africa which can successfully pollinate the lucerne flower with its trigger mechanism. Stems have more sugars, fibre, K and Cl. Cutting schedules are based on the growth stage, fixed cutting intervals, or development of regrowth on the crown. This will cause poor germination and inadequate growth. Seed producers must irrigate lucerne till before flowering, and again after pollination is complete. Lucerne (Medicago sativa) is also known as ‘alfalfa’, which means ‘best fodder’ – and this says it all. Yield is higher with lucerne mixtures than with pure lucerne. The low seed production in dense stands can be partially attributed to low production of nectar, lack of attraction for pollinators and increased abortion of flowers. This limits the processes of respiration and the growth of fungus. If lucerne is ensiled straight off the land, leaf loss may be as low as 2-4%, while if it is made into hay, losses may run to 20-40%. 2. Carbohydrates accumulate in autumn in those cultivars which undergo dormancy. Nutrients Because it is a semi-permanent crop that covers the entire soil surface, errors made while establishing a planting are difficult to rectify. High levels of carbohydrate allow rapid recovery after harvesting or after winter. The yield of stems increases linearly between the early vegetative and the late flowering stages, while leaf yields increase until the early flowering period. These different criteria lead to differences in yield and quality but, when cutting is determined by the growth stage, the plant itself is used as the indicator and in general a more constant yield and quality is obtained within each cultivar and over several seasons and in different localities. 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