How Alfalfa Helps Soil & Much More

Posted by Forage Complete on February 17th, 2018

Alfalfa is one of the most important and popular forage crops not just in the United States but around the world (outside of North America, it is called “Lucerne”). What makes it so great? Read below to learn about the wonderful properties of this perennial.

Good for People & Animals Alike

Alfalfa was introduced to the Americas by the Spanish back in the 1500s. They had already believed for centuries that it made a more effective feed for horses than grasses did.

The Spanish were right. Alfalfa is rich in protein and calcium. It also has such vitamins as:

• Vitamin B Family
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E

Alfalfa’s nutritional value makes it a great addition to the diet of both humans and animals. Today, it is still frequently used for seed grazing with sheep, cattle and other livestock. Farmers can also use alfalfa to feed rabbits and chickens.

It is worth noting, however, that eating large amounts of raw alfalfa seed can harm people on different medications and with various health conditions. Consult a doctor to determine whether alfalfa is safe to consume.

Good for Soil Too

Alfalfa is not only good for people and animals. It can help nourish the soil in which it grows too.

Growing alfalfa can increase the level of nitrogen in a soil. This can make it an excellent cover crop seed, since other plants can use the nitrogen that alfalfa leaves behind. Organic farmers frequently use alfalfa as a kind of “green manure.”

Alfalfa can grow in a wide range of climates. It helps that it does not require a lot of water. In fact, too much moisture can cause mold to grow on it.

Alfalfa fares best in areas with the following characteristics:

• Typically gets a high level of sunshine
• Has soil with good drainage (i.e. moderate moisture level)
• Has soil with a pH level of 6.8-7.5

In the US, alfalfa grows mainly in western and northern states like California and Idaho. Growing the plant in the South has proven difficult over the years due to pests like the alfalfa weevil as well as unaccommodating soils. However, some southern farmers have persisted and succeeded in growing it.

Forage Complete is a first-rate source of non GMO alfalfa seed. The company’s wide variety of seed grazing Alfalfa seed can resist major diseases, perform well in several soil types and deliver high forage yields.

About Forage Complete

Forage Complete is a top supplier of Nutech seed as well as organic forage seed products and cover crops. By combining innovative genetic technology with intense research and testing, Forage Complete delivers the finest seeds available anywhere.

For more information, please visit Foragecomplete.com