With the high price of both nitrogen fertiliser and protein feeds, legumes are likely to play an increasingly important role this season.  You may think of Lucerne as being a difficult crop to grow and preserve, only suited to deep, sandy soils and with a tendency to suffer leaf shatter at harvest.  However, there is no reason why Lucerne cannot be grown on sites throughout Britain.   

Lucerne is one of the most cost-effective protein sources you can grow and  getting the basics right is the key to a successful crop. Most importantly, it must have good structured soil that doesn’t crack open in dry summers as this will tear the roots and pull the nodules apart. In order to secure good establishment, it is important to add a live bacterial inoculant to the seed as it is sown.  Soil pH should be around 6.5 and phosphate and potash ‘maintained in good heart’.   By ensuring the soil is at the correct status, Lucerne will outyield Italian ryegrass without any nitrogen at all and will make high quality silage. Lucerne is easily preserved in the clamp by the addition of modern additives.  

For more information on Lucerne, achieving the correct soil status, or to receive a copy of our Lucerne Growers Guide, contact Simon Broddle, Forage Product Manager, at sbroddle@nickerson.co.uk