Alfaalfa

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), also known as lucerne, is a perennial legume plant native to central Asia and the Middle East, widely cultivated worldwide for its high nutritional value and adaptability.​

Characteristics

• Grows 0.3–1 m tall with deep taproots (up to 15 m), enabling drought resistance and soil aeration.
• Features trifoliate leaves, purple flower clusters, and spiral seed pods containing 10–20 seeds.
• Fixes nitrogen via root bacteria, improving soil fertility; thrives in temperate climates, harvested multiple times yearly.​

Fields of Use

Forage crop: Primary livestock feed (hay, silage, pasture) due to 16–20% protein, vitamins A/E/D/K, and minerals; favored for dairy cattle, horses.​
Soil improvement: Cover crop in rotations, reduces erosion, suppresses weeds, enriches nitrogen without synthetic fertilizers.​
Human consumption: Sprouts in salads/sandwiches (rich in vitamins, antioxidants); traditional medicine for digestion, arthritis (unproven claims).​
Other: Bee forage, green manure, leaf meal additive in animal feeds.