Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a species of forage legume in the family Fabaceae. It is an important forage crop around the world. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, and lucerne grass in south Asia. The US is the largest producer of alfalfa in the world, with top growing states in California, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Alfalfa is a forage legume, growing up to 1 meter tall. It has a deep root system, up to 15 m long, and thus makes it one of the most resilient plants, especially to droughts. Alfalfa can live for 4-8 years. It is a small seeded crop, with slow-growing seedlings. Once established, it produces a tough crown at the top of the root system. The crowns have many shoot buds that enable the plant to re-grow after being razed or harvested. Alfalfa seed production requires the present of pollinators, such as Western honey bees, alfalfa leafcutter bee and alkali bee, when the field of alfalfa is in bloom. The flowers of alfalfa is purple in color.
Alfalfa is widely cultivated throughout the world, and harvested as hay, or made into silage, grazed, or fed as greenchop for cattle. Alfalfa field is seldom used as a pasture. It can give a high return in terms of quality and yield, when growing on soils where it is well-adapted. Alfalfa is high in protein and digestible fiber, and is a prime feed for high producing dairy cows. It is also used to feed beef catlle, goats, sheeps, and horses. Humans consume alfalfa sprouts in sandwishes and salads. Dried alfalfa leaves are made into dietary supplements in the form of tablets, powders, and tea. Alfalfa is believed to be a galactogogue, a substance that induces lactation. Alfalfa is a known cause of phytoestrogens, and has been suspected for the reduced-fertility in sheeps which grazed on alfalfa.
Alfalfa exhibits autotoxicity, in which it inhibits the growth or reproduction of new generation of alfalfa through the production of chemicals that are released into the environment. It is recommended to rotate planting other crops, such as corn or wheat, in the alfalfa field before reseeding alfalfa. The roots of alfalfa contain Sinorhizobium meliloti, a type of bacteria with the ability to fix nitrogen. Regardless of the available nitrogen in the soil, alfalfa produces a high-protein feed, and its use as an animal feed greatly improved agricultural efficiency.
Alfalfa thrives on well-drained soils with sustained levels of potassium and phosphorus, and a pH of 6.8-7.5. It is moderately sensitive to salt levels in both the irrigation water and the soils. Alfalfa is cut 3-4 times per year, but can be harvested up to 12 times per year in southern California and Arizona. The yields vary with region, weather, and the state of alfalfa maturity when the cut is done.
Pests and diseases, such as aphids, armyworms, alfalfa weevil, potato leafhopper, and root rots, reduce the alfalfa yield dramatically.
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