Dr.Waqas Nawaz PMAS arid agriculture university rawalpindi pakistan

2. Dr.Waqas
Nawaz
PMAS AAUR

3. • Scientific name: Medicago sativa
• Common name: In Arab known as alfalfa
In Europe called as lucerne
• Belongs to Leguminosae family ( soluble CHO & CP)
• Origin: Introduced from the Mediterranean
region LUCERNE was
probably the
• It is called as
first crop to be
“Queen of forage crops” cultivated for
WHILE hay
“King of fodder crops” is berseem

4. First cut after 3
month of
sowing.(March)
Later cuts after
interval of 5-6
• Perennial forage weeks.
• Nitrogen-fixer
• Highly palatable Because of its high
level of
• Digestible and nutritious
PROTEIN
• Lucerne probably the world’s best fodder
ENERGY
• Extremely drought tolerant MINERALS
• Fast growing (can be cut after 30 days VITAMINS
of 1st cutting)
• Frost tolerant
• Susceptible to a range of pests and diseases
• Rabi fodder crop(sown in winter, october to november)

5. • 5-6 m in height with a crown diameter of a similar size
• Long softly-hairy/serrated leaves (sawtooth)
• Leafy branches
• Leaves dull
• trifoliate
• Leaflets narrowly rhombic with entire margins upto 7 cm
long.
• Petiole upto 2 cm long
• Stipules minute

6. Plants –
• An erect
• 2-3 ft tall
• Multi-branched perennial plant with a very deep tap root
• Plants develop a woody crown at ground level
• Stems rising from the crown to around 1 m height.
Flowers –
• Flower blue but can purple or yellow (while Barseem has
white)
• Flowers are a typical pea shape 12 – 15 mm long
• Develop in dense clusters of 20 – 30 flowers at the tips of
the branches

7. Soil –
• Deep loamy soils rich in phosphorus, calcium and potash
are very good for lucerne crop
• Upland sandy soils are not suitable for it as they have low
water holding capacity
• Well drained soil with PH 6.5 to 7.00
• It cannot thrive on alkaline soils
• But can be grown on acid soils with lime application
Climate -
• Lucerne crop is highly sensitive to climatic changes
• During seedling stage a cool and dry weather is
conducive for their development
• while hot, dry conditions with normal soil moisture
contents are required for quick vegetative growth
• Therefore, its cultivation extends from sea level to lower
hills up to an elevation of 2500 meter
• It tolerates short spell of drought

8. • Sowing the seeds at proper time, rate and method increases
the yield
1. Time of sowing:
• The optimum time of sowing of lucerne is from 1st week , of
October to middle of November
• However, middle of October is the best time for sowing
lucerne.
2. Seed rate:
• In case of broadcasting, 20-25 kg per hectare of seed should
be sown
• while for line sowing 12-15 kg per hectare is sufficient.
3. Sowing method:

9. Trifoliate Flower
Lucerne Field Lucerne Field

10. There are now more than 30
varieties of lucerne available.
• Vernal (cultivars) used in past These varieties have a wide
a variety of a plant developed range of pest and disease
resistances and growth
from a natural species and
patterns
maintained under cultivation
• Two types are used
1) Dormant (growth reduced in winter due to low
temp/shorter days)
2) Non-dormant (grow through the winter, named as Winter
active)
• M. falcata a wild variety of alfalfa that naturally hybridizes
with M. sativa to produce Sand Lucerne
• This species may bear either the purple flowers or yellow

11. 1. Sundar
2. Misasirsa
• Punjab
3. Pioneer
• Type 8 and 9 , Synthetic–78
4. Sanora
5. Illunico
6. Type 8/9
• Sindh
7. Powera
• Type 8 and 9
Seven exotic varieties of
• NWFP lucerne were evaluated in
• Type 8 and 9 , No–18 different zones during 1993-
1995
GILGIT, CHALAS, SKAUDU.
• Balochistan
• Type 8 and 9 ,Quandari NARC

12. • Perennial forage and lasts for many years
• In Pakistan, (total production) 3978601 t/144984 h
(2010)NARC
• On average ,in six cuts per year,
o Punjab 35-40t/a
o Sindh 15-20t/a
o NWFP 15-20t/a
The number of cuts depends on the
o Balochistan 25-30t/a local climate; in low-altitude areas, 6 to
8 cuts are possible where water is
adequate; in the high areas,
over 2000 m, 3 cuts are usual

13. • The world wide production was around 500+ million
tonnes in 2010
• Produced in Punjab,Balochistan
• US, Canada, Argentina,
• Australia, South africa and in Middle east
• Upper Midwestern states account for about;
• 50% production in US
• 10% Northeastern Production:
• 40%in Western states 100 to 125 t/ha in
Punjab and 50 to
75t/ha in sindh

14. • Alfalfa is high in Protein, calcium, plus other
minerals, vitamin A , vitamins in the B group, vitamin
C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K And Carotin as
well.
• The sun-dried hay of alfalfa (also known as Lucerne) has
been found to be a source of vitamin D
CP 19%(On DM DMbasis) 23-35%
Ca+ 1.3 g/Kg P+ 0.3g/Kg
CHO 11% TDN 65.8%
Ash 8% CF 29.6%
Fat 8.5% NDF < 42%
Minerals 8% Fiber 30%
NFE 36% EE 1.6%

15. Bloat
Foam Bloat
producing
production formation
proteins
Disadvantage is
• As a multi-purpose fodder; bloating
BLOAT MEANS
 As a high quality fodder ACCUMULATION
OF GASES
 Palatable fodder
 Non-toxic fodder
 Lucerne meal is used for livestock and
poultry
• As an ornamental
• Windbreak
• Fuel-wood
• Biogas

17. Crops Sowing time Method of sowing Harvesting Time
MOSTLY
Berseem 21st Sept- end of Oct. Broadcast in standing Nov.----May
water
Lucerne Mid Oct.- mid Nov. 45 cm apart in lines. Permanent yield from
December for 3 years,
after every 45 day
KING OF QUEEN OF
FODDER FORAGE
Crops CP LEAVES FLOWER protien Green fodder TDN Life CF
yield (t/ha) cycle
Bersee 18-24% round white 18-20% 125-150 64.9% Annual 30.3%
m
Lucern 15-24% Almost Blue- 20-24% 110-125 65.8% Perinneal 29.6%
e flat yellow

18. • NARC
• Prof. Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha, (Dean, Faculty of Animal
Production and Technology, University of Veterinary
and Animal Sciences, Lahore::::FODDER)
• Poineer::::: Manual of livestock form operations
(supervised by Dr. Tanveer & Dr. Kashif)
• www.Pakistan agriculture.com
• Crop Production by Shafi Nazir
• Animal Husbandry by S. Iqbal Shah
• Notes on lucerne varities written by Dr. M.dost &
Dr.afzal
• Some others....