Lucerne, also known as alfalfa, is a perennial legume crop that is known as the "Queen of forage crops" as it is highly nutritious, productive, and tolerant of drought and frost. It is cultivated primarily for hay and can be grown in various climates, with optimal growth occurring in loamy soils with adequate drainage. Lucerne fixes atmospheric nitrogen, is highly palatable and digestible for livestock, and can yield between 35-40 tons per acre in Punjab when harvested up to 6 times per year.

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....