Characteristics:
- Medics are well adapted to grazing,
- Set stocking is normally advised,
- As a result of the high protein content of the plant material and the dry pods which are eaten during the summer months good animal performance is obtained,
- Medics is also an outstanding rotational crop with cereals and the advantages are the fixing of nitrogen, the reduction of diseases and the controlling of weeds,
- DM yields of 8mt/ha are obtainable with a carrying capacity of 4-5 small stock units during winter to 10 small units/ha during spring are possible,
- An average carrying capacity of 3-5 small livestock units/ha during spring are possible,
- Due to the hard seed coating the seed is able to establish itself the following year again.
| CROP/SPECIE | CULTIVARS *PBR # EXCL |
SEEDING KG/HA |
RAINFALL MM/YEAR |
SUITED REGIONS |
PLANTING MONTHS |
SOIL |
| Medics (Medicago truncatula, Medicago littoralis and Medicago polymorpha) |
|
4-7 if sown in mixture 10-12 planted 12-15 broadcast |
250+ | W Cape, S Cape and E Cape |
Apr- May | Well drained loam to clay soils. |