Characteristics:Medic

  • 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)
  • Parabinga
  • Paraggio
  • * Jester
  • Angel
  • Santiago
  • Cavalier
  • Bindaroo
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.