Lucerne (Medicago sativa)
- Introduction
- Perennial legume, highly nutritious fodder crop.
- Used mainly for dairy cattle, horses, and goats.
- Botanical Information
- Family: Fabaceae
- Origin: Central Asia/Iran
- Plant type: Perennial
- Part used: Leaves & stems
- Climate & Soil
- Cool to temperate climate, 15–30 °C optimum.
- Well-drained loamy soil, pH 6.5–7.5.
- Cultivation
- Sowing: Sept–Oct (North India), Aug–Sept (South India).
- Seed rate: 25–30 kg/ha (broadcast).
- Cutting interval: First cut at 60–70 days; 4–6 cuts/year.
- Yield & Uses
- Green fodder: 40–50 t/ha/year
- Dry fodder: 8–10 t/ha/year
- Protein: 18–22%
- Uses: Green fodder, hay, silage, soil nitrogen enrichment
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)
- Introduction
- Annual leguminous crop grown for fodder, pulses (seeds), and vegetable purposes.
- Commonly called Black-eyed pea or Southern pea.
- Botanical Information
- Family: Fabaceae
- Origin: Africa
- Plant type: Annual, climbing or bushy
- Part used: Leaves (fodder), pods and seeds (human consumption)
- Climate & Soil
- Warm climate: 25–35 °C optimum
- Tolerates drought better than Lucerne
- Sandy loam to loamy soils, well-drained
- pH: 5.5–7.0
- Cultivation
- Sowing: June–July (Kharif), March–April (summer)
- Seed rate: 20–25 kg/ha
- Spacing: 30–45 cm (bush), 60 cm (climbing)
- Intercultural practices: Weeding once or twice; minimal fertilizer needed as it fixes nitrogen
- Yield & Uses
- Green fodder: 8–15 t/ha (single cut)
- Seeds: 0.5–1 t/ha
- Protein: 22–25% in seeds, 15–18% in green fodder
- Uses: Fodder, human consumption, soil nitrogen improvement
Quick Comparison: Lucerne vs Cowpea
Feature | Lucerne (Medicago sativa) | Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) |
Type | Perennial | Annual |
Main use | Green fodder, hay, silage | Fodder, seeds, vegetables |
Climate | Cool to temperate | Warm tropical/subtropical |
Soil | Well-drained loamy, pH 6.5–7.5 | Sandy loam, pH 5.5–7.0 |
Seed rate | 25–30 kg/ha | 20–25 kg/ha |
Cutting frequency | 4–6 cuts/year | 1–2 cuts (usually Kharif crop) |
Green fodder yield | 40–50 t/ha/year | 8–15 t/ha/cut |
Protein content | 18–22% | 15–25% |
Nitrogen fixation | Yes | Yes |
Lifespan | 4–5 years | 1 year |
