By David Njenga
Fodder legumes play an important role in the smallholder farmers’ dairy farming system as they improve soil fertility through Nitrogen fixation and have high Crude Protein (CP) in leaves and foliage and they can replace commercial supplements. Crude Protein range for legumes is 15-35%, compared to grasses whose CP ranges between 5 and 19%. It also ranges higher than dairy meal which is 15-22%. Also, legumes are rich in calcium and phosphorous minerals as well as vitamins A and D. Below is a list of legumes that could benefit dairy farmers.
- LUCERNE (Medicago sativa)
Lucerne is a high-yielding perennial forage legume that grows upright to about 1 meter. It is good for hay conservation or silage. Once planted, Lucerne stays productive for 4-6 years. It is generally grown on a pure stand. It is drought-resistant and deep-rooted, highly palatable, and has Crude Protein of about 19-22%. Lucerne is sensitive to soil acidity and requires almost neutral soil pH.
Agronomical requirements and yield for Lucerne:
- Rainfall: –Well distributed rainfall of 870 mm and above.
- Soils: –Well drained fertile soils. pH 6 -6.5 (Sensitive to soil pH).
- Propagation: – By use of seeds.
- Planting: – Normally drilled but can be broad casted or sown in a depth of not more than 10 cm. Seed bed should be well prepared and firm for good germination.
- Seed rate: – 5kg/acre drill and 8kg/acre broadcast.
- Spacing: –20×25 cm.
- Maturity: –4-5 months depending on the weather.
- Yields: –375-550 Hay bales/acre/year. Cutting intervals of 4-8 weeks are viable.
- Feeding value: – Crude Protein:19-22, Dry Matter:21, Crude Fiber 21 %.
Lucerne at flowering stage.
Lucerne Varieties: –
| Lucerne Variety | General information |
| 1. Delight lucerne | Suitable for high and medium rainfall areas, higher producer, high leaf ratio and tall. Perennial type. |
| 2. Delight Ultra | Suitable for high and medium rainfall areas, higher producer, high leaf ratio and tall. Bi-annual type. |
| 3.Cuf 101 | Suitable for low rainfall areas, average production, high stem ratio |
| 4.Trifecta | Hybrids, suitable for all AEZs under irrigation, high producer, average stem/leaf ratio |
| 5.Aurora | Hybrids, suitable for all AEZs under irrigation, high producer, high leaf ratio |
(b) DESMODIUM (green leaf-Desmodium intortum and silver leaf-Desmodium uncinatum).
Desmodium is a climbing perennial with deep roots, long stems that branch freely and with roots at the nodes. It can tolerate low temperatures. It is a good intercropping legume with Napier. There are two varieties which are basically the same but the silver leaf variety has been reported to tolerate frost more than the green leaf one.
- Rainfall: -Well distributed rainfall of 870 mm and above.
- Soils: Prefers light to clay loams, PH >5.0.
- Planting: Seeds may be broadcasted or drilled. Sown not more than 1cm deep and rolled.
- Propagation: – By use of seeds, vine cuttings or root splits.
- Seed rate: – 2kg/acre or 4,000 pieces of vines/acre.
- Spacing: – 20×25 cm for seed or 1x1M for cuttings.
- Yields: -5-8 tons of DM /acre/year.
- Feeding value: – Crude Protein:15-20, Dry Matter:20-26, Crude Fiber:25-30 %.
Silver leaf-(Desmodium uncinatum).
(c) COMMON VETCH – Vicia sativa
Common vetch is a short term crop of high nutritive value, highly palatable, and with a rapid growth rate. Vetch can be grown as a pure stand or a mixed stand with grasses, other fodders like oats, sorghum or maize.
Agronomical requirements and yield:
- Soils: – Should be well drained and not acidic. NeutralpH of 6-7 is preferred.
- Planting: Broadcast or drill the seed. Spacing of 45 cm by drilling is recommended.
- Seed rate: 5 kg per acre in pure stand or 3 kg/ acre when intercropped with grasses like Napier grass, oats etc.
- Maturity: Takes about 120 days for hay production.
- Yields: Average hay yields are 150-300 bales/acre of pure vetch or in Oat mixture. Average of 4-6 tons DM/ha.
- Feeding value: Crude Protein:17-22, Dry Matter:89, Crude Fiber:30%.
Purple vetch pure stand crop.
(d) LUPIN (Lupinus albus).
There are many varieties of Lupins but the common ones are the White Lupin (Lupinus albus) andBlue lupin (Lupinus angustifolius).
- Soils: Lupin is most productive in high rainfall, cool climate and tolerates low temperatures.
- Seed rate: 12-15 Kg/acre depending on the variety/size of the seed/Hand or machine planting.
- Spacing: 45x30cm.
- Maturity: 120-150 days.
- Disease/pest control: Planting in well drained soils, rotation and use of certified seeds helps control diseases and pests. Treat soil with bio-fungicide (Trianum bio-fungicide) just after germination to control fusarium wilt infection. Lupinus angustifolius is particularly more susceptible to Aphid infestation and attack by wild rabbits at the early stages of growth.
- Grain yield: Approximately 600-1000kg/acre, grains are milled for feed compounding with a mixing ratio – 1 part Lupins to 3 parts Maize.
Feeding value:
- Variety: Lupinus albus – Crude Protein:29-32, Dry Matter:95, Crude Fiber:10%, kcal/kg 2,444.
- Variety: Lupinus angustifolius – Crude Protein:34- 38, Dry Matter:93, Crude Fiber:4 %, kcal/kg 2173
David Njenga is a seeds expert at Advanta Seeds. njengagd2016@gmail.com