Medicago Sativa (Lucerne, Alfalfa, Ghoda Grass)

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Medicago sativa is a perennial legume 60-100 cm tall. The stem is hollow and green and may have a slightly hairy texture. 

It is easily recognizable by its small clusters of pea-like purple flowers and green spiral-coiled seed pods that turn brown when mature.

Medicago Sativa Classification

  • Domain: Eukaryota
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Phylum: Magnoliophyta
  • Subphylum: Angiospermae
  • Class: Magnoliospida
  • Order: Fabales
  • Family: Fabaceae
  • Genus: Medicago
  • Species: Medicago sativa
  • Varieties: Common alfalfa, Dormant, Non-dormant, and Hybrid
  • Common Names: Sand lucerne, Lucerne grass, Variegated lucerne, Sickle medic, Bastard medic, Yellow medic, Violet Flower lucerne, and Purple clover

Nativity and Distribution 

Alfalfa is native to the Mediterranean Basin and Southwest Asia. It is mostly found:

  • Australia
  • Argentina
  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Nepal
  • Uruguay
  • Sudan
  • South Africa
  • Canada
  • United States
  • New Zealand

Physical Characteristics

Lucerne has trifoliate leaves and small clusters of purple flowers
Lucerne has trifoliate leaves and small clusters of purple flowers. Image: Canva/seven75
  • Leaves: Narrow trifoliate leaves with slightly serrated margins.
  • Fruits: 2-8 green curly pods that turn brown when mature.
  • Stems: Woody. It can grow up to 1m high.
  • Flowers: Oval or rounded clusters of purple, white, or yellow flowers.
  • Roots: Tap root system.

Medicago sativa is a perennial legume with a bushy appearance that can grow up to 1m tall. It is easily recognized by its clusters of small purple flowers and spiral-coiled seed pods. 

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The stems are decumbent up to 1m in height, hairy on the upper surface, and green in color. Their hollow structure contributes to their erect growth and lightweight nature. The leaves are narrow, alternate, and about 3-10mm wide and 10-45mm long. 

When young, the trifoliate leaves have round leaflets that become elongated in maturity. The mature leaves are smooth or hairy, with slightly serrated margins. 

Ghoda grass produces oval to rounded small pea-like clusters of purple florets about 1-5 cm long. Depending on the cultivar, the flowers can also be yellow, blue, or white. The heads are arranged on dense racemes at the ends of the branches. Flowering occurs from June to September.

The seeds are yellow to brown and ovoid to kidney-shaped, about 1-1.5mm wide and 1-2.5mm long. 

Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle

  • Life Cycle: Perennial 
  • Seeds: Produces few seeds 
  • Climate: Temperate, Mediterranean, tropical, and subtropical areas
  • Dispersal: Human activities

Medicago sativa is grown as a perennial plant. It has a slow-growing seeding capacity and a small seed count.

Therefore, it is mostly grown through seed planting. The seeds are planted 0.25-0.5 inches in clay soil and 0.75 inches in sandy soil. Planting the seeds on shallow soil can lead to poor establishment, while planting them too deep can limit germination. 

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Similar Plants

  • Clover 
  • Birdsfoot trefoil
  • Soybean

Uses 

Alfalfa is an important forage crop in many countries around the world
Alfalfa is an important forage crop in many countries around the world. Image: Canva/imaginegolf
  1. It is grown to provide feed for ruminants and poultry.
  2. The legume is used to improve soil structure and fertility.
  3. The sprouts are a popular addition to sandwiches and salads.
  4. Dehydrated leaves are used as dietary supplements in the form of teas, powders, and tablets.
  5. It is used to reduce soil erosion and soil salinity. 
  6. It is used as a cover crop.
  7. It is used to make traditional medicines. 

Impact on Farms and Environment

Alfalfa has low potential as a weed. It produces little seed and does not have the propensity to compete with native plants or grasses. Additionally, it is highly susceptible to most broad-leaved herbicides. 

As a legume, its root nodules contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria like Sinorhizobium meliloti, which are highly beneficial in agricultural lands. 

It is planted as a commercial crop and is the fourth-largest acreage crop in the United States. It can be grazed or harvested and turned into hay or pellets for animal feed. 

Lucerne can be cut up to 12 times a year (in warm regions), offering high-quality supplementation to native pasture. The crop can also be dehydrated and dried to preserve its nutrient value, providing a steady animal feed supply. 

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Control 

  • Mechanical methods: Tillage
  • Chemical control: Glyphosate, 2,4-D, and Dicamba

Aggressive and repetitive tillage can help reduce the forage. However, digging can reduce soil moisture and bring dormant seeds to the surface, leading to unwanted germination.

For effective control, a tillage + herbicide combination strategy is recommended. Apply herbicides with Roundup and Banvel mixes on actively growing plants about 8 inches high for the best results. Repeat the process until it’s completely eradicated.