The place of lucerne in dry-land farming

Abstract

Lucerne as a dry-land fodder plant is centuries old. It is used in most lands subject to dry summer conditions. Its deep rooting characteristic, its winter dormancy, and its rapid growth in high temperatures fit it for use in a wide range of climatic and soil conditions. It is readily eaten as hay or in the green state by all classes of stock. It will, however, not tolerate waterlogged or acid soils. To establish the place of lucerne in dry-land farming it is necessary to examine a number of factors, the most important being the seasonal nature of its growth, the grazing management to which it must be subjected, and the effect a large area of lucerne can have on the overall carrying capacity of the farm. Finally, to demonstrate more clearly the place of lucerne on a ploughable dry land farm, it is necessary to construct a farm unit with the maximum area in lucerne.