Legumes are a vital component of agricultural mixtures, green manures, and game covers. With increasing environmental concern, the ability to produce sustainably is going to be pivotal to future agricultural production. The importance of legumes is clear with their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, improve soil structure and increase protein content within swards.
Also known as yellow blossom clover. This plant is a biennial legume mostly used for greencover or to improve diversity in specie rich leys. Deep tap root is beneficial to soil improvement.
A very useful legume that can produce good quantities of quality forage. Difficult to establish in the northern part of the country and can be slow to get going. Often sown with less competitive companion grasses.
A rapidly establishing legume that is a useful fertility builder. More well known domestically as a spice, it can act as a deterrent to pests in brassicas as a companion crop.
It is an extremely fast growing legume that is sown primarliy as a green manure but has also been used for haylage and grazing. It fixes large amounts of nitrogen quickly and provides a good biomass.
Also known as Alfalfa, this plant once established can produce large quantities of high protein feed. Only persistent for 3/4 years and dependent on site and management. Often sown with less competitive companion grasses like Timothy and Meadow Fescue.