Yellow-flowered lucerne (Medicago falcata L.) - a potential forage legume for the north

The suitability of yellow-flowered lucerne (Medicago falcata L.) for forage production under the northern conditions was studied in a mixture sward with timothy (Phleum pratense L.) in field trials in South Finland for four years from 1995 to 1998. Through the first three winters lucerne stayed unharmed. In June and July lucerne grew vigorously, but in August little. The total seasonal yields were highest in the second and the third year of harvesting, up to 10 t DM ha -1 . In the winter 1997-1998 , winter damages killed 21 to 38 % of lucerne plants, and resulted yield decrease next summer. Lucerne did not respond to nitrogen fertilization up to 90 kg N ha -1 . Contents of crude protein, Ca, Mg and K of yield were higher, crude fat and P similar, crude protein content ven higher compared to timothy.