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News: Issue of imports of Genetically Modified Alfalfa hay raised in the on-going Indo-US trade talks. Alfalfa Hay.
About Alfalfa Hay (Medicago sativa)
- It is a perennial, leguminous plant of the pea family (Fabaceae).
- It is widely grown primarily for hay, pasturage and silage.
- Climatic conditions required:
- Soil: It prefers well-drained, fertile soils with a neutral pH (around 6.8 to 7.5
- Sunlight: It thrives in regions with abundant sunlight which is essential for photosynthesis and biomass production.
- It is known for its tolerance of drought, heat, and cold and for the remarkable productivity and quality of its herbage.
- The plant is grown as a cover crop and as a green manure.
- It houses symbiotic soil bacteria (rhizobia) in their root nodules to “fix” nitrogen from the air into the soil.
- Green leafy alfalfa hay is very nutritious and is also rich in vitamins A, E, D, and K.
