ABSTRACT
Lucerne is a perennial plant and may supply green fodder continuously for 3-4 years from the same sowing. It grows to a wide range of climatic conditions ranging from tropical to alpine. Lucerne is grown in winter season and has been grown successfully in arable cropping regions. Being a deep-rooted crop, it extracts water from the deeper zone of the soil. It can be raised both as rainfed or irrigated crop in high water table areas. It is a deep-rooting crop which can sustain dry matter production at times of low rainfall. The average green fodder yield of lucerne varies from 800-1000 quintals/ha. The risk of producing bloat in animals is very real when cattle are grazed. Bloat causes due to presence of certain glucosides known as saponins in lucerne plant at green stage.
