Medicago sativa

Medicago sativa, commonly known as alfalfa, is a perennial flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. It is cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world.

Description

Medicago sativa is a perennial plant growing to a height of up to 1 meter. It has a deep root system which makes it resilient to drought. The plant produces small, purple flowers and fruits in the form of spiral-coiled pods.

Cultivation and uses

Alfalfa is widely grown throughout the world as forage for cattle, and is most often harvested as hay. It is high in protein, calcium, plus other minerals, vitamins in the B group, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K. The sun-dried hay of alfalfa has been found to be a source of vitamin D, containing 48 ng/g (1920 IU/kg) vitamin D2 and 0.63 ng/g (25 IU/kg) vitamin D3. There is variability between different regions of the world and different seasons.

In addition to being high in nutritional value, alfalfa also has a high biomass output, making it an interesting candidate for the production of biofuel.

Health effects

The leaves of the alfalfa plant are rich in several minerals including iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, sodium, potassium, silicon, and trace elements. It is also a source of vitamin E, vitamin C and vitamin K, which is necessary for blood coagulation.

However, alfalfa can also cause a reaction in people with autoimmune disease, as it has been known to cause an increase in the symptoms of the disease. It can also cause photosensitivity in some animals, and has been known to cause a syndrome called "lupinosis" in sheep.

See also

• List of forage crops
• Biofuel
• Fabaceae