SMALL SEED LEGUMES

Small seed legumes are a very important sward component not only for meadows, but also pastures or temporary grasslands. The particular value of this group of plants results from their positive influence on the quality of the produced green matter, hay, hay-silage or silage.

Their presence enriches the forage with nutrients necessary for the metabolism of livestock, such as easily assimilated protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium. Small seed legumes also raise the palatability of the sward. However, the most important, and irreplaceable quality of small seed legumes is their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil, which results in savings on fertilizer.

Small seed legumes in crop rotation leave a very good stand, rich in nitrogen and organic matter.