German Society of Agronomy

• Soil protection: deep roots improve soil structure and prevent erosion.
• Soil fertilisation: nitrogen fixed from the air by symbiotic nodule bacteria supplies the entire soil profile – a natural fertiliser!
• Biodiversity: the long-lasting flowers provide food for bees and other insects throughout the summer – a ‘long-term buffet’ for pollinators and a bonus for biodiversity.

Alfalfa – in the agricultural cycle

Alfalfa is an excellent preceding crop, leaving behind fertile soil and reducing the need for fertilisers. It is absolutely top-notch in terms of annual N fixation and N replenishment for subsequent crops (see fig.) – even over a longer period of time (ideal, for example, for winter cereals or maize after ploughing).

Alfalfa is also part of sustainable animal production and, as a protein- and lysine-rich feed, contributes to the regional protein supply. Alfalfa is also rich in minerals, vitamins and antioxidants.

Who benefits from alfalfa?

• Farms that want to improve their soil and strengthen their feed self-sufficiency with farm-grown feed at low cost.
• Organic farms that rely on natural cycles.
• Consumers who value sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry.

Alfalfa rediscovered – lesser-known facts

Simply keeps growing – even after drought: alfalfa has a remarkable ability to regenerate. Even after prolonged drought or intensive use, it can sprout again from the root, often over a period of 3-5 years, if conditions are right.

A real climate protector: a permanently used alfalfa field can store more CO₂ in the soil each year than many other arable crops. Especially in combination with reduced tillage, it is considered a CO₂ sink in climate protection.

Cultivation in Germany has room for improvement: only 0.37% of the 11.8 million hectares of arable land in Germany are planted with pure alfalfa, despite its numerous ecological advantages, such as nitrogen fixation and biodiversity promotion. The proportion of fine-grained legumes (clover, alfalfa, clover grass) is growing in field fodder production, especially in southern Germany (a total of 345,700 hectares in 2022).

Also edible for humans – in small doses: In some cultures, alfalfa is also used as a medicinal and food plant. The young seedlings (alfalfa sprouts) are considered a protein-rich supplement in vegetarian cuisine and contain vitamins K and C, iron and secondary plant substances.

Myth & truth – alfalfa under the microscope

❌ ‘Alfalfa only grows in the south.’
Wrong Modern varieties also thrive in northern regions – the soil is important.
❌ 'Only organic farms require alfalfa.'
Not only: Auch konventionelle Betriebe profitieren von ihrer Futterqualität und Bodenwirkung – besonders bei steigenden Düngemittelpreisen.
✅ ‘The power lies in the leaves’
True: Die Blätter der Luzernepflanze enthalten etwa zwei- bis dreimal soviel Protein wie die Stängel. Damit ist der Blattanteil ein entscheidender Faktor für den Nährwert der Luzerne als Futterpflanze. Die Blätter eignen sich auch für die Fütterung von Hühnern und Schweinen

Practical examples – alfalfa in real life

Organic farm (Bavaria): ‘Alfalfa is indispensable for our dairy farm. We use it in crop rotation with cereals. The cows reward us with healthy calves and good milk yields. The fertiliser savings are a real bonus!’

Conventional farm (Lower Saxony): ‘We use alfalfa as dry feed for our fattening bulls. The high feed quality reduces our dependence on soy imports. It was worth its weight in gold, especially in dry years.’

Vegetable farm (Rhineland-Palatinate): 'Alfalfa as a catch crop improves the soil structure between two vegetable crops – we save on ploughing and improve yields in the long term.’ „Luzerne als Zwischenfrucht verbessert die Bodenstruktur zwischen zwei Gemüsekulturen – wir sparen Pfluggänge und verbessern die Erträge langfristig.“