Quick facts
| Arabic name | البرسيم |
|---|---|
| English name | Alfalfa (Barseem) |
| Scientific name | Medicago sativa |
| Family | Legume family (Fabaceae) |
| Plant type | Perennial herb (fodder crop) |
| Height | Usually 60 to 90 cm |
| Water use | High |
Planting and harvest calendar
Best time to plant
October to November
Harvest time
All year
First cut after about 60 to 70 days, then every 3 to 5 weeksJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Planting timeHarvest or flowering
Times are general for the Saudi climate and may shift a few weeks by region: cooler in the highlands and the north, warmer on the coasts and in the south.
Description
An upright, dense plant with leaves of three leaflets, small purple flower clusters, and a very deep main root.
Where it grows
Grown in farming areas such as Al-Qassim, Hail, Al-Jouf, Tabuk, Riyadh, Najran, Al-Ahsa and Madinah.
Soil
Deep, well-drained soil. Handles medium salt.
Water and irrigation
Needs regular watering all year.
Climate and light
Handles heat, with full sun.
Propagation
From seeds.
Benefits and uses
- High-protein feed for livestock
- Fixes nitrogen and makes soil richer
- Can be cut many times a season
Drawbacks
- Uses a very large amount of water
- So its farming is controlled to protect groundwater
- Too much fresh alfalfa can cause bloat in animals
Sources and references
The information was collected and checked from these scientific sources:
- Plants of the World Online (POWO) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Medicago sativa
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Medicago sativa
- Wikipedia: Alfalfa
- FAO Crop Calendar - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA)
- Photo source: Wikimedia Commons (free license)