Comparative response of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciaefolia Scop.) to applications of P, K and lime

Abstract

A pot experiment and an irrigated field trial in which the response of sainfoin and lucerne to different levels of P, K and lime was compared, are described. The results of the pot experiment suggested a better response to lime in sainfoin than in lucerne. On the other hand, the P and K requirements of lucerne appeared to be considerably higher than those of sainfoin. Apart from an inconclusive result with regard to the P response, the findings of the field trial, which extended over two seasons, supported those of the pot experiment. The response to P was apparently hampered in this trial by the extremely low K reserve of the particular soil. Lucerne outyielded sainfoin by a wide margin in the field and its crude protein content was considerably higher.

Keywords:

• K
• P and lime response
• Medicago sativa
• Onobrychis viciaefolia