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Cicer Milkvetch (Astragalus cicer )
Crop Information
Description:
  • a long-lived perennial
  • once established is very competitive
  • stems of young plants are upright but tend to bend over as the plants grow
  • stem height 60 cm; stem length up to 120 cm
  • leaves are divided into many opposite oval leaflets
  • seed pods pale yellow to white seed pods become black and leathery as the seed matures
  • has a vigorous deep root system that can expand to 120 cm in diameter

 

Uses:
  • hard seed is a problem and the seed must be scarified to obtain good germination and establishment in the seedling year
  • normally two years are required for stand establishment
  • hay yields about eighty percent of alfalfa
  • quality is equal to alfalfa
  • does not lose its nutritive value as rapidly as alfalfa does when it matures
  • it has good potential as a grazing legume because it grows throughout the season
  • bloat is minimal

 

Areas of Adaptation:
  • minimal use in Alberta due to long establishment time
  • best adapted to soils with moderate to high amounts of moisture
  • will tolerate some drought
  • will not tolerate flooding
  • more winter hardy and cold tolerant than alfalfa
  • quite tolerant of alkaline conditions
  • moderately tolerant of acid and saline conditions
  • grows best on the Black Soils of Southern Alberta
  • also adapted to the moist areas of the Dark Brown Soils
  • grown in Areas 2, 3, 4 and 5

 


Cicer Milkvetch Distributor(s):
  BrettYoungFP-GeneticsViterra/Proven Seed

Characteristics
Performance:

2008 Cicer Milkvetch

                          Yield comparison as % of Oxley

Irrigation

Area 3

Variety
Bow Island
Lethbridge
Area Mean
Lacombe
Vegreville
Area Mean
AC Oxley II
123
135
129
117
141
129
Oxley
100
100
100
100
100
100
Windsor
131
129
130
119
154
137
Yield of Oxley
lb/ac
6425
5860
6330
6305
3065
4275
kg/ha
7195
6565
7090
7060
3435
4790

Adapted to Areas - 2, 3, 4, 5 & Irrigation. Slow to establish, seed should be scarified, hardy, non-bloating, most useful for pasture.

 


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Last Modified: January 24, 2008
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