Sericea Lespedeza - Armmanslusern

Sericea  Lespedeza

Sericea, also known as Poor man’s lucerne, is gaining rapidly in popularity amongst SA farmers who require low-cost legume pastures.  Unlike lucerne, Sericea does not require costly soil mineral corrections – this is how it earned the poor man label.  Another very important characteristic, also unlike lucerne, is that animals do not bloat on Sericea.  Sericea grows very satisfactorily on run-down old lands and will even produce valuable grazing and hay on shallow soils. Liming is rarely required but Phosphorus is needed when soil levels are extremely low in this all-important energy mineral.  The other great advantage of Sericea is that it makes protein rich and very palatable hay – far superior to the average quality hay farmers make from Eragrostis.  Moreover the hay can be baled four hours after cutting on a hot and dry day.   Sericea makes ideal sheep pasture but it is good for cattle too, provided it grazed at a young stage.  Sericea’s biggest drawback is the fact that most farmers find that it takes at least three years for it to become fully productive.     Early summer planting will most often result in well- developed plants that produce some seed by the end of the first season.

Hendrik Botha from the farm Harmonie in Matatiele, experienced the success of Sericea and share his experience: We as farmers are always looking for that miracle pasture that can produce effective grazing and hay on a sustainable basis.

I am excited to announce that after 30 years of farming, I have been exposed to what seems to be close to a miracle pasture.

•This pasture has become a solution to many years of expensive hay production and unstable fodder flow problems. It can be used as spring and/or autumn grazing for sheep, dairy and beef cattle and produces cheap, good quality hay. •This pasture has changed old, unproductive and marginal lands into valuable and productive units, increasing the carrying capacity of our farm phenomenally. •It has alleviated our fodder- flow problems and placed our sheep, beef and dairy enterprises on an economically sound basis.

We have never used any pesticides before or after planting – an annual foster crop may be used for sun or heat protection.

Because of the expensive management of any pasture (except sericea) we are now applying the principle of not only managing a low cost perennial legume pasture but applying the most important practical way as we farm with nature.

No cultivation is needed for any hay production or feed. 

The soil is improved naturally with the forming of humus and plenty earth worm activity, and at a very low cost.