Fodder Galega vs. Alfalfa: Yield and Feed Value of Leaves, Stems, and Whole Plants

Abstract

Fodder galega (Galega orientalis Lam.) is a perennial forage legume that can be an alternative to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) under more difficult environmental conditions. Galega is characterized by leafiness, and technology is now available to harvest leaves separately from stems, providing opportunity to utilize the more nutritious leaves as a feed protein source, and stems for alternative purposes. Our objective was to assess leaf, stem, and whole plant production and nutritive value of galega relative to alfalfa. Field-grown galega and alfalfa were sequentially harvested from bud to late flower maturity stages in first and second growth over two years. The proportion of leaves in galega at each harvest was greater than that of alfalfa, on average by 35%. The yield of galega leaves and yield of crude protein (CP) from leaves was also greater, on average by 31% and 18%, respectively. However, galega leaves had lower CP concentration, contained more fiber, and were less digestible than alfalfa leaves. Although the proportion of stems in galega was lower, the mean dry matter yield of stems of both species was similar. Crude protein concentration in the stems of both species was similar, but galega stems tended to contain more fiber and be less digestible than alfalfa stems. The dry matter yield of whole plant galega was greater than that of alfalfa, especially in the spring cut. Whole plant galega contained, on average, 6% more CP, and galega protein yield was also 16% greater than that of alfalfa. Whole plants of both species were generally characterized by similar levels of fiber and digestibility. The relatively high leaf-protein yield of galega under a two-harvest regime makes fractional harvest of this crop an attractive management strategy.

Fodder Galega—Persistence as a Special Asset in Sustainable Agriculture

“…The mean proportion of leaves in the yield of the first cut was 50.2, the second 64.5, and the third 66.0%, with the standard deviation being 3.56, 2.63, and 6.99, respectively (Figure 4). The foliage of the plants was not related to the stand age, which is also evidenced by the results from 2016 and 2017 when the proportion of leaves in the yield of the first cut was even higher than in the first ten production years and amounted to 58.2 and 62.2%, respectively [27].…”

“…However, there was a linear decrease in yields in the third cut. It is worth noting, however, that in the same field in 2016, the yield of the first, second, and third cuts of galega was 317, 349, and 385 g m 2 , respectively, and in 2017, only two cuts were harvested-161 and 191 g m 2 [27]. We cite these later data to indicate that the breakdown in yield trends shown in Figure 1 occurred after 10 years of galega production.…”

“…One experiment, established in 1988, was fully utilized and evaluated for 10 years, and then the cultivation was extended by using the crops for cattle feed, and the field with galega was plowed in 2018. However, plant samples were taken from this crop in 2016 and 2017, and the results were used in other publications [19,27]. Galega was mostly harvested three times during the growing season.…”

“…This could be related to the progressive development of the root, which also enabled the development of the above-ground parts. However, the tendency to grow longer stems must have changed after the 10th production year because in 2016 and 2017, the height of the plants from the first cut was 90 and 58 cm, respectively, and from the second, 114 and 67 cm [27]. The mean proportion of leaves in the yield of the first cut was 50.2, the second 64.5, and the third 66.0%, with the standard deviation being 3.56, 2.63, and 6.99, respectively (Figure 4).…”

“…This could be related to the progressive development of the root, which also enabled the development of the above-ground parts. However, the tendency to grow longer stems must have changed after the 10th production year because in 2016 and 2017, the height of the plants from the first cut was 90 and 58 cm, respectively, and from the second, 114 and 67 cm [27].…”