From page 28
in breaking up soil that has
become compressed. This
he most common cultivar is
Nooitgedacht. The leaves can improves drainage and air
movement in the soil. This
be cut and the tubers left in
radish also helps combat
the ground so that regrowth
nematodes. Many producers
takes place.
and researchers are experiRadish is a good crop for
menting with cover crop
rotational cropping systems,
especially after a few years of mixtures that combine radish
pasture just prior to planting a with legume cover crops that
grain crop. Fodder radish can fix nitrogen (eg grazing vetch)
and temperate grasses (eg,
be grazed but, to optimally
use most of the plant material, black oats), hence providing
more persistent residues.
it can be removed from the
K Lucerne is often described
soil and fed to livestock.
It has already been noted that as the king of fodder and is
the radish is particularly useful well known as a winter fodder
crop. The
planting
time is
September to
March.
Lucerne
averages
around
15%
protein,
and is a
preferred
choice of
feed for a
Lucerne, the king of fodder crops
IN THE FIELD
wide variety of animals
including equines, cattle,
sheep, goats and game.
Normally the lower dormancy
varieties (dormancy 4/5) are
used for grazing, medium
dormancy (dormancy 6/7) can
be used for grazing and
haymaking, and high dormancy (dormancy 9/10) are
used mainly for haymaking they're a lot less dormant and
therefore still grow throughout
winter. (source:
Bulkseeds.co.za).
Lucerne's deep root system is
a great compaction-buster.
Lucerne has a very deep
rooting system and the plant
can grow to 4-9 m in total
length. After the formation of
its crown, it can withstand
continuous grazing. It is a
perennial that can live for up
to eight years and the flowers
are very attractive to bees.
K Annual ryegrass is a quickgrowing, non-spreading
bunch grass, and is a reliable,
versatile performer almost
anywhere, assuming adequate
moisture and fertility. It does a
33
www.sasmallholder.co.za
fine job of holding soil,
taking up excess nitrogen
and outcompeting weeds.
Ryegrass has an extensive,
soil-holding root system, so it
is useful in combating soil
erosion. Its dense yet shallow
root system improves water
infiltration and enhances soil
tilth. Rapid aboveground
growth helps to supply
organic matter. It makes
palatable forage.