Vicia sativa

pros

• An annual pasture, forage and grain legume, 

• Very palatable at all growth stages, from a young plant through to seedpods production in summer, 

• Highly nutritious - dry matter such as hay or silage   

• Improves soil fertility, structure and organic matter 

• Once establish smothers weeds

• Acts as a disease break between cereals in a rotation 

• Fixes atmospheric nitrogen in the soil; benefiting subsequent cereal crops 

• The same machinery is used for planting, maintenance and harvesting as is used for cereal crops

• Soft-seeded species are suitable in all crop rotations without the risk of voluntary plants creating a problem in following crops.