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Sainfoin

Onobrychis viciifolia

Introduced Perennial Legume, Seed Code: ONVI

• Seeds per pound: 28,000
• Plant Height: 2 Feet or
• Planting Rate: 5-15 PLS lbs. per Acre
• Precipitation requirements: 15 to 18 Inches
• Plant varieties: Eski, Remont, Renumex

Sainfoin is deep-rooted and very drought resistant provided the annual rainfall is 12 inches or more. It yields best on deep, well-drained soils, and will not withstand wet soils or high water tables. The seed used to establish this crop is, in fact, a pod which contains a single seed. Even without the pod the true seed is large. There are only 28,000 seeds per pound.

Sainfoin has good drought resistance and grows well on a variety of soils. It does especially well on high lime well drained soils. It has a low tolerance to flooding, waterlogging or even high water table. It is intolerant of acidity and salinity.

Sainfoin begins growth in the spring about the same time as alfalfa, but flowers one to two weeks earlier. First cutting hay yields have exceeded those of alfalfa in Montana, but alfalfa yields are greater in subsequent cuttings. On areas where hay production is limited to one cutting on dryland or because of a shortage of irrigation water, it may replace alfalfa.

Sainfoin is very palatable, and is grazed by livestock in preference to alfalfa. It is relished by deer. It is reportedly non-bloating. Although very coarse, the herbage is highly nutritious. Compared with alfalfa, forage dry matter yields of sainfoin are about 20 percent lower under dryland conditions, and may be 30 percent or more lower in irrigated areas. The primary reason for using sainfoin is that Onobrychis species have never been known to cause bloat. It is highly palatable to both sheep and cattle, being preferred over alfalfa. It may be grazed or used for hay either alone or in mixtures with grasses. It grows well with Russian wildrye and crested wheatgrass. Under irrigation, sainfoin is shorter lived than alfalfa, but rotational grazing has been shown to prolong its life.

This crop is generally less hardy than adapted varieties of alfalfa. It tends to be short-lived, and depending on adaptability to a given site, it may yield well for one or more production years. Although it is easy to establish, the seedlings lack competitive ability.

Sainfoin is well suited to hay harvesting as it grows upright and is easily cut. It is somewhat higher in moisture content than alfalfa. Since regrowth is very poor, it is best suited to taking one clipping at about the half to full bloom stage. Unlike alfalfa, it does not drop its lower leaves. The stems remain succulent as the plant matures so that quality does not decrease so rapidly. It competes poorly in mixtures with aggressive grasses. The advantages of sainfoin for pasture use include excellent quality and palatability that give superior animal performance without the danger of bloat.

It is adapted to dryland pastures as well, and grows satisfactorily in mixtures with bunchgrasses such as Russian wildrye or crested wheatgrass. However, total yields are slightly higher when sainfoin is grown alone. Sainfoin is a very early-growing legume, and it may tolerate light grazing during the bud stage and still yield a good crop of hay. Residual yield after hay cutting may be grazed, but once this species reaches full bloom, regrowth is very poor.

Price (per Pound):$2.75