ABC of highveld lucerne

It can be one of the most profitable of crops if you know what you are doing.

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Here, a producer near Vanderbijlpark passes on his know-how. The successful production of lucerne in mostly unsuitable areas depends on two factors: the correct soil and sufficient water, says Theo Schmidt, who farms just west of Vanderbijlpark in Gauteng. His farm covers 2,000 ha, of which 1 020ha are planted to crops. About two-thirds of his lands are Hutton soils and the balance sandy Avalons. Water is no problem in this 700mm rainfall area because Schmidt is contracted to take 13 million litres of purified water a day from the sewage works. While his main source of income is from 340ha of seed maize, he has 600ha of commercial maize with 51ha of wheat and 35ha of lucerne under irrigation. Pastures and natural veld, oversown with palatable grass, provide grazing for 400 beef cattle, 100 dairy cows and a herd of gemsbok.

He maintains that lucerne does well on deep, well-drained soils and it is vital that land intended for this crop is prepared several months before sowing. Soil samples should be taken to determine the pH and the pre-planting fertiliser requirements.