THE LEGUME—A REAPPRAISAL OF ITS PLACE IN TODAY'S FARMING*

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe last 10 years have seen a marked shift in Britain from the growing of legumes towards the use of fertilizer N. Many farmers are now reassessing the position Decause of increasing fertilizer prices and because of improvements in clovers and lucerne through plant breeding.On the intensive dairy farm legumes can play an important part in the conseravation block. The yield of lucerne without applied N is as high as from ryegrass with 250 units N/ac. Red clover is also useful over a wide range of soil types.On the less intensive farm, white clover should be contributing throughout the grazing area. there are many reasons for poor white clover populations in pastures; one of these is the fungus disease Sclerotinia trifoliorum, commonly known as clover rot. Varieties resistant to this disease are available in both red and white‐clover. Verticillium wilt in lucerne bas also been checked by the plant breeder.Improved legume varieties justify a completely new look at these crops and the possibilities for lucerne in this country appear to be particularly good.