Alfalfa

Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
Division:
Magnoliophyta
Order:
Fabales
Family:
Fabaceae
Subfamily:
Faboideae
Tribe:
Trifolieae
Genus:
Medicago
Binomial name
Medicago sativa

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is also known as the lucerne. It is native to the Near East and central Asia. It has been introduced to Europe, central Africa, China, North America, and South America. Alfalfa is a crop mostly used to feed all kinds of livestock, and especially horses and dairy cattle. It is a legume that fixes more nitrogen in the soil than soybeans.

Nutritional value

Sprouted alfalfa seeds.

Alfalfa is high in protein, calcium and other minerals, vitamins in the B group, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K. The sun-dried hay of alfalfa has been found to be a source of vitamin D, containing 48 ng/g (1920 IU/kg)[clarification needed] vitamin D2 and 0.63 ng/g (25 IU/kg) vitamin D3. There is reference to vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 being found in the alfalfa shoot; this is awaiting verification. Mushrooms are not allowed in Jain vegetarianism, making alfalfa the only known source which Jains can use to make vitamin D2 supplements.

Other websites

References

  1. ↑ Alfalfa Plant Fact Sheet. (2002, February 5). Retrieved from U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service: https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_mesa.pdf
  2. ↑ Killpack, S. C., & Buchholz, D. (2022, November). Nitrogen in the Environment: Nitrogen Replacement Value of Legumes. Retrieved from University of Missouri Extension: https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/wq277
  3. ↑
    • Nutrition Research Center, Alfalfa Nutritional Value Archived 2010-04-14 at the Wayback Machine. Nutritionresearchcenter.org (21 March 2008). Retrieved on 17 October 2011.
    • The Facts About Alfalfa, Melissa Kaplans' Herb Care. Anapsid.org. Retrieved on 17 October 2011.
    • Diamond, Marilyn (1990). The American Vegetarian Cookbook from the Fit For Life Kitchen. New York: Warner Books. p. 379. ISBN 0-446-51561-2.
  4. ↑ Horst R.L. et al 1984. The isolation and identification of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 from Medicago sativa (alfalfa plant). Archives of biochemistry and biophysics 231 (1): 67–71.
  5. ↑ Chemical Information[permanent dead link]