VIRGO

Brief Description

Black medick yields mainly during its first season. The main root is slender while the stems branching from the root neck are quite numerous. The stems are upright and edgy, fairly thick, 40-70 cm tall and branchy. The leaves are 3-coupled. The flowers are small and yellow in clusters of 15-25 on long thin stems.

Soil

Black medick is sensitive to acid soils but will otherwise thrive on a wide variety of soil types. It has only a limited need for water and is pretty drought resistant. The plant is resistant to nematodes but susceptible to Scletorium sclerotiorum.

Plant Growth

VIRGO has a long growing season starting its growth early in spring and flowers in Denmark around May 20. The re-growth is good after early cutting or grazing. For these purposes VIRGO is usually mixed with clovers and grasses.

Use

VIRGO can be used as a supplement to many clovers as well as for intercropping (green manure). It yields well in the first season and deposits nitrogen pr. ha for the following crop. It has its importance as intercrop in a good crop rotation and improves the soil life due to the deep growing roots.