Korunga

A valuable forage crop notable for improving soil fertility and serving as a good nectar plant. Rich in protein (17%), sainfoin holds an important place in artificial pasture blends under dry conditions and is among the most important legumes for soil improvement. Although it grows best in temperate climates, it tolerates drought and cold and is quite undemanding as to soil, growing even on poor, dry and calcareous soils. The best sowing time is early spring; in temperate regions it can also be sown in autumn. It needs little fertiliser, though 3–6 kg/da of phosphorus each year is beneficial. In the first year sainfoin should be cut only once for protection, or grazed lightly; in the second year the first growth should be cut and the second grazed — otherwise it fails to develop the following year. For hay it should be cut when most of the florets at the centre of the racemes have opened.

In official trials by the Ministry of Agriculture it averaged 3,071 kg/da of green herbage and 829 kg/da of hay. Average plant height is 99.6 cm. Analyses of the hay showed 15.7% crude protein, 24.6% crude cellulose, 91.5% dry matter and 2.3% crude fat.

Bred in our own breeding programme, this variety received its production permit in 2019 and seed multiplication is ongoing.