Legumes - Vetch (Common, Hairy, and Big Flower) - Forages of Florida - Solutions for Your Life - UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Vetch (Common, Hairy, and Big Flower)
Species:	Vetch (Common, Hairy, and Big Flower)
Scientific Name:	'Common' (Vicia sativa) 'Hairy' (Vicia villosa) 'Big Flower' (Vicia grandiflora)
Cultivars:	Common Vetch: Americus, AU (provides early cover), Cahaba White, and Nova II Specie currently under evaluation (season 2008-09). For the cool-season forage variety recommendations report, cl ick this link.
Growth Habit:	2-4 feet tall, vine, purple flowers (hairy vetch), white flowers (Common vetch), and pale yellow (big flower vetch)
Life Cycle:	Annual
Origin:	Mediterranean Region
Production Season:	March to May
Nutritive Value:	Varies depending on maturity (leaf:stem ratio) Usually medium to high crude protein; medium to high digestibility.
Use:	Grazing, pasture
Herbarium Image:	For an herbarium image click this link.
Adaptation
Soil:	Well drained, fertile, loam
pH:	5.5-7.5
Rainfall:
Temperature:	Cool-season
Management
Planting Date:	October 1 to November 15
Planting Depth:	<1/4 t0 1/2 inch
Seeding Rate:	Common vetch (30 to 35 lb/acre); Hairy and bigflower vetch (20 to 25 lb/acre) Inoculate seed with rhizobium bacteria type 'C', Vetch & Pea group
Seed Cost:	$2/lb; 40 to 60/acre
Fertilization:	For fertilization info see following click this link.
Production:	2000-4000 lb/acre
Notes
Vetches have not been productive in Florida. Cattle grazing pure stands develop a dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) similar to photosensitization, which has been reported in other Southern states.

Vetch (Common, Hairy, and Big Flower)

Adaptation

Management

Notes