Long-lived perennial, spreads by rhizomes Tolerates slightly acid soil Most drought and cold resistant forage legume Nutritive value is like alfalfa, but yield is lower Used for soil stability and grazing Does not cause bloat Cicer milkvetch is a long-lived warm-season perennial legume that spreads by means of rhizomes. The plant may reach a height of three feet or more. Cicer milkvetch is adapted to a wide range of soil types including slightly acid soils to moderately alkaline soils. Cicer milkvetch has a high level of drought tolerance making the species adapted to areas where other legumes may not survive. This forage legume is a very winter-hardy species and is used in many areas for soil stabilization. Forage nutritive value of cicer milkvetch appears to be equivalent to that of alfalfa, although forage yields will generally only be about 75% of alfalfa. Cicer milkvetch does not cause bloat in livestock, but ruminants grazing pure stands of the plant have experienced photosensitization. This species may hold some potential for seeding with grasses in the drier parts of the state. Stand Establishment:  Seeding rate for cicer milkvetch is about 20 pounds per acre to obtain a pure stand; however, as little as 5 pounds per acre is adequate to start and let it spread by rhizomes and seeds to thicken up the pasture. It should only be sown in the early spring in Oklahoma.  It is the exception to the rule that perennial legumes may be sown in fall or spring. Fall plantings at several locations germinated and emerged in spring while early spring plantings from the same seed source germinated quickly. Images  Seeds
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