One of the most dependable cool season annual forages Tolerates acid soil but not poor drainage Large seeds can emerge through thatch Good seed production -- problem? Short period of high production Hairy vetch and common vetch are widespread in Oklahoma and offer much potential for increased forage production. Many producers are reluctant to use vetch in rotations with other crops for fear of infesting grain crops, making harvest activity difficult. The genus Vicia contains about 150 species, including 15 that are native to the US; however, most vetch species are native to the Mediterranean region of southern Europe. Vetches are widely grown in temperate areas of the world, including Oklahoma. Hairy vetch is one of the most dependable cool-season annual legumes throughout the state. The plant has a large seed which allows seedlings to emerge through a thatch of 3 to 4 inches to reach the sunlight. Hairy vetch is fairly tolerant of acid soils, but soils should be well drained. Hairy vetch has a vine-like growth habit with a peak production period during April. Plants bloom in early May and mature seed by late May. If allowed to mature, hairy vetch has a good reseeding capability. Stems of both common vetch and hairy vetch bear leaves with pinnate leaflets and terminate in tendrils that attach themselves to stems of other plants. White or purple flowers, depending on the species, are borne in a cluster or raceme. Both common and hairy vetch have purple flowers but common vetch has only two flowers (and pods) in a cluster; whereas, hairy vetch has many flowers in a cluster. Dry matter production is normally less than that of other cool-season annual legumes but the plant is a dependable producer. Hairy vetch can be grazed or harvested as a hay crop. Vetches, seeded on prepared land in autumn, can produce 1 to 2 tons per acre by early spring season. Hairy vetch can be overseeded on warm-season grass sods to extend the grazing season and provide good beef steer gains. Grazing of vetch should not begin until the plants are at least 6 inches tall. Close grazing below the lowest leaf axil will remove axillary buds, resulting in slow regrowth. Cattle grazing a pure stand of vetch have developed dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), similar to photosensitization. This has not been a problem when adequate grass was available with the vetch. Cattle may develop muscular problems when grazing vetch, especially when the seeds are forming. Moving the cattle to another pasture without vetch is the only practical way to control this problem. Vetch seed yields range from 300 to 1000 pounds per acre. Vetch seed should be harvested when most seed pods have turned brown. Hairy vetch will shatter quickly after pods are mature, and delay in harvesting may cause heavy shattering losses. Insects are a problem with vetches, particularly in seed production. Pea aphids, corn earworm, fall armyworm, and spider mites, can damage vetch. Hairy vetch is susceptible to the vetch bruchid or weevil, which destroys the interior of the seed and which may not emerge for several weeks after harvest, leaving only empty seed coats. This insect pest may be responsible for poor natural reseeding of hairy vetch in pastures.
Images Seed pods Seeds Common vetch pods  White vetch pods Flowers Leaves
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