Louisa

Louisa is a variable variety of Medicago sativa L. nothosubsp. varia, included in the State Register of Selection Achievements of Russia for the Ural region and several other regions. The plant features a semi-erect, medium-height bush with branched stems and medium-sized leaves, the central leaflet of which is broad. Flowers are most often dark blue-violet, rarely cream, white, or yellow. Seeds are spindle-shaped, yellow-brown, with a 1000-seed mass of about 2.1–2.2 grams and a hard seed content of 10–30%. The variety shows medium resistance to Fusarium wilt and low susceptibility to small brown spot disease.

Louisa lucerne has high dry matter yield, which varies across regions from 31.3 to 53.0 centners per hectare. In the Ural region, the average yield is about 31.3 centners per hectare, in the Central region – 37.5 centners per hectare, and in the Volga-Vyatka region it reaches 53.0 centners per hectare. The variety has an average flowering time, making it suitable for efficient use in forage production.

This plant is one of the most valuable forage crops due to its high protein, phosphorus, calcium, and essential amino acid content. Lucerne can be used as a primary feed for livestock, providing animals with necessary nutrients without additional protein supplements. In addition to agricultural applications, lucerne also finds its place in folk medicine and cosmetology, highlighting its versatility and beneficial properties.