450 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Aug., 1916. 



Soil Requirements of Lucerne, 



So far as the soil conditions are concerned rich river flats resting on 

 a well-drained, porous subsoil present almost ideal conditions for lucerne. 



The soil® of the Nemingha Valley, in New South Wales, and at 

 Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, and the reclaimed swamps along the Murray 

 River (S.A.) are of this character, and it is on these soils that we see 

 lucerne at its best. 



In these subsoils the lucerne can develop its wonderful root system, 

 carry on its unequalled power of nitrogen fixation, and draw the necessary 

 water supplies for the vigorous overhead develcpment of the plant. 



In the Nemingha Valley irrigation is unnecessary, as the district 

 enjoys a good rainfall and the roots are within easy reach of sub- 

 terranean water. On the reclaimed swamps of the Murray River and 

 at Bacchus March lucerne may be seen at its best under irrigation. 



Fig. 1. — View Showing Method of Harvesting Lucerne, State Research 



Farm, Werrlbee. 



The high rentals paid for lucerne lands in these areas are a striking 

 testimony of the wealth-producing power of the lucerne plant. Un- 

 fortunately the areas, of such superlatively rich soil are limited, and 

 the great bulk of the soil and subsoil on which lucerne is grown has 

 neither the favorable mechanical condition nor the chemical composition 

 of these naturally rich soils. Much of the lucerne in the irrigation 

 areas has been sown on old wheat lands. These coiisist mostly of clay 

 loams resting on a more or less stiff clay subsoil. These soils are well 

 suited for wheat-growing, but the subsoils are generally too stiflp to 

 permit the perfect development of the root system of the lucerne, and 

 the overhead growth — and consequently the yield of produce per acre — is 

 considerably less than that of the more favoured districts. On many 

 of the settlements, particularly Cohuna, and Bamawm, and Shep,parton, 

 loamy soils resting on porus subsoils are often met with, and on these 



