Metacultures – Vetch, an efficient and reliable soil helper

Vetch (Vicia sativa) is an annual crop of the legume family. The high content of protein, minerals and carbohydrates makes it an excellent fodder crop for livestock. Veal biomass can be used as fodder, pasture, silage or hay, and seeds are a high protein source for ruminants.

Vetch is an excellent nitrogen fixer due to its ability to build symbiosis with the nitrogen-fixing bacteria Rhizobium sp. This makes it a very good precursor for any culture. It is extremely competitive against weeds. It quickly produces biomass, and the structure of the root system makes it an excellent choice for combining with other cover crops aimed at improving soil structure.

When terminated late (April-May), the blue-purple colour of the Vetch blossom attracts useful pollinators.

Although it is a spring crop, Vetch has good cold tolerance and manages well over the winter months when grown together with other overwintering crops, such as rye, triticale and turnip. It is tolerant of spring frosts and prolonged drought.