The alfalfa honey plant is a perennial and annual herb from the legume family. This plant can grow up to 1,2 meters in height. It differs from other herbaceous plants in its semi-shrub form.
It grows massively in the Caucasus and in the southern part of the European continent.
The content of the article
- 1 Significance for agriculture
- 1.1 Types
- 2 Honey productivity
- 3 Medicinal properties
Significance for agriculture
Alfalfa is widely used as a fodder and medicinal plant. Also in some areas it is the main source of nectar and pollen for bees. Strong bee colonies are taken to the fields with alfalfa to increase the productivity of apiaries.
To stimulate the active work of bees, a special flavored syrup is issued – as a result, they are not distracted by other honey plants. The frames with pollen for this period are taken and the nests are expanded with open brood.
Types
In agriculture, only two types of this family of honey plants are mainly cultivated:
Sowing alfalfa is a bushy herb with succulent green stems. When blooming, moth-shaped flowers are formed of a dark lilac or purple hue. It is rather difficult for bees to collect nectar and pollen due to the deep location of the nectar-bearing vein near the flower.
Yellow sickle alfalfa as a melliferous plant is more adapted to pollination. The inflorescences of the plant are collected in the form of brushes with a bright yellow or dark shade.
Since this forage grass blooms several times a year, constant participation of bee colonies is necessary for high-quality permanent pollination. The herb gives off nectar from noon to XNUMXpm. It is noted that the composition of the nectar changes depending on the time of day.
Honey productivity
Sowing variety blooms only once in the first year of life, and blooms profusely in the next two years. The period of its flowering depends on the time of the grass cutting. If the field is left unmown, in the first half of summer it blooms for more than a month.
In one day, a family can collect about 10 kilograms of nectar. From 1 hectare of irrigated land, 200-300 kilograms of marketable honey is obtained.
The honey is transparent with a slight amber tint. The taste is soft, without bitterness.
Sickle alfalfa the honey plant blooms from the beginning of summer and blooms until the very middle of autumn (a period of 30-35 days from the moment of mowing until the appearance of new inflorescences). The intensity of flowering depends on the time of the kneading. Collecting nectar – up to 200 kilograms per hectare.
Light amber honey with a delicate taste is obtained from this plant. The peculiarity of such a honey product is crystallization in a short time.
Medicinal properties
Alfalfa honey is rich in beneficial ingredients that help:
- with acute liver diseases;
- for external treatment of burns and wounds;
- with colds;
- with pneumonia.
The product is useful for strengthening blood vessels and lowering pressure.
Suitable for daily use. It has no side effects and is well tolerated by the human body.
