THE HAY BARN GLOSSARY

Leafiness - The relative proportion of leaves to stems present in hay. Leafiness is also related to the stage of maturity, especially in grass hays. The younger the plant, the greater the proportion of leaves. As a grass matures, stems increase, thus decreasing the quality of the forage.

Legume - Members of the plant family Fabaceae. Legumes include such plants as alfalfa, clover, lespedeza, peas, beans, lupins and peanuts. Legumes are higher in protein than grass pasture or hay. Legumes are noteworthy for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, an accomplishment attributable to a symbiotic relationship with certain bacteria known as rhizobia found in root nodules of these plants. The ability to form this symbiosis reduces fertilizer costs for farmers and gardeners who grow legumes, and means that legumes can be used in a crop rotation to replenish soil that has been depleted of nitrogen.

The Hay Barn Glossary