Common Vetch

Vicia sativa L.

Symbol:

VISA

Group:

Dicot

Description:

Herbaceous, annual legume with viny growth habit. Commonly used for forage in combination with cereal grains for hay or silage in areas with mild winters. Less winter hardy than hairy vetch. In Oregon, primarily suited to areas west of the Cascade mountains. Also used for soil conservation and as a green manure crop. Can be used in combination with annual ryegrass for pasture. Performs well in a wide range of soils but not as tolerant of wet soils as hairy vetch.

Identification Characteristics

Type:

Legume

Identification Characteristics:

Reddish-purple, pea-shaped flowers occur singly or in pairs in leaf axils. Leaves are pinnately compound with 4-10 obovate-lanceolate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_leaf_morphology) leaflets with a blunt-end point. Stipule is small, toothed, and may have a purple spot. Taproots can grow 40 to 70 inches (100 to 175 cm) deep, with prolific smaller roots in the upper 6-12 inches (15 to 30 cm). Seed pods contain 8-10 seeds that globose or somewhat compressed, 0.1-0.2 inch (3 to 5 mm) in diameter, smooth, dull or velvety, greenish gray to maroon or black, rarely yellowish white-orange to cream-colored and oval to wedge shaped.

Climate and Soil Suitability Zones

Climate Tolerances:

Grown as a winter annual in mild winter areas and as a summer annual in more northern areas. Winter hardy through USDA Plant Hardiness zone 3; Jan mean minimum of -20 °F, -29 °C); American Horticultural Society Heat Zones 1-9 (<150 days above 86 ˚F (30 C)]. Requires 40-60 inches (1000-1500 mm) of precipitation or irrigation.

Soil Tolerances:

Tolerant of moderately acid to moderately alkaline soils (pH 5.6-8.4). Moderately sensitive of saline conditions (1.5-3 dS/m).

Cultivars

Cultivars include 'Willamette,' 'Pearl,' 'Doark,' 'Warrior,' 'Blanchegraine,' 'Vedoc,' 'Obrazet,' 'Nora II,' 'Vanguard,' 'Cahaba White,' and 'Vantage' are hybrids of Vicia sativa X Vicia cordata.

Quality and Antiquality Factors

Quality Factors:

When harvested at early bloom stage, can have excellent forage quality. In a mixture with cereals, quality will depend on maturity of the cereal, being highest at milk or early soft dough stage.

Anti-quality Factors:

If grazing pure stands, bloat is a hazard. In mixtures, risk is minimal.