The cultivation of sulla in the Maltese islands

Abstract

Sulla is a plant which belongs to the leguminous family and is well adapted to the Mediterranean environment. It is able to grow in alkaline soils and tolerate the local climate. The crop can be found growing in the Maltese Islands either in the wild as one of the indigenous plants or cultivated to produce forages for animals. It is one of the most demanded forage crops due the high nutritional value of its leaves and stems. Sulla grows in symbiotic relationship with a specialised bacterium which is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen. The root nodules left in the soil after harvesting increase available nitrogen for the next crops. The leguminous crop is an important part of the crop rotation. The red flowers of Sulla are insect pollinated and produce abundance of nectar to attract the honey bees which produce Sulla honey in spring. The cultivation method of Sulla had changed through time, from the traditional method to the mechanical method. The change began when agriculture machinery was first introduced and continued gradually by the introduction of specified tractor implements. The revenue earned from the cultivation of Sulla, among other gained benefits, is higher when compared to other forage crops. The main reasons include the ability of the plant to produce high quality and quantity of forage and its ability to grow without the need of fertilisers. The Maltese Government together with the European Union are aware of the plant's values and introduced a scheme of subsidies directed to farmers in order to enhance its cultivation. In the past when humanity depended heavily on beasts Sulla was one of the major forage crops in the Maltese Islands. Nowadays fanners are paid for the quality of their products rather than the quantity and thus the demand for Sulla is on the rise again.