The term “tare plant” refers to Vicia sativa, or Common Vetch, a member of the legume family, Fabaceae. This versatile annual plant is distributed across the globe, occupying a space in agriculture as both a highly valued cover crop and a common, sometimes problematic, volunteer plant in cultivated fields. Its ability to thrive in various temperate environments has made it a historical part of farming practices.
Defining the Tare Plant (Vicia sativa)
This herbaceous annual is characterized by a sprawling or semi-erect growth habit, often utilizing small tendrils at the ends of its leaves to climb and support its thin, angled stems. The leaves are compound, typically consisting of three to eight pairs of leaflets. A distinguishing feature is its flowers, which are generally reddish-violet or purple, appearing solitary or in pairs in the leaf axils. As a legume, Vicia sativa engages in a symbiotic relationship with specific soil bacteria, forming root nodules that allow it to perform atmospheric nitrogen fixation, enriching the soil. The mature plant produces cylindrical pods containing four to twelve seeds that are typically black or brownish.
Primary Uses in Agriculture
The intentional cultivation of the tare plant is largely driven by its substantial utility, particularly its nitrogen-fixing ability and high nutritional content. Farmers utilize it extensively as a green manure crop, where the whole plant is incorporated into the soil. This practice significantly reduces the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers for subsequent crops, improving soil health and decreasing the carbon footprint of farming operations. The plant is also widely used as a cover crop, particularly in vineyards and orchards, to suppress weeds and reduce soil erosion; its dense, fibrous root system helps to stabilize the soil, preventing the loss of topsoil. Furthermore, the tare plant provides palatable forage for livestock, including cattle and sheep, and is valued for its high protein content when used as hay, silage, or grazing material.
Ecological Presence and Management
While often planted intentionally, the tare plant also exists as a common volunteer plant or weed, especially in cultivated grain fields. Its status as a weed stems from its ability to rapidly colonize disturbed areas and its hardiness across diverse soil types. The seeds of Vicia sativa can be difficult to separate from harvested grain like lentils due to their similar size, which can downgrade the value of the main crop. When its presence is undesirable, management strategies focus on prevention and control, often involving pre-sowing or post-sowing pre-emergence chemical applications. For non-chemical management, crop rotation and mechanical removal are employed, but the plant’s hard seed levels mean that seeds from previous seasons can volunteer in subsequent crops.