Soil improver, weed and erosion control
Black medic has long been used in orchards and vineyards for soil coverage (Brinton, 1989 cited by UC SAREP, 2006). It helps preserving the organic content and N status of the soil thanks to its ability to fix nitrogen. It is used to preserve soil moisture and prevent weed development thanks to its quick spring regrowth (Clark, 2007). In Austria, it has been referred to as a soil stabilizer of highway borders (Hanelt et al., 2001).
Phytoremediation
Black medic can be used for the remediation of soils containing high levels of heavy metals such as lead (Pb) as it can accumulate high amounts of lead in its roots without translocating it to its aerial parts (Amer et al., 2013).