As a nitrogen-fixing legume, sainfoin is used both as green manure and cover crop. In abandoned areas and hill slopes, where erosion may be a problem, sainfoin seedlings may prevent desertification and erosion, and maintain soil fertility. Its melliferous flowers attract bees and birds and enhance biodiversity.
The high tannin concentration of sainfoin prevents bloating in ruminants, and reduces methane and ammonia production. It is also beneficial to include sainfoin in grass pasture as it lowers the N fertilizer requirements of the grass and thus the N intake and subsequent urinary N output of cattle (Waghorn, 2008).