TITLE:
Self-Seeding Warm-Season Legumes for Low-Input Forage Production in the Southern Great Plains of the USA
AUTHORS:
Paul W. Bartholomew
KEYWORDS:
Korean Lespedeza, Verano Stylo, Self-Seeding, Forage
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.5 No.12,
October
29,
2014
ABSTRACT: In the southern Great Plains (SGP) of the USA warm-season legumes can
improve the quality of available forage in pasture systems based on perennial
warm-season grasses. Legumes that persist through self-seeding may be
especially useful in low-input systems where resources for annual replanting
are limited. The productivity and capacity for self-seeding of Korean lespedeza
(Kummerowia stipulacea [Maxim.]
Makino) and Verano stylo (Stylosanthes
hamata [L.] Taub.) were tested in controlled environment and in field plots
in the SGP. At similar levels of accumulated temperature, germination of Korean
lespedeza was unaffected by day/night temperature regimes between 15/15°C and
30/15°C. In contrast, at similar accumulated temperatures, germination of
Verano stylo increased with higher daytime maximum temperature up to 30°C.
Seedling growth of both species was reduced by shading, in proportion to the
reduction in photosynthetic flux density. Growth of Korean lespedeza up to five
weeks after emergence was greatest under a 22.5/7.5°C temperature regime but
that of Verano stylo was greatest at 30/15°C. In the field Korean lespedeza was
a prolific seeder and productive of forage though susceptible to significant
loss of leaf material in late summer and fall. Verano stylo did not reseed
effectively and was not a reliable forage producer.