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.
Highlights
Feed quality of unimproved warm-season pastures in the Southern Great Plains (SGP) can be improved by in-How to cite this paper: Bartholomew, P.W. (2014) Self-Seeding Warm-Season Legumes for Low-Input Forage Production in the Southern Great Plains of the USA
Korean lespedeza (Kummerowia stipulacea [Maxim.] Makino) is recognized as a useful summer annual legume forage that has the capacity to self-reseed [6] [7], and it has been used with some success in the SGP as a relay crop following a winter cereal [8]
In central Florida S. hamata has demonstrated rapid maturity and a capacity for seed production [10] but it is untested in the SGP where successful re-establishment of annual legumes is likely to be constrained by low temperatures early in the growing season and by competition with regrowing warm-season grass as the season advances
Summary
Feed quality of unimproved warm-season pastures in the Southern Great Plains (SGP) can be improved by in-How to cite this paper: Bartholomew, P.W. (2014) Self-Seeding Warm-Season Legumes for Low-Input Forage Production in the Southern Great Plains of the USA. (2014) Self-Seeding Warm-Season Legumes for Low-Input Forage Production in the Southern Great Plains of the USA. Korean lespedeza (Kummerowia stipulacea [Maxim.] Makino) is recognized as a useful summer annual legume forage that has the capacity to self-reseed [6] [7], and it has been used with some success in the SGP as a relay crop following a winter cereal [8]. In central Florida S. hamata has demonstrated rapid maturity and a capacity for seed production [10] but it is untested in the SGP where successful re-establishment of annual legumes is likely to be constrained by low temperatures early in the growing season and by competition with regrowing warm-season grass as the season advances. The objectives of this work were to assess the capacity of lespedeza and stylo for growth under low-temperature and limited light input, in controlled and field environments, to evaluate their potential for use as summer forages in low input livestock production systems in the SGP
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
