Self-Seeding Warm-Season Legumes for Low-Input Forage Production in the Southern Great Plains of the USA
Author(s)
Paul W. Bartholomew
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.
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.
Cite this paper
Bartholomew, P. (2014) Self-Seeding Warm-Season Legumes for Low-Input Forage Production in the Southern Great Plains of the USA. Agricultural Sciences, 5, 1112-1118. doi: 10.4236/as.2014.512121.
Bartholomew, P. (2014) Self-Seeding Warm-Season Legumes for Low-Input Forage Production in the Southern Great Plains of the USA. Agricultural Sciences, 5, 1112-1118. doi: 10.4236/as.2014.512121.
References
[1] Posler, G.L., Lenssen, A.W. and Fine, G.L. (1993) Forage Yield, Quality, Compatibility, Persistence of Warm-Season Grass-Legume Mixtures. Agronomy Journal, 85, 554-560.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj1993.00021962008500030007x [2] Banta, M. and Thro, A.M. (1995) Agronomic Characterisation of Stylosanthes biflora. Tropical Grasslands, 29, 155-162. [3] Rao, S.C., Mayeux, H.S. and Northup, B.K. (2005) Performance of Forage Soybean in the Southern Great Plains. Crop Science, 45, 1973-1977.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2004.0598 [4] Rao, S.C. and Northup, B.K. (2008) Planting Date Affects Production and Quality of Grass Pea Forage. Crop Science, 48, 1629-1635.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2007.11.0622 [5] Beuselinck, P.R., Bouton, J.H., Lamp, W.O., Matches, A.G., McCaslin, M.H., Nelson, C.J., Rhodes, L.H., Sheaffer, C.C. and Volenec, J.J. (1994) Improving Legume Persistence in Forage Crop Systems. Journal of Production Agriculture, 7, 311-322.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/jpa1994.0311 [6] Davis, D.K., McGraw, R.L. and Beuselinck, P.R. (1994) Herbage and Seed Production of Annual Lespedezas as Affected by Harvest Management. Agronomy Journal, 86, 704-706.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj1994.00021962008600040022x [7] Bartholomew, P.W. and Williams, R.D. (2010) Overseeding Unimproved Warm-Season Pasture with Cool- and Warm-Season Legumes to Enhance Forage Productivity. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 34, 125-140.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10440040903482407 [8] Rao, S.C. and Phillips, W.A. (1999) Forage Production and Nutritive Value of Three Lespedeza Cultivars Intercropped into Continuous No-Till Winter Wheat. Journal of Production Agriculture, 12, 235-238.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/jpa1999.0235 [9] Bayer, W. and Waters-Bayer, A. (1989) Adapting Tropical Pasture Research to the Production System: From Australian Ranching to African Pastoralism. Experimental Agriculture, 25, 277-289. [10] Coelho, R.W., Mott, G.O., Ocumpaugh, W.R. and Brolmann, J.B. (1981) Agronomic Evaluation of Some Stylosanthes Species in North Florida, USA. Tropical Grasslands, 15, 31-37. [11] Genstat (2008) Genstat for Windows, Release 11.1.0.1575. 11th Edition, VSN International Ltd., Oxford, UK. [12] Edye, L.A. (1997) Commercial Development of Stylosanthes Pastures in Northern Australia. 1. Cultivar Development within Stylosanthes in Australia. Tropical Grasslands, 31, 503-508.
[1] Posler, G.L., Lenssen, A.W. and Fine, G.L. (1993) Forage Yield, Quality, Compatibility, Persistence of Warm-Season Grass-Legume Mixtures. Agronomy Journal, 85, 554-560.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj1993.00021962008500030007x [2] Banta, M. and Thro, A.M. (1995) Agronomic Characterisation of Stylosanthes biflora. Tropical Grasslands, 29, 155-162. [3] Rao, S.C., Mayeux, H.S. and Northup, B.K. (2005) Performance of Forage Soybean in the Southern Great Plains. Crop Science, 45, 1973-1977.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2004.0598 [4] Rao, S.C. and Northup, B.K. (2008) Planting Date Affects Production and Quality of Grass Pea Forage. Crop Science, 48, 1629-1635.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2007.11.0622 [5] Beuselinck, P.R., Bouton, J.H., Lamp, W.O., Matches, A.G., McCaslin, M.H., Nelson, C.J., Rhodes, L.H., Sheaffer, C.C. and Volenec, J.J. (1994) Improving Legume Persistence in Forage Crop Systems. Journal of Production Agriculture, 7, 311-322.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/jpa1994.0311 [6] Davis, D.K., McGraw, R.L. and Beuselinck, P.R. (1994) Herbage and Seed Production of Annual Lespedezas as Affected by Harvest Management. Agronomy Journal, 86, 704-706.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj1994.00021962008600040022x [7] Bartholomew, P.W. and Williams, R.D. (2010) Overseeding Unimproved Warm-Season Pasture with Cool- and Warm-Season Legumes to Enhance Forage Productivity. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 34, 125-140.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10440040903482407 [8] Rao, S.C. and Phillips, W.A. (1999) Forage Production and Nutritive Value of Three Lespedeza Cultivars Intercropped into Continuous No-Till Winter Wheat. Journal of Production Agriculture, 12, 235-238.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/jpa1999.0235 [9] Bayer, W. and Waters-Bayer, A. (1989) Adapting Tropical Pasture Research to the Production System: From Australian Ranching to African Pastoralism. Experimental Agriculture, 25, 277-289. [10] Coelho, R.W., Mott, G.O., Ocumpaugh, W.R. and Brolmann, J.B. (1981) Agronomic Evaluation of Some Stylosanthes Species in North Florida, USA. Tropical Grasslands, 15, 31-37. [11] Genstat (2008) Genstat for Windows, Release 11.1.0.1575. 11th Edition, VSN International Ltd., Oxford, UK. [12] Edye, L.A. (1997) Commercial Development of Stylosanthes Pastures in Northern Australia. 1. Cultivar Development within Stylosanthes in Australia. Tropical Grasslands, 31, 503-508.