Author
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Cassida, Kimberly |
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Submitted to: American Forage and Grassland Council Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2003 Publication Date: 4/27/2003 Citation: CASSIDA, K.A. SURVIVAL AND RESEEDING OF ANNUAL LEGUMES IN SOUTHERN ARKANSAS. AMERICAN FORAGE AND GRASSLAND COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. 2003. v. 12. p. 281-285. Interpretive Summary: An annual legume with good climatic adaptation and natural reseeding ability would benefit southern forage producers because the cost of annual planting would be eliminated. Therefore, I tested reseeding potential of ten new cultivated legume species or varieties in a climate with wet, cold winters. Results suggest cold temperatures will be most limiting for successful adoption of subterranean, balansa, and persian clovers in the region, but good potential pasture yields and reseeding may make them worth risking. This work is useful to plant breeders working to improve adaptive traits of alternative forages, and to producers looking for those alternative forages. It will benefit our economy by giving producers alternatives to nitrogen fertilization and reducing the cost of production. Technical Abstract: Climatic adaptation and reseeding ability of subterranean (Trifolium subterraneum L.), persian (T. resupinatum L.) , rose (T. hirtum All.) and balansa (T. michelianum Savi) clovers, and burr (Medicago polymorpha L.), button (M. orbicularis All.) and black (M. lupulina L.) medics were evaluated at the Southwestern Research and Extension Center in Hope, Arkansas. Legumes were drilled into clean seedbeds during October, harvested once the following spring when they reached approximately full bloom, and then allowed to regrow and set seed. Reseeded stands were harvested the following spring. Subterranean, balansa and persian clover stands were damaged by cold temperatures, but good reseeding may make them worth the risk. The short growth habit of subterranean clover makes it more suitable for pasture than for hay. Black medics had good cold tolerance, but had low yields and failed to reseed. Armadillo burr medic was too cold intolerant and susceptible to insect and disease pests to be a good legume for southern Arkansas. The BECOM burr medic selection exhibited sightly better cold tolerance, suggesting that this trait might be improved by breeding. Button medic had excellent cold tolerance and good potential yield, but was susceptible to insect pests and difficult to scarify enough to insure good germination immediately after planting. |
