Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
Tropical legumes hold potential to contribute to pasture programs throughout tropical and subtropical America, even though there is currently limited use of these legumes. Several tropical legume accessions have been identified as adapted to the climatic and edaphic conditions of the wet-dry, low-fertility subtropical conditions of peninsular Florida and sites with similar soils and moisture in the extended Caribbean area. Plantings of these selected legumes were made to evaluate their persistence in grass swards under grazing. Legumes were seeded in rows in prepared seedbeds to allow establishment of the legumes along with the companion grass. One site in Guanacaste, Costa Rica and several sites in peninsular Florida, USA were established. Differences in legume persistence were obtained between sites even where climatic and edaphic differences were small. The range in adaptation of the tropical legumes evaluated appears to be quite small, especially in the subtropical areas, when the competition of grass swards and grazing livestock are imposed. More specific details of environmental requirements and management limitations of individual tropical legume accessions are needed for development of successful cultivars. For immediate use of the tropical legumes in subtropical USA and the Caribbean area, mixtures of the best-adapted accessions should be considered rather than an individual cultivar.
Citation
Pitman, W D.; Kretscmer, A E. Jr; Chambliss, C G.; and Leiva, N, "Persistence of Selected Tropical Legumes in Peninsular Florida (USA) and the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 11.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses15/11)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Persistence of Selected Tropical Legumes in Peninsular Florida (USA) and the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica
Kyoto Japan
Tropical legumes hold potential to contribute to pasture programs throughout tropical and subtropical America, even though there is currently limited use of these legumes. Several tropical legume accessions have been identified as adapted to the climatic and edaphic conditions of the wet-dry, low-fertility subtropical conditions of peninsular Florida and sites with similar soils and moisture in the extended Caribbean area. Plantings of these selected legumes were made to evaluate their persistence in grass swards under grazing. Legumes were seeded in rows in prepared seedbeds to allow establishment of the legumes along with the companion grass. One site in Guanacaste, Costa Rica and several sites in peninsular Florida, USA were established. Differences in legume persistence were obtained between sites even where climatic and edaphic differences were small. The range in adaptation of the tropical legumes evaluated appears to be quite small, especially in the subtropical areas, when the competition of grass swards and grazing livestock are imposed. More specific details of environmental requirements and management limitations of individual tropical legume accessions are needed for development of successful cultivars. For immediate use of the tropical legumes in subtropical USA and the Caribbean area, mixtures of the best-adapted accessions should be considered rather than an individual cultivar.
