Publication Date
1985
Description
Climate in Louisiana is influenced by tropical air masses in summer and alternately by tropical and continental air masses in winter. From northwest to southeast, the number of frost-free growing days increases from 230 to 350. Rainfall increase from 1200 mm to 1500 mm and is evenly distributed winter through summer with a generally drier fall. Livestock production is an important economic activity throughout the state. Animal performance declines from July through November in spite of adequate availability of perennial grass forage. A summer-growing forage legume is sought that will persist in perennial grass pastures and provide a more easily digestible and higher protein forage mixture in late season. In 1983, 476 accessions of 29 legume species were sown as replicated spaced plant rows or small plots in two sites in central and south Louisiana. After two years of preliminary observations, two categories of promising material are identified. The first group, including the annual species Aeschynomene americana and Macroptilium lathyroides, appear ready for testing in animal production systems. A second group have great potential value but also critical limiting deficiencies. This group, including the persistent perennial Lotononis bainesii and productive tropical species of Centrosema, Desmodium and Stylosanthes, justifies genetic improvement research. Native species of the latter three genera occur within Louisiana and may be sources of genetic adaptation for interspecific hybridization programs.
Citation
Thro, A M. and Shock, C C., "Summer Forage Legume Introduction in Louisiana" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 16.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session14/16
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Summer Forage Legume Introduction in Louisiana
Climate in Louisiana is influenced by tropical air masses in summer and alternately by tropical and continental air masses in winter. From northwest to southeast, the number of frost-free growing days increases from 230 to 350. Rainfall increase from 1200 mm to 1500 mm and is evenly distributed winter through summer with a generally drier fall. Livestock production is an important economic activity throughout the state. Animal performance declines from July through November in spite of adequate availability of perennial grass forage. A summer-growing forage legume is sought that will persist in perennial grass pastures and provide a more easily digestible and higher protein forage mixture in late season. In 1983, 476 accessions of 29 legume species were sown as replicated spaced plant rows or small plots in two sites in central and south Louisiana. After two years of preliminary observations, two categories of promising material are identified. The first group, including the annual species Aeschynomene americana and Macroptilium lathyroides, appear ready for testing in animal production systems. A second group have great potential value but also critical limiting deficiencies. This group, including the persistent perennial Lotononis bainesii and productive tropical species of Centrosema, Desmodium and Stylosanthes, justifies genetic improvement research. Native species of the latter three genera occur within Louisiana and may be sources of genetic adaptation for interspecific hybridization programs.
