Publication Date
1985
Description
A hitherto agronomically little-known Centrosema species is described in terms of its morphology, natural distribution, and potential as a forage plant. C. macrocarpum is closely related to C. pubescens, the principal morphological difference being the considerably larger size of C. macrocarpum plant organs. Its natural distribution covers a wide range of latitudes and climatic and edaphic conditions in tropical America. Ecotypes from collection sites north of the equator have proven to be well adapted to acid soils. In a small-plot cutting trial conducted in Colombia on an acid Ultisol (pH 4.1, 89% aluminium saturation), C. macrocarpum ecotypes considerably outyielded selected accessions of C. brasilianum, C. pubescens, and a new, undescribed Centrosema species. In another set of trials no major difference between 18 C. macrocarpum accessions representing four groups of distinct origin were detected. Herbage quality compared favorably with that of the Australian commercial C. pubescens. In addition to vigorous growth on acid soils of low natural fertility, outstanding attributes of C. macrocarpum are tolerance to diseases and drought stress. Constraints to its usefulness include a marked seasonal flowering habit and, particularly, insufficient stolon development. These can, however, be overcome by selecting within the highly variable germplasm included in the present C. macrocarpum collection.
Citation
Schultze-Kraft, R; Keller-Grein, G; Belalcazar, J; and Benavides, G, "Centrosem macrocarpum Benth., A Promising Tropical Forage Legume for Acid Soils" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 20.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session14/20
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Centrosem macrocarpum Benth., A Promising Tropical Forage Legume for Acid Soils
A hitherto agronomically little-known Centrosema species is described in terms of its morphology, natural distribution, and potential as a forage plant. C. macrocarpum is closely related to C. pubescens, the principal morphological difference being the considerably larger size of C. macrocarpum plant organs. Its natural distribution covers a wide range of latitudes and climatic and edaphic conditions in tropical America. Ecotypes from collection sites north of the equator have proven to be well adapted to acid soils. In a small-plot cutting trial conducted in Colombia on an acid Ultisol (pH 4.1, 89% aluminium saturation), C. macrocarpum ecotypes considerably outyielded selected accessions of C. brasilianum, C. pubescens, and a new, undescribed Centrosema species. In another set of trials no major difference between 18 C. macrocarpum accessions representing four groups of distinct origin were detected. Herbage quality compared favorably with that of the Australian commercial C. pubescens. In addition to vigorous growth on acid soils of low natural fertility, outstanding attributes of C. macrocarpum are tolerance to diseases and drought stress. Constraints to its usefulness include a marked seasonal flowering habit and, particularly, insufficient stolon development. These can, however, be overcome by selecting within the highly variable germplasm included in the present C. macrocarpum collection.