Publication Date
1993
Description
Preliminary studies with Chamaecytisus palmensis (tagasaste) under summer rainfall conditions in Transvaal province (23-27°S; 26-32°8) have demonstrated that it is adapted to a mean annual rainfall of 500- 750 mm, concentrated in the period October to March. Evaluations at drier (350 mm/year) and colder sites (altitude of 1750 m asl) were unfortunately grazed out by game. The most important limitation on the distribution of this species would, however, appear to· be its susceptibility to Phytophthora root rot organisms. This will probably limit its use on infected soils and especially under waterlogged and subtropical conditions. The species does survive mild frosts (-8°C ground frosts), and retains its leaf during the winter. In this context the high quality of leaves and young shoots (22% crude protein and a digestibility of 59%) make it suitable for supplementing poor quality roughage or degraded range.
Citation
Rethman, Norman F.G and Van Niekerk, Willem A., "Potential of Chamaecytisus palmensis (tagasaste) in the Summer Rainfall Areas of South Africa" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 13.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session56/13
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Potential of Chamaecytisus palmensis (tagasaste) in the Summer Rainfall Areas of South Africa
Preliminary studies with Chamaecytisus palmensis (tagasaste) under summer rainfall conditions in Transvaal province (23-27°S; 26-32°8) have demonstrated that it is adapted to a mean annual rainfall of 500- 750 mm, concentrated in the period October to March. Evaluations at drier (350 mm/year) and colder sites (altitude of 1750 m asl) were unfortunately grazed out by game. The most important limitation on the distribution of this species would, however, appear to· be its susceptibility to Phytophthora root rot organisms. This will probably limit its use on infected soils and especially under waterlogged and subtropical conditions. The species does survive mild frosts (-8°C ground frosts), and retains its leaf during the winter. In this context the high quality of leaves and young shoots (22% crude protein and a digestibility of 59%) make it suitable for supplementing poor quality roughage or degraded range.
