Publication Date
1993
Description
The last 20 years have seen major advances in research and development wilh tropical legumes. Research advances have been closely associated with substantial increases in the number and diversity of genetic resource collections, Release of a wide range of new cultivars has been based on selection for plant adaptation, persistence and productivity, screening for resistance to pest's and diseases, and the development of efficient seed production. Determination of fertiliser requirements and grazing management practices has resulted in sustainable animal production from legume-based pasture systems. Extensive pasture development has now occurred in both high and low input systems. Options vary from tree-clearing, full cultivation and high fertiliser use in humid tropical forests to aerial sowing of seed without fertiliser into uncleared semi-arid savanna following burning or heavy grazing. The increased carrying capacity and improved animal productivity can increase unit area productivity more than 20 fold. Tropical legumes play a key role in the nutrition of grazing animals on infertile soils and return variable amounts of nitrogen to associated grass species. Shrub legumes are now becoming more popular and have particular advantages for smallholder systems. Huge areas of improved grass pasture in tropical savannas are degrading under heavy stocking and require persistent legumes or the development of crop rotations with inputs of fertiliser and ley legumes. Legume-based pastures have considerable potential for ley cropping systems but there has been only limited commercial adoption. Pests and diseases still present major challenges to the sustainability of legume-based pastures in many tropical ecosystems. Considerable advances have been achieved, but continued efforts in genetic resource collection and plant improvement programmes are needed to overcome these limitations. Better insights into factors affecting legume persistence should facilitate selection and breeding of more persistent cultivars. Conventional approaches to plant improvement will likely be augmented by the use of molecular markers to aid selection for particular characters and by genetic engineering techniques.
Citation
Cameron, D F.; Miller, C P.; Edye, L A.; and Miles, J W., "Advances in Research and Development with Sylosanthes and Other Tropical Pasture Legumes" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 1.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session59/1
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Advances in Research and Development with Sylosanthes and Other Tropical Pasture Legumes
The last 20 years have seen major advances in research and development wilh tropical legumes. Research advances have been closely associated with substantial increases in the number and diversity of genetic resource collections, Release of a wide range of new cultivars has been based on selection for plant adaptation, persistence and productivity, screening for resistance to pest's and diseases, and the development of efficient seed production. Determination of fertiliser requirements and grazing management practices has resulted in sustainable animal production from legume-based pasture systems. Extensive pasture development has now occurred in both high and low input systems. Options vary from tree-clearing, full cultivation and high fertiliser use in humid tropical forests to aerial sowing of seed without fertiliser into uncleared semi-arid savanna following burning or heavy grazing. The increased carrying capacity and improved animal productivity can increase unit area productivity more than 20 fold. Tropical legumes play a key role in the nutrition of grazing animals on infertile soils and return variable amounts of nitrogen to associated grass species. Shrub legumes are now becoming more popular and have particular advantages for smallholder systems. Huge areas of improved grass pasture in tropical savannas are degrading under heavy stocking and require persistent legumes or the development of crop rotations with inputs of fertiliser and ley legumes. Legume-based pastures have considerable potential for ley cropping systems but there has been only limited commercial adoption. Pests and diseases still present major challenges to the sustainability of legume-based pastures in many tropical ecosystems. Considerable advances have been achieved, but continued efforts in genetic resource collection and plant improvement programmes are needed to overcome these limitations. Better insights into factors affecting legume persistence should facilitate selection and breeding of more persistent cultivars. Conventional approaches to plant improvement will likely be augmented by the use of molecular markers to aid selection for particular characters and by genetic engineering techniques.