Application of Overseeded Tropical Legumes for Enhanced Utilization of Summer Grass Pasture in the Deep South Region of the USA
ISSN 2158-9429
Volume 9, Issue 1 - June 2016
Editor: Bindu Poudel-Ward
Abstract
While bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] and bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) pastures are usually productive, their nutritive value is not always adequate to support actively growing beef cattle. There have been efforts to enhance the nutrient value of these grass pastures by application of high rates of nitrogen fertilizer. Due to fluctuating nitrogen fertilizer prices and several environmental issues, this approach may no longer be considered to be sustainable for beef cattle production in this region. Since legume crops have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and produce highly nutritious forage, the incorporation of warm-season annual legumes into perennial warm-season grass pastures might be justifiable. A field demonstration was conducted on a commercial beef cattle operation with a bahiagrass pasture overseeded with the tropical legumes, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and mung bean (Vigna radiata). Grazing was initiated when the overseeded legume crops reached the late vegetative stage and lasted for 42 days. Overseeded legume crops enhanced biomass production of the bahiagrass pasture and the nutrient value of the forage. For maximum utilization of the warm-season legume crops, it may be necessary to investigate more intensive grazing management strategies.
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