W.D. PITMAN¹, C.G. CHAMBLISS² and A.E. KRETSCHMER Jr³

¹University of Florida, Agricultural Research Centre, Ona, Florida, USA 33865.
²University of Florida, Agronomy Department, Gainewille, Florida, USA 32611.
³University of Florida, Agricultural Research Centre, Ft. Pierce, Florida, USA 33454.

Abstract

Persistence has been a major limitation to the use of tropical legumes in peninsular Florida. Hundreds of tropical legume accessions have been screened at Ft. Pierce, Florida over the past 20 years, and out of this group, a range of germplasm with adaption to the peninsular Florida climate has been identified. Persistence of 50 accessions from this program was evaluated on a seasonally-waterlogged flatwoods (Spodosol) site near Ona, Florida. Legume entries were sown in rows, and Pensacola bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) seed was broadcast at the time legumes were sown. Two stocking rates were imposed after the establishment year
Three accessions in addition to the presently available cultivar Desmodium heterocarpon cv. Florida were identified as being potentially adapted to continuous grazing in bahiagrass pastures in peninsular Florida. These accessions, Vigna parkeri cv. Shaw, Desmodium barbatum, and Alysicarpus vaginalis, were low-growing, seed-producing, perennial plants. Most accessions failed to persist at either stocking rate. Macroptilium atropurpureum cv. Sirato persisted better at the low stocking rate than at the high stocking rate, while the reverse was true for D. barbaturn and A. vaginalis.