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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #65492
Title: FORAGE PRODUCTION AND NUTRITIVE VALUE OF THREE LESPEDEZA CULTIVARS UNDER NOTILL WINTER WHEAT PRODUCTION SYSTEM

Author
item RAO, SRINIVAS
item PHILLIPS, WILLIAM

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/29/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Three annual lespedeza (Lespedeza L.) cultivars (Korean, Kobe and Marion) were evaluated in a RCB design to determine seasonal DM production, N content and DM digestibility. Lespedeza was drilled into winter wheat pastures in March of each of three years prior to wheat jointing. Biomass samples were collected at 18-d intervals beginning in June and ending in mid-September. Data were analyzed within a year. The rate at which DM accumulated and the amount of DM produced over the 92-d experimental period varied among years. By mid-September, Kobe produced 10% more (P<.05) DM than Korean and Marion. Whole plant N concentration ranged from 1.4% to 2.8% at the last sampling date and was dependent upon cultivar and year. Cultivars did not differ in N concentration in two of the three years. Korean and Kobe produced 30% more leaf DM than Marion. Although digestibility of the whole plant DM was similar among cultivars, total digestible DM production was greater for Kobe than for Korean or Marion. From these data, it appears that annual lespedeza can be integrated into in the existing continuous winter wheat production systems used in the Southern Great Plains region to produce high quality forage during the summer fallow period resulting in a more sustainable agricultural system.