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Legumes in Grass Pastures |
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| Many legumes may be successfully established into grass pastures. One popular
strategy is to sodseed (no till) cool-season annual legumes into bermudagrass pastures.
The bermudagrass must be carefully managed to ensure that a minimum amount of residue
remains at the time of establishment. If the bermudagrass canopy is not removed, emerging
legume seedlings will not be able to compete for sunlight and become established. Forage
canopies may be removed by grazing (recommended) or by mowing.
Proper use of a cool-season annual legume in bermudagrass will provide forage of high nutritive value during the late winter and early spring and the legume will serve as a source of nitrogen for early bermudagrass growth. This may help reduce the requirement and expense of nitrogen fertilizer. Another popular strategy for utilizing legumes in a grass pasture is to mix red or white clover into a tall fescue or other cool-season grass pasture. The tall fescue has a negating effect on the bloating potential of legumes, and legumes may play a role in reducing the effects of fescue toxicity. A higher level of management is required for this type of program, but the effort may result in improved animal performance and reduce the need for nitrogen application.
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Comparison
of Forage Legumes (You choose seed, seed pods, flowers, or leaves) |
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John Caddel, Forage
Agronomist, |
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Updated 09/02/08