Perennial legumes on dry lands in the western Highveld region.

Abstract

There exists a great need for perennial pasture legumes which are adapted to dryland production in the western Highveld. Consequently 28 introductions were evaluated at Potchefstroom (26° 43'S and 27° O'E) on a Rietvlei soil series over two growing seasons.Averaged over two years, three selections yielded more than two tonnes dry material per ha: namely, Desmodium uncinatum 2,78, Medicago sativa 2,74 and Macroptilium atropurpureum 2,10. Four other selections yielded an average of more than one tonne dry material per ha: namely, Glycine wightii 1,87, D. intortum 1,63, Lotononis bainesii 1,27 and G. tormentella 1,12.The data indicate that tropical legumes with late summer production peaks can be successfully used to supplement the declining quality of grasses at this time of the year.

Keywords: desmodium uncinatum; glycine tormentella; glycine wightii; grasses; highveld; legumes; lotononis bainesii; macroptilium atropurpureum; medicago sativa; pasture legumes; pastures; potchefstroom; rietvlei soil series; selection; soil series; south africa; tropical legumes