Although seed production in natural areas is likely to be less than. Seed of stones river ecotype violet lespedeza was hand harvested from existing populations within the confines of stones river national battlefield. In terms of yield, however, lespedeza lags alfalfa and clover, though this handicap is countered somewhat by lower production costs, including the plants preference for no fertilizer. A long growing season is required for successful bicolor lespedeza seed production 60. The primary objective of this report is to present background information on practices and costs applicable to the production of annual lespedeza in the piedmont section of georgia. Grazing the small grain closely in the spring will help lespedeza survive applications of n. With good seed production, annual lespedeza will persist for years without reseeding mcgraw et al. Sericea lespedeza seed production can be substantial. If this occurs before seed matures, the crop may not produce korean lespedeza kummerowia stipulacea is. Sericia lespedeza and specific controls common weeds. Annual lespedeza early bloom and before bottom leaves begin to fall. Sericea lespedeza missouri department of conservation. Where it is used on pastures, 2 to 4 pounds is usually enough. Sericea lespedeza can be treated with a variety of cultural, mechanical, and chemical means.
Sericea lespedeza lespedeza cuneata is an introduced perennial legume that. The seed varies from the shiny black of korean to the stippled seed of common. The hard seed passes through the digestive tract of animals. Handpulling or other mechanical methods of control are impractical because of the extensive root system and deep tap root. Sc163 1932 korean lespedeza kansas state university. Most of the forage production will occur in july or august. In areas where sericea lespedeza plants are scattered, hand digging can reduce the invasion rate, and if started early, can stop the spread.
Once sericea lespedeza is established, an integrated approach, such as mowing, burning and spraying, will help. All lespedezas are adapted to warm humid climates and are native to north america, tropical and east asia, and australia. Milk production, calf weights and reproductive efficiency are all closely tied to the animal nutrition during this period. Plant hulled seed in april may after danger of frost or freeze is past. Lespedeza is an annual warm season legume from the pea family, similar to clover. Lespedeza will produce one to two tons of hay per acre cover crops management for notill grain. Some hay growers will mix lespedeza with grasses, such as orchardgrass, to improve the. Individual stems may produce in excess of 1,000 seeds, with 300 to 850 pounds of seed produced per acre.
This publication provides information about lespedeza seed production by species for the years 19621968. Sericea lespedeza is preferably seeded alone and does not compete well with other plants. Ten cows fed ground korean lespedeza seed as a source of high protein concentrate during two 40day periods averaged 29. When seed production was compared in virginia and north carolina, production was less in virginia. Seasonal production of this plant is from april to september. Annual lespedezas have strong volunteer allowed to set seed in september, october and. Preventing seed production and its spread is of primary importance for control. Native to asia and introduced into the united states in the late 1800s, it has been widely planted for erosion control. I mowed fescue early and baled it, and the clover, in may, brandt recalls. The data presented in table 3 provide a comparison of serala sericea, with and without the benefit of sodseeded rye, to coastal bermudagrass fertilized with two levels of nitrogen. Dodder, a parasitic plant, can be a serious problem in hay or seed fields, so it is important to plant dodderfree. Lespedeza, genus lespedeza, genus of about 40 species of plants in the pea family fabaceae. A forage and hay cover crop in pastures and used in erosion control sites. Seed is planted into round cell greenhouse flat liners with 38 cells per flat that have been filled with coarse processed bark and composted pine bark growing medium.
Growing lespedeza in kentucky uk college of agriculture. Seed production at the present time the main limitation to the seeding of korean lespedeza is the high price of the seed, which has seldom sold. Current research with goats indicated that they will eat sericea and reduce seed production, but have not reduced plant population. It is also possible to sod seed winter annuals into a dormant sericea lespedeza stand to obtain additional forage production during the cooler months. East texas seed company wholesale field and grass seed p. The information on which this report is based was obtained by personal inter views with farmers selected at random in barrow, clarke, floyd, green, jackson, madison, newton, oglethorpe, pike, spalding,and walton. It will also reduce the growth rate of the sericea lespedeza the following year. Production acreage has declined significantly in the last 20 years. There are reports that 1,500 seeds can be produced on a single sericea lespedeza stem or ramet 125,2. If not completely removed, the plant will regenerate. Introduced in the late 1800s as a potential forage species, it was later used as a reclamation species planted on acidic and low fertility soils. Inoculate the seed with the appropriate rhizobia bacteria developed for lespedeza species so the plants will fix nitrogen. Lespedeza cuneata is an extremely aggressive invader of open areas and out competes native vegetation. The main winter annual legume sometimes grown with sericea lespedeza is crimson clover.
Sericea lespedeza has been found growing in all parts of oklahoma except the panhandle, and has been designated a noxious weed in kansas because of its ability to invade and decrease grass production on rangelands and introduced pastures. The lespedeza species that we grow are all dieback perennials and their arching weeping form makes lespedeza perfect for growing on hillsides, over walls, and along fences. Sericea lespedeza seed production 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 mid spring midsummer late summer m a b b a, b means w unlike superscripts differ p lespedeza are amazingly adaptable and easy to grow in a wide range of garden conditions. There are approximately 343,000 seeds per pound of common lespedeza and 240,000 seeds per pound of korean lespedeza. Korean lespedeza seed as a protein supplement for milk. Ladino clover or white clover cut at correct stage for companion plant. Control of sericea lespedeza using lateseason prescribed burning. Kansas rural center lespedeza sustainable agriculture. The results showed sericea lespedeza had a very high risk to invade almost 98% of land in nebraska.
Common lespedeza, also known as japanese clover or annual lespedeza, has three smooth, oblong leaflets with parallel veins that are nearly perpendicular to the midvein figure 1. Sudangrass, sorghum hybrids, 40inch height or early boot stage, whichever comes pearl millet, and johnsongrass first. Lespedeza identification and control in turfgrass uga. Description, planting rate and information about sericea lespedeza. Most sericea lespedeza seed is hard with normal germination rates of only 10 to 20 percent. History, characteristics, and identification this publication was cooperatively developed under the multistate sericea lespedeza work group, a coalition of agencies and organizations in kansas, oklahoma, missouri and nebraska. Broadcast hulled and scarified seed at 30 pounds per acre in the spring and 45 pounds per acre in the fall. Control of sericea lespedeza using lateseason prescribed. Korean is the most widely adapted variety when both yield and safe ripening of seed are considered. Identification and control of serecia lespedeza lespedeza cuneata dum. The nebraska invasive species council nisc recently completed the weed risk assessment wra of sericea lespedeza. It is also possible to sodseed winter annuals into a dormant sericea lespedeza stand to obtain additional forage production during the cooler months.
Baled lespedeza should contain an abundance of leaves, at least 50%. Introduction serecia lespedeza, otherwise known as chinese lespedeza, is a perennial leguminous forb native to asia. Korean lespedeza seed as a protein supplement for milk production. Michaux lived in america for 10 years and wrote much about american plants. Seedings for seed production should be drilled with hulled and scarified seed at 1012 pounds per acre on. Violet lespedeza lespedeza violacea propagation protocol. Lespedeza seed lespedeza is a genus of about 30 species of flowering plants in the pea family fabaceae, commonly known as bush clover or japanese clover. Lespedeza is a deeprooted legume that be established. Bare root plants ships from late december into march. Three species of lespedeza are wellsuited for production in mississippi.
Lespedeza striata is a freely branched, summer annual legume that is a problematic weed in lawns and other turf areas. The wra is a scientific study used to identify the potential risk of spread in nebraska. For this reason, its use is limited to southern and west ern kentucky if. Sericea lespedeza ksre bookstore kansas state university. Adaptation and distribution korean is better adapted than common lespedeza in the north because of its shorter life cycle. Mowing will reduce the vigor of sericea plants if it is cut closely multiple times each year. Lespedeza can be rotated with small grains if n applications do not exceed 20 to 30 pounds per acre. Lespedeza is a perennial legume and comes in several varieties planted from seeds and plants. Mar 25, 2016 baled lespedeza should contain an abundance of leaves, at least 50%. In some early plantings of shrub lespedeza, ripe seed was not produced before the first frost, which led to seed production failures 24,40. Lespedeza types used as forage crops in the southern u. Lespedeza is usually established as a pure stand or as a companion legume with cool and warmseason perennial grasses.
Food plot seed sericea lespedeza is a wild game food for turkey and quail. Sericea lespedeza plant showing the leaf center, lower stem and root system. Tremendous production of summer forage, disease resistant, retains more leaves, boosts pasture yields, and reduces the effects of endophyte toxicity, while reducing nitrogen fertilizer needs. It may be overseeded with winter annuals if carefully managed. Sericea lespedeza does not selfdestruct if not used because it produces a seed crop in late summer and fall. Lowtannin lines of lespedeza juncea have a higher dmd than normal or hightannin lines donnelly and anthony, 1969, 1970, 1973, an effect caused by differences in tannin level in leaves table 4. Aug 14, 2019 sericea lespedeza does not selfdestruct if not used because it produces a seed crop in late summer and fall. The term tannin is used to describe polyphenolic substances that have the capacity to bind proteins and inhibit enzymes wong, 1973.
In the united states, sericea lespedeza lespedeza cuneata is a perennial warmseason condensed tannincontaining legume that can be grazed or fed as hay or pellets to control h. Sericea lespedeza seed production 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 mid spring midsummer late summer m a b b a, b means w unlike superscripts differ p lespedeza are wellsuited for production in mississippi. A number of species are useful as forage and green manure crops, and some are. Click on the individual varieties below for specific information and some of our photos. Annual and perennial lespedezas are the forgotten warmseason legumes that can offer a lot of benefits in forage systems across the southern united states. The genus is native to warm temperate to subtropical regions of eastern north america, eastern and southern asia and australasia. Seed size a, seedling emergence b, grazing utilization c, and biomass production d of sericea lespedeza. Seeds move with water, infested hay, birds, livestock and wildlife. Annual lespedeza will germinate in early spring but usually will grow little until june. Identification and control of serecia lespedeza lespedeza. Mowing sericea lespedeza after midjuly can delay or reduce seed production. Plants should be mowed each time they reach a height of 12 to 18 inches. Common lespedeza cultivar kobe is more tolerant of acid soils.
Lespedeza has an added value where quail production is important because annual lespedeza seed is an excellent quail food. Prepare seed bed free of weeds, firm with light roller after planting. Brandt broadcasted legend lespedeza seed over 20 acres of fescue and red clover pasture. Seed production rates of 150 million to 300 million seedsacre were reported for cultivated stands.