4 LEAFLET 240, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



FERTILIZERS AND LIME 



On poor soils the use of commercial fertilizers increases the growth 

 of all varieties of lespedeza. Usually superphosphate is the fertilizer 

 most needed, but on some soils potash has given increased yields as also 

 has nitrogen. Nitrogen is seldom needed on the more fertile soils. On 

 poor soils a complete fertilizer of 4—12-4 or some similar formula will 

 give good results. On acid soils lime will benefit lespedeza. Land 

 that has been adequately limed for other crops, however, will not need 

 additional lime for lespedeza. In experimental work the use of lime 

 has increased the growth of Korean more than that of Kobe, indicating 

 that the Kobe is better adapted to more acid conditions. 



SEED PRODUCTION 



Kobe lespedeza, like Tennessee 76 and common, shatters very readily 

 when ripe, making seed harvesting difficult. For this reason seed 

 yields are smaller for these varieties than for Korean, which has better 

 seed habits. 



To obtain maximum seed yields of Kobe lespedeza it is necessary to 

 use a seed pan on the cutter bar and to cut at the proper stage of matur- 

 ity. By taking advantage of weather conditions and by harvesting 

 when dew is on the plants, shattering can be avoided to some extent. 

 Harvesting can be clone with a combine, but considerable seed will 

 be lost by this method. 



VARIETAL ADAPTATION 



The unimproved form, or common lespedeza, and its two improved 

 varieties, Kobe and Tennessee 76, differ in growth habit and adaptation. 

 Tennessee 76 is the most upright of the three, and common lespedeza 

 the most prostrate. Kobe is intermediate, tending to be more upright. 



The three forms of this species may be further distinguished from 

 Korean lespedeza by the pubescence, or hairs, on the stems. In Kobe 

 and other varieties of this species the hairs point downward and uni- 

 formly cover the stem. In the Korean species they point upward, are 

 less abundant, and occur only on the side of the stem opposite the leaf 

 axis (fig. 4). 



In tests and plantings throughout the South, Kobe has been con- 

 sidered superior to Tennessee 76 and common lespedeza for general 

 use under cultivation; consequently it has been the most extensively 

 planted. 



In addition to its natural adaptation to the South, Kobe lespedeza 

 is late in maturing, and this quality extends the grazing season. It 

 also brings the hay or bloom stage of the plant at a season when rain- 

 fall is low and conditions for haymaking are advantageous. 



The growth of Kobe in the lower South is likewise more luxuriant 

 than that of Korean, and according to preliminary investigations and 

 observations it is less damaged by nematodes, a pest that does serious 

 damage to many legumes on the dry sandy upland soils of the Coastal 

 Plain. 



VALUE FOR PASTURAGE 



Perhaps no plant is doing more or has possibilities of doing more 

 for the livestock industry of the South than lespedeza. This legume 

 supplies nutritious feed during that part of the season when grass 



