6 LEAFLET 2 40, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



At Tifton, Ga., over a period of 9 years, common lespedeza following 

 oats has furnished good pasture from about June 15 to the latter part 

 of October, with average gains of 100 pounds of beef per acre. At Grain 

 Valley, Mo., the use of Korean lespedeza to supplement permanent 

 pasture during midsummer and early fall has resulted in gains of 122 

 percent. Similar results have been obtained at other experiment 

 stations. 



While the use of any variety of annual lespedeza improves the quality 

 of pasturage and lengthens the grazing season, the use of Kobe will 

 give maximum returns both in quantity of production and in number 

 of grazing days. The late maturing of Kobe insures better feed late 

 in summer and in fall, when good pasturage usually is scarce. 



Common lespedeza, according to some observers, is able to persist 

 with grasses in closely grazed pastures better than the more upright- 

 growing varieties, and for this reason it is often recommended for use 

 in permanent pastures. This may be an advantage in some cases, but 

 in most situations Kobe lespedeza will reseed, and even if occasionally 

 artificial reseeding has to be resorted to, it is justified by the larger 

 growth and yield of the Kobe. 



In temporary pastures or in pastures used in rotations Kobe is de- 

 cidedly superior to common lespedeza, and except in closely grazed 

 pastures it will give greater yields. 



ROTATIONS AND SOIL IMPROVEMENT 



Lespedeza is an excellent soil-improving crop. It can be used 

 directly as a green-manure crop or as a crop in the rotation. For the 

 best results, crop residues should not be turned into the soil until 

 shortly before planting a succeeding crop. Lespedeza fits well into a 

 rotation with small grain, and such a rotation provides a continuous 

 ground cover that prevents leaching of plant food and reduces loss 

 of soil by erosion. Such a rotation also fits in well with livestock 

 production, and if the lespedeza is pastured or both the grain and 

 lespedeza are pastured, soil fertility is less depleted than by other 

 methods of utilization. 



A small-grain crop and lespedeza may be used in rotation with 

 cotton, corn, peanuts, soybeans, and other summer crops. By proper 

 adjustment the balance between pasture and crop production can be 

 maintained to accommodate the number of livestock on the farm. 



When the entire lespedeza crop is used for green manure, any of the 

 annual varieties may be used. When a rotation brings livestock into 

 the picture, the season of production as well as the total production 

 becomes a consideration. It is in such circumstances that the Kobe 

 variety, by reason of its large growth and late maturity, is superior. 



HAY 



Lespedeza makes good hay, and feeding experiments prove it to be 

 but little inferior to alfalfa. For best-quality hay the crop should be 

 cut early; never later than full bloom. Kobe, being a large-growing 

 variety, gives maximum yields. All the annual lespedezas cure 

 quickly, which is particularly an advantage for a hay crop in the 

 South. 



U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1944 



