KUDZU, A FOEAGE CEOP FOE THE SOUTHEAST 7 



Grazing 



Kudzu makes good grazing, but it must be handled with care, as 

 it can be easily overgrazed, to the injury of the stand. Fields have 

 been badly thinned by heavy grazing, and in such a case a year's 

 rest is necessary for the plants to recover. There is not enough 

 information on its grazing qualities to make possible definite advice 

 except against overgrazing. Since kudzu withstands drought well, 

 it has been suggested that the kudzu area be reserved for late sum- 

 mer or fall grazing when grass pastures are poor. Rotation grazing 

 has also been recommended. Whatever the practice, it should be 

 borne in mind that kudzu makes its new growth largely at the 

 expense of food reserves in the roots. If the plant is so closely 

 grazed that adequate reserves can not be stored, the plants are 

 weakened and may die. 



Figure 3. — Cows grazing on kudzu growing on trellises 



In a few cases supports have been erected in kudzu fields. (Fig. 

 3.) The vines climb up these supports, and cattle feed on the climb- 

 ing vines. Naturally the area of kudzu exposed to the cattle can be 

 considerably increased by this method, and loss and damage by 

 trampling are minimized. 



As a Soil-Improving and Cover Crop 



When turned under, kudzu will increase the yields of following 

 crops, but there are few records by which this effect may be measured. 

 The Alabama station reports heavy increases in sorghum hay, corn, 

 and oats for 10 years after a crop of kudzu was turned under. In 

 this case the kudzu appears to have occupied the ground for three 

 seasons with nothing removed. There are no published data to show 

 what would be the effect of turning kudzu under after grazing or 

 harvesting in the usual course, but there is no reason to doubt that 

 increases in the yields of cultivated crops would follow. Kudzu is 



