Legumes

• Legumes vary greatly in their ability to stay productive over time. Longevity is a very important consideration on lands that are intended to be long term forage stands.

• Some species initiate growth faster in the spring. This aspect is especially important for early season grazing or for capturing maximum sunlight energy throughout the growing season.

• Growth curve differences exist amongst legumes. Those legumes that have a long growth curve are easier to harvest especially when grazing. Long growth curves allow the plant to grow longer compared to having quickly reached the objective of setting seed.

• Regrowth rates vary from species to species. Fast regrowing species are critical for multi-cut crops like pasture or stands intended for second or third cut hay.

• Fall management is critical for certain legume species, like alfalfa. Cutting 4-6 weeks before the first killing frost can interfere with carbohydrate storage. This lowers the winter hardiness of that legume, resulting in a poor stand the following spring.

• Mixed stands of either grasses or legumes are more stable as a sward than single species stands. Where one species may suffer, another species may be better suited. This is particularly important in long term stands that need to produce well for many days in the growing season.

• Straight stands are best suited when stand expectations are specific and the stand will be in production for a short period of time. The most suitable species is then able to perform under that particular management program for the specific goal.

• Physiological differences in legumes affect their ability to thrive and survive. The nature of the roots and the leaf surface are two features that affect a species ability to thrive under heat, cold, drought or flooding.

• Some species utilize moisture better than others. Because of fundamental physiological differences, some species are better able to grow and reproduce under low levels of moisture compared to others.

• Some legume species withstand flooding better than others. This aspect is critical to consider for low areas, soils with high clay content and in districts where rainfall can be excessive.

• Legume species differ in their ability to thrive in soils that are acidic. Usually soils with a pH lower than 6 are considered acidic. Soils in the pH range from 5.6 to 6.0 are moderately acidic and below 5.5, they are strongly acidic.

• Some species reproduce only as seed. Other species reproduce both from seed and from root spreading. Typically root spreading species will fill in empty spaces on the soil surface.

• Legume species differ in palatability. Because of taste and texture, some species are more palatable longer into their life cycle.

• Bloat occurs in cattle when they consume excessive amounts of the fine parts of many legume plants. Bloat occurs when the fine parts of legume plants breakdown very quickly and create a frothy bloat in the rumen. This is especially applicable when grazing youthful plants. Some legume species are bloat conducive while other are bloat safe.