Lespedeza (Kummerowia striate) is a unique annual legume grown for pasture,
hay and soil improvement due to its qualities as drought resistant, acid
tolerant, non-bloating when fed to livestock, tolerant of low fertility and adaptation
as a warm-season plant. Several cultivars of lespedeza have been introduced to
mid - Missouri over time and Legend
is the latest cultivar to be evaluated. The objectives of the study were to compare
the performance of Legend lespedeza with other common cultivars in Mid Missouri
and to evaluate phenotypic characteristics of existing Legend selections for
potential development of a new cultivar- Legend II. A three year study was
conducted near Warrensburg on a Macksburg silt loam soil. Soil phosphorous was
amended to levels recommended for optimum lespedeza production in Mid
Missouri. ‘Marion'
‘Korean' ‘Kobe' and ‘Summit'
were compared with Legend. Cultivars were randomly assigned to five plots and
replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. All plots were seeded at recommended rate of
22 kg ha-1. Yields ranged from 275 kg ha-1 to 1036 kg ha-1
during the three-year study. Legend
yielded over 30% more than Marion,
the newest cultivar during the three-year study. Overall, Legend yields
were significantly higher at 0.05 level compared to yields of other cultivars.
Legend plants exhibited two phenotypic characteristics indicating potential
existence of legend II.