Establishment of tropical legumes

ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS PRECLUDE THE USE OF FEEDLOT TECHNIQUES AND INCREASED FERTILIZATION TO SUPPLY THIS ELEMENT. THE INTENSIFICATION OF LEGUME GROWTH IN THE PASTURE APPEARS TO BE THE MOST VIABLE ALTERNATIVE. THREE LEGUME SPECIES (DESMODIUM INTORTUM, LOTONONIS BAINESII, AND MACROPTILIUM ATROPURPUREUM) WERE PLANTED ALONE AND IN ALL POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS ON TWO SOILS AT THE BEEF RESEARCH UNIT AT GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA. THE EFFECTS OF FERTILIZATION WITH PHOSPHOROUS, POTASSIUM, AND TRACE ELEMENTS WERE THEN STUDIED OVER A THREE-MONTH PERIOD. PLANT DENSITY ELEMENTS WERE THEN STUDIED OVER A THREE-MONTH PERIOD. PLANT DENSITY COUNTS SHOWED A RESPONSE TO POTASSIUM AND TRACE MINERALS ON ONE OF THE TWO PLOTS AND TO POTASSIUM AND PHOSPHOROUS ON THE OTHER. DESMODIUM INTORTUM EXHIBITED A HIGH SEEDLING MORTALITY, WHEREAS NO CHANGE IN PLANT POPULATION WAS PRESENT IN THE OTHER TWO CASES. DESMODIUM INTORTUM AND LOTONIS BAINESII WERE MORE COMPETITIVE THAN MACROPTILIUM ATROPURPUREUM.