Poor man’s lucerne (Lespedeza cuneata), also commonly known as sericea lespedeza, is a shrubby, deciduous perennial plant that reaches a height of about 1,5m. The stems are densely leaved and coarse, and occur singly or clustered with branches. The leaves are club-shaped, with a round to flat top and a noticeable point at the tip. Flowers are yellowish-white with purple to pink markings and appear from mid-July to early October.
“L. cuneata has been recognised as quality forage due to its high levels of crude protein,” says Dr Loraine van den Berg of the Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute. Animals take a day or two to get used to it, but thereafter consume it readily. “L. cuneata should be grazed on a rotational basis when the plants are 150mm to 200mm tall. To ensure optimal regrowth and yield, it should not be cut or grazed below 120mm.
この記事は Farmer's Weekly の Farmer's Weekly 21 April 2023 版に掲載されています。
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この記事は Farmer's Weekly の Farmer's Weekly 21 April 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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