Establishment of tropical forage legumes

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted in order to study stand establishment of various cultivars of forage legumes in bottom and soils of the State of Rio de Janeiro. In both experiments, three harvests were taken: four, six, and eight weeks after planting. A basic fertilizer of P, K, Ca, and micronutrients was applied; and all of the cultivars studies were inoculated with selected Rhizobium strains. In the first experiment, eight cultivars of Glycine javanica L. and one cultivar of Centrosema pubescens Benth, were used. In the second experiment, there were seven cultivars of Phaseolus atropurpureus, as well as Stylosanthes gracilis H.B.K., Pueraria javanica and Centrosema pubescens Benth. The cultivars of P. atropurpureus and the cultivar Deodoro of C. pubescens showed the best stand establishment of the cultivars studied. Rainfall, evaporation, and temperature data, taken during the course of the experiments, are presented.