Legumes

E. A. Hollowell.

The legumes listed here are those of which seed is available and which are of greatest importance in agriculture.

All of those I list here are benefited by applications of calcium, phosphorus, or potassium when the supply in the soil is exhausted or unavailable.

Trace elements may have to be sup. plied to the plants for high yield of forage and seed and for persistence. Such needs are mostly of local occurrence and are related to soils of specific texture and origin.

Legumes vary in their ability to make growth at different levels of soil acidity and alkalinity, but slightly acid to neutral soils are generally best.

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for all legumes. Inoculated legumes can get the nitrogen they require from the air through the interaction of compatible symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which infect the roots and cause nodules to form on them.

Soil texture is an important factor among the water and temperature relationships that different species require for maximum growth. High yields of forage and seed and the persistence of plants reflect the interaction of favorable climatic and soil factors. Within limits, if the other factors are favorable, plants can tolerate one or more unfavorable conditions, which, however, cause variations in the range of responses.

ALFALFA (Medicago sativa) grows in slightly alkaline soils of average depth to deep, sandy loam to well-drained clay. It tolerates slight salinity, but it will not tolerate wet, poorly drained soil. Moist conditions are needed for seedling establishment.

Alfalfa tolerates periods of drought if moisture is available to the roots. It is benefited by applications of mineral nutrients when needed. Its requirements of available minerals are high. It is widely adapted to different climates if proper varieties are used.

ALYCECLOVER (Alysicarpus vaginalis) grows in highly acid to neutral soils. It is not tolerant of salinity. The soils may be of shallow to average depth.

The starred names differ from those in USDA Service and Regulatory Announcements No. 156, reprinted August 1956.

and fine sand to silt loams. It requires moist or heavy-moisture conditions. Applications of mineral nutrients when needed are beneficial. It is a summer annual and is particularly adapted to sandy soils of the Gulf Coast States. It requires high temperatures and a long growing season.

GLOVERS (TRUE) (Trifolium species) grow under a wide range of soil and climatic conditions.

One species tolerates moderate salinity. It requires available mineral nutrients of phosphorus, calcium, and potassium, which must be applied if the soil lacks them. The many species of true clovers thrive in cool, humid climates and under irrigation. They are perennials and winter annuals. They have restricted use as summer annuals.

Alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum) grows in moderately acid to neutral soil. It is not tolerant of salinity. It needs shallow to deep, silt loam, or muck soils and moist to heavy-moisture conditions. It tolerates swampy conditions for short periods. A perennial, it behaves as a biennial in the Northern States. It is particularly valuable for poorly drained soils. It is grown as a winter annual in Southern States.

Ball clover (Trifolium nigrescens) grows in moderately acid to neutral soils of shallow to average depth, and of fine sand to clay. It is not tolerant of salinity. It makes growth at a relatively low nutrient level. A winter annual, it is adapted to the Southern States.

Berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) grows in slightly acid to slightly alkaline soil. It tolerates slight salinity in soils of average depth to deep, silt loams to poorly drained clays. It needs moist conditions. A winter annual, it is the least winter hardy of all clovers. It is grown successfully in southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of southern Texas.

Cluster clover (Trifolium glomeratum) grows in moderately acid to neutral soils. It is not tolerant of salinity. Soils should be shallow or of average depth and fine sand to silt loam. It needs moist to heavy-moisture conditions and is best adapted to conditions of southern Mississippi. It is a winter annual and is restricted in adaptation.

Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) thrives in soils that are moderately acid to neutral and shallow to deep, fine sand to well-drained clay. It needs moist to heavy-moisture conditions, but does not thrive in waterlogged soils. It is not tolerant of salinity. It is widely adapted as a winter annual in the southern and Pacific regions and as a summer annual in northern Maine.

Lappa clover (Trifolium lappaceum) grows in neutral to slightly alkaline soils and loam to poorly drained clays of shallow or average depth. Ample moisture is needed. It does not tolerate salinity. It is a winter annual, specifically adapted to wet, heavy soils in the lower Southern States.

Large hop clover (Trifolium campestre) grows in moderately acid to neutral soils. It is not tolerant of salinity. Soils should be shallow to deep, ranging from gravelly loam to clay. Moist to very moist conditions are required, but nutrient levels can be relatively low. A winter annual, it is adapted to the Southern States and coastal sections in the West.

Small hop clover (Trifolium dubium) is more tolerant of unfavorable climate and low nutrient levels than large hop clover, but otherwise requires similar conditions.

Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum) grows in slightly acid to slightly alkaline soils of average depth, deep silt loam, or poorly drained clay that are moist to very moist. It is a winter annual, especially adapted to low, heavy, wet soils of the Southern States and coastal sections of the West. It is not tolerant of salinity.

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) will grow in moderately acid to neutral soils, deep, sandy loam, and well-drained clay soils. It does not stand salinity. It is a perennial but behaves mostly as a biennial in the Northern States or a winter annual in the South. It has wide adaptation throughout most of the United States. It needs plenty of moisture.

Rose clover (Trifolium hirtum) grows in slightly acid soils to slightly alkaline soils of shallow to average depth, silt foams, and well-drained clay. It needs moist to heavy-moisture conditions. A winter annual, it is adapted to hill sites of California rangelands.

Strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum) grows in neutral to slightly alkaline soil. It tolerates moderate salinity. It grows in shallow to deep, sandy loam to poorly drained clay. It needs moist to heavy-moisture conditions. It tolerates flooding. It is a perennial and is adapted to the poorly drained, salty soils of the Western States.

Striata clover (Trifolium striatum) grows in slightly acid to slightly alkaline soils of average depth to deep, loam to poorly drained clay. It is not tolerant of salinity. It requires moist to heavy-moisture conditions. It is a winter annual adapted to heavy, limy soils in the South.

Sub clover (Trifolium subterraneum) grows in moderate acid to neutral soils. It is not tolerant of salinity or waterlogged soils. It prefers shallow or deep, gravelly loam or well-drained clay. It is adapted to the coastal section of the west coast and parts of the South. It is a winter annual. Varieties appear to differ in adaptation to different soil conditions.

Whiteclover (Trifolium repens) grows in moderately acid to slightly alkaline soils. It is not tolerant of salinity. It needs shallow to deep, fine sand or poorly drained clays and moist to heavy-moisture conditions. It is widely adapted throughout most of the United States. A perennial, it behaves mostly as a winter annual in the South and as a biennial and perennial in the Northern States. Varieties differ in nutrient requirements for high production. Ladino has a high requirement of nutrients.

COWPEA (Vigna sinensis) grows in highly acid to neutral soil. It is not tolerant of salinity. It needs soils of shallow to average depth, fine sand to well-drained clay, and moist to heavy" moisture conditions. It is benefited by the application of mineral nutrients when needed, but it will grow at relatively low levels of nutrients. It is a summer annual and has many varieties. It is adapted to the South.

CROWN VETCH (Coronilla varia) grows in highly acid to neutral soils. It is not tolerant of salinity and requires shallow to deep, gravelly loam to well, drained clay soils and moist to heavy-moisture conditions. Applications of mineral nutrients, when needed, are beneficial. It is a perennial and is unpalatable to livestock. It is adapted to a wide range of conditions in the Northern States.

FIELDPEA (Pisum sativum) is one species, of several types, which grow in moderately acid to neutral soils of average depth or in deep, fine sand or clay loam. It prefers moist to heavy-moisture conditions. It is benefited by the application of mineral nutrients, when needed. It requires cool temperatures. It is a summer annual in the Northern States and a winter annual in the Southern States. The Austrian winter fieldpea is more winter hardy than the other types.

GUAR (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) grows in moderately acid to moderately alkaline soils. It is tolerant of moderate salinity. Soils of average depth to deep, fine sand to well-drained clay loam are all right for it. Guar requires moist soil for stand establishment; thereafter it will tolerate dry conditions. It is benefited by an application of mineral nutrients when needed. A summer annual, it is adapted to the hot climate and long, dry growing season of the Southwestern States.

INDIGO (Indigofera) includes two species that grow in highly acid to neutral soils. They are not tolerant of salinity. Soils may be of shallow to average depth and fine sand to clay loam.

Moist to high-moisture conditions are needed. They are subtropical and tropical plants summer annuals and perennials that require high temperatures and a long growing season. Some species are toxic to livestock.

Creeping indigo (I. endecaphylla), a perennial, is toxic to livestock. It is grown mostly in Puerto Rico.

Hairy indigo (I. hirsuta) is an annual. It has limited adaptation to sandy soils in Florida.

KUDZU (Pueraria lobata) grows in highly acid to neutral soils. It is not tolerant of salinity. Shallow to deep, gravelly loam and well-drained clay and moist to heavy-moist conditions are suitable. It is benefited by the application of mineral nutrients when they are needed, although the plants can utilize nutrients from relatively unavailable sources. It is a perennial with a viny type of growth. It is adapted to the Southern States. It is not hardy.