Desmanthus a new pasture legume for the dry tropics

Abstract

The legume genus, Desmanthus, comprises many species, some of which may be valuable in western Queensland grasslands where few, if any other sown pasture legumes persist. In the late 1980s, a selection of Alysicarpus, Centrosema, Chamaecrista, Clitoria, Desmanthus, Macroptilium, Stylosanthes and Vigna genotypes were sown in trials across semi-arid/arid western Queensland on clay soils in the Mitchell Grass Bioregion. In the early 1990s the trials ceased and the sites were abandoned but were reassessed 10 years later. Plant density data are presented for two sites from the establishment phase in 1989/90 to 2003. All genera other than several Desmanthus accessions failed in these harsh environments.