Lespedeza Grass in Kentucky

Reid1650 · Mar 2, 2010

Anybody of heard of this grass? What grasses should I mix with it? Is it worth the price? Suppose to put down 20-25 lbs per acre and at about $100 a bag for 20 acres thats $1,000. Not a cheap investment just wondering if anybody had used or heard of anybody using it in Kentucky. Thanks

lust for rust · Mar 2, 2010

I believe that it is a good drought resistant grass? to grow. Here in NE Kansas, it is considered a noxious weed. A lot of people won't buy it if there is any in the bales.

kyhayman · Mar 2, 2010

Its actually a legume as opposed to a grass and there are 2 broad types. Annual, which includes Kobe and Korean and Serecia which is a perennial. The annuals are somewhat misnamed since, while they are true annuals, they self seed prolifically. Serecia is tough, stemmy, and not really useful. It can make good hay if its cut early but its hard to do. I've seen it used sucessfully mostly on acidic mine spoil reclamation. For cows on thin stillage or wet distillers grains it does make a good fiber source.

Most all we see around here are the annuals. They make real high quality feed, fairly low yields but they tolerate lower pH's than either clover or alfalfa and they fix nitrogen. As you mentioned, seed cost is pretty high. I'd not consider planting them for hays except for special cases. As a pasture component they are exceptional. I try to manage my pastures to maintain them since Im not paying that much for seed when ladino clover gives the same results at a lot lower cost.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 2, 2010

I think quails unlimited premotes it for quail cover. They like the seed. Used some for erosion control here in Tenessee. Very hardy and once established hard to get rid of. For hay it has to be cut early or you will end up using a hammer mill grinder to add it to feed. Gets real steamy when mature. What do you intend to do with the area you are wanting to sow..with this seed?

Flurette Farm · Mar 2, 2010

kyhayman, you've called it. What these other guys are talking about is Serecia and neither Kobe or Korean (common) Lespedeza. What he's really asking about is Kobe.
For many years (1950's) Serecia was planted in Kansas for hay. Its okay as long as it is cut when you say and is very palatable to all live stock.

keh · Mar 3, 2010

The Kobe or Korean is a low growing plant. Makes nice hay but my recollection is that it does not produce a lot of hay. Baling is tricky since if it get too dry there is a lot of leaf loss.
Sericea will grow quite tall, but after it gets above 18 inches tall the stems are tough. It has bad leaf loss if it gets too dry. Procedure here in W SC is to cut it, then bale it after about 2 hours. When the leaves on the top inch or so of the stem are dry and brittle it's time to bale it. It will make a heavy green bale that looks like it is going to heat up but it wont. Naturally you don't want to cut very much at a time.

Both of these have very high food value.

KEH

Dblair · Mar 3, 2010

http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr86/agr86.htm
a considerable amount of information here

Vernon in Ks · Mar 3, 2010

Your almost right. It (Serecia)was planted in kansas by the state for erosion control. They didn't know it would take over and choke out the other grasses. Now it is concidered a noxious weed and is extremely hard to control.

Lespedeza Grass in Kentucky

Reid1650

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lust for rust

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kyhayman

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Anonymous-0

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Flurette Farm

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keh

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Dblair

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Vernon in Ks

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