Winter Annual Legumes Overseeded into Seeded Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon): Productivity, Forage Composition, and Reseeding Capability

Overseeding in bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) pasture is common to expand the harvest season in the southeastern U.S. coastal plain. Grasses are often utilized; however, using legumes would allow capturing nitrogen and extend the harvest season. Austrian winter peas (Pisum sativum, WP), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum cv. Dixie, CC), arrowleaf clover (T. vesiculosum Savi cv. Apache and Yuchi, AC), and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa cv. AU Merit, HV) were seeded into bermudagrass in a complete block design (four replicates in each of two seasons). Forage yield estimates were made before grazing by cattle and before bermudagrass hay harvests. Botanical separations and step-point analysis determined legume and bermudagrass contributions to the stand. Legumes yielded similarly (3842 kg/ha), with harvestable growth 6 to 10 weeks before bermudagrass alone. Compared to controls (no legume), HV and AC reduced bermudagrass hay yield (P < 0.05) and WP and CC did not. Crimson clover was the only legume that did not reduce the proportion of bermudagrass in hay. Late harvest of legumes exacerbated the decline of bermudagrass. Overseeding has the potential to increase harvestable forage; however, maturing legumes can have deleterious effects on bermudagrass. Crimson clover had the least negative impact and therefore might be the best suited of the legumes tested for overseeding.