Botanical Name : Stylosanthes Sp.
Family : Fabaceae (Alt. Leguminosae)
Subfamily : Faboideae
Tribe : Aeschynomeneae

Introduction

· Stylosanthes Is A Genus Of Summer Growing Perennial Pasture Fodder Legumes. Most Of Its Species Are Native Of South And Central America And The Caribbean Islands. This Is A Fodder Cum Leguminous Cover Crop, Which Is Suited For Cultivation As Sole Or As Intercrop. The Genus Stylosanthes Consists Entirely Of Herbs And Small Shrubs. The Crop Is Suitable For Grazing As They Usually Have A Crown Of Growing Points Near The Soil Surface So Can Tolerate Excessive Grazing By Animals. The Crop Is Suited For Growing In Warm, Humid Tropical Climate. It Is Fairly Drought And Shade Tolerant. It Can Be Cultivated In Areas Receiving Less Than 1000 Mm Of Rainfall And In Less Fertile Soil, Acid Soils, Gravelly Sandy Soils And Also In Ill-Drained Soils.

Botanical Description

· The Different Types Of Stylosanthes, Ideally Suited For Indian Conditions Are: Brazilian Lucerne (Stylosanthes Guianensis): This Is Used As A Pasture Legume. The Plants Are Erect To Semi-Erect And Are Not Profusely Branched At The Base And Can Attain A Height Up To 1.5 M. The Stem Is Coarse And Hairy. The Trifoliate Leaves Are Long, Narrow And Pointed Which Can Be Sticky Also. Flowers Are Small, Terminal And Yellow, Borne In Cluster On Capitate Spike. Pods Are Flattened, Single Seeded With Small And Coiled Peak. Seeds Are Kidney Shaped, Yellowish Brown And 1.7 Mm Long. It Does Not Tolerate Shade And Can Grow Very Well In Areas Receiving 900 To 4000 Mm Of Rainfall.

· Townsville Stylo (S. Humilis): This Is An Annual Type And Attains An Average Height Of 0.7 M. The Stem Is Much Branched And Fibrous With Short White Hairs Along One Side Of The Stem. Leaves Are Trifoliate. The Leaflets Are Narrow, Pointed, Lanceolate And Without Hairs. These Are 15 Mm Long And 3.5 Mm Wide. The Flowers Are Small And Yellow Borne In Cluster Of 5–15. Pod Is Hairy. Seed Is Small, Yellowish To Brown.

· Caribbean Stylo (S. Hamata Cv. Verano): This Is A Short-Lived Perennial Legume Similar To Townsville Stylo. It Is Slow Growing And Develops A Flat Crown Under Grazing. Erect Stem May Grow Up To 80 Cm. The Stems Are Smooth With A Line Of Very Fine, Short White Hairs On One Side Only.

· Shrubby Stylo (S. Scabra): This Is An Erect And Woody Perennial. It Is Dark Green In Colour And Slightly Sticky. It Attains A Height Of 1.0–1.5 M. Stems Are Hairy And Rough. Leaves Are Trifoliate And Leaflets Are Small And Broad. It Flowers Late And Flowers Are Small And Yellow. The Pod Is 4.4 Cm Long And One Seeded.

· Caatinga Stylo (S. Seabrana): It Is An Erect Perennial Of 0.9-1.0 M Height, With Triplicate Leaves Varying In Shape. Presence Of Rudimentary Axis At The Nose Of The Pod Is The Identifying Character.

Cultivation Practices

· The Field Should Be Prepared Thoroughly By Discing And Ploughing The Field 2–3 Times. The Seeds Are Sown In Line Or Broadcasted @ 5–6 Kg/Ha For Pure Pasture Or 3–4 Kg/Ha In Mixed Or Natural Grasslands. In Pure Pasture, One Weeding Is Required. The Crop Is Highly Responsive To Application Of Super Phosphate And Extract Phosphorous And Calcium From Soil. A Heavy Dose 120 Kg P2O5/Ha Should Be Added In The Establishment Year And In Later Years 40 Kg/Ha Of N Should Be Applied Every Year. VARIETIES