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Potassium lespedezate (1) is the leaf-opening substance of a nyctinastic plant, Lespedeza cuneata G. Don. We have synthesized two sugar-derivatives of 1, potassium galactolespedezate (4) and mannolespedezate (6). Both 4 and 6 were quite effective for the leaf-opening of Cassia. mimosoides at 8 × 10−7 M, as strong as 1. However, 1 kept the leaf open only for a few days; on the other hand, 4 and 6 kept the leaf open after a week at that concentration. Additionally, remarkable difference was observed in the rate of enzymatic hydrolysis of natural and artificial leaf-opening sustance by using commercially available β-glucosidase Therefore, 4 and 6 would not be hydrolized in the plant body, and are potentially useful molecular probes for the studies of the control of the nyctinastic leaf-movement by a biological clock.

Field experiments were conducted in the summers of 1988 and 1989 to evaluate sericea lespedeza control with POST herbicides. Triclopyr, picloram, 2,4-D, metsulfuron, dicamba, and selected herbicide mixtures were evaluated in 1988 and 1989. Clopyralid was evaluated in 1988 and fluroxypyr in 1989. Triclopyr at 0.56 and 1.12 kg ha-1 controlled sericea lespedeza both years. Fluroxypyr at 0.56 kg ha-1 also controlled sericea lespedeza. Control with picloram and metsulfuron was variable. Other treatments evaluated did not control sericea lespedeza. Nomenclature: Clopyralid, 3,6-dichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid; dicamba, 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid; fluroxypyr, [(4-amino-3,5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2-pyridinyl)oxy]acetic acid; (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid 2,4-D; 4-amino-3,5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2-pyridyl-oxacetic acid; metsulfuron, 2-[[[[(4methoxy-6-methyl1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]benzoic acid; picloram, 4amino-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid; triclopyr, [(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinyl)oxy]acetic acid; sericea lespedeza, Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Don #3 LESCU. Additional index words: Pasture, control ratings, stem reduction, LESCU.

Toxic levels of aluminum can cause severe yield reductions in many crop species, but sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.‐Cours.) G. Don] has demonstrated considerable tolerance. Aluminum tolerances of six sericea lespedeza cultivars (Am 312, Appalow, AU Lotan, Interstate, Interstate 76, Serala) representing a broad genetic base were evaluated in a Monmouth soil [26.2% Al saturation (pH 4.8) vs. 2.8% Al saturation (pH 5.7)] and in nutrient solutions (0 vs 111 μM Al; pH 4.5). The soil and nutrient culture studies were harvested 30 and 27 d after seeding, respectively. Aluminum stress did not reduce root and shoot growth significantly, nor were the pooled Al stress x cultivar interactions significant. Cultivars differed significantly in mean shoot and root vigor in nutrient solutions but not in soil. R‐esponses in soil were only weakly correlated with responses in nutrient solutions. Am 312 and Appalow had the lowest relative weight values (dry weight stressed/dry weight unstressed) in both m...

Low forage quality of sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.- Cours.) G. Don] herbage is associated with the presence of condensed tannins in the leaves, and tannin-protein complexes that render digestive enzymes inactive. Experiments were conducted to (i) determine the type of inhibition of the cellulase complex caused by tannins, (ii) evaluate N-containing supplements that preferentially bind to tannins and restore cellulase activity, (iii) determine the effect of such supplements on the in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of cellulose, and (iv) determine their effect on IVDMD of high- and low-tannin sericea herbage. The type of enzyme inhibition was determined by Michaelis-Menten kinetics; a double-reciprocal plot of the data revealed that tannins inhibited cellulase enzymes noncompetitively. Cellulase activity in tannin-containing solutions increased with increasing amounts of N-containing supplements, except for urea. Ovalbumin, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and gelatin resulted in greatest saccharification: hemoglobin and β-casein were less effective. Gelatin, hemoglobin, PVP, and ovalbumin partially overcame the effects of exogenous tannins on IVDMD of cellulose, but the proteins were more effective than PVP. The IVDMD of herbage from high- and low-tannin cultivars was greatest when PVP or ovalbumin were added; less supplement was needed in the low-tannin cultivar. We conclude that N-containing supplements improve digestibility and, consequently, may improve the performance of animals consuming sericea lespedeza forage.

Sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Don] is recognized as being a relatively poor quality forage because of high concentrations of tannins in its leaves. Therefore, an accurate assessment of tannins in the leaves is essential for the selection of low tannin lines. The objective of our research were to investigate improved methods of tannin analysis for the screening of the lespedeza germplam, and to determine the relationship between in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), crude protein (CP), and leaf tannins. Field experiments containing 81 lespedeza entries were established at two locations (...)

Extensive protein hydrolysis after harvest and during fermentation is characteristic of forage legumes preserved as silage. Differences in proteolysis among species have been observed, but plant characteristics associated with these differences have not been well defined. This study was conducted to determine if tannins play a role in modifying N transformations associated with the preservation of forage legumes as silage. In 1987, 12 legume genotypes (representing six species) were field grown and analyzed for tannin concentrations pre- and post-ensiling dry matter (DM), pH, and N forms. In 1988, 18 genotypes (representing seven species) were evaluated in a similar manner. Tannin concentrations range from 0 to 27 g tannic acid equivalents kg⁻¹ DM in 1987 and 0 to 31 g in 1988. Dry matter concentration pH, and concentration of total N, soluble nonprotein N (SNPN), free amino acid N , and ammonia N of fresh and ensiled herbage were within the range of previous literature reports for forage legumes. The proportion of total N in the form of SNPN after 35 d ensiling ranged from 32 to 73% in 1987 and 26 to 69% in 1988 and was negatively related to tannin concentration (r² = 0.75). Within sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours) G. Don], the only species with substantial variation for both tannin and silage SNPN concentrations r² values were 0.81 in 1987 and 0.88 in 1988. Red clover(Trifolium pratense L.) and cicer milkvetch(Astragalus cicer L.) did not contain measurable levels of tannins, but exhibited lower proteolysis than alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). These results suggest that tannins play a major role in limiting proteolysis some legumes during ensiling, but other factors also are involved. A joint contribution of the Wisconsin Agric. Exp. Stn. and the USDA-ARS.

Variations in the seasonal abundance of phytophagous foliage-inhabiting insects were examined in sericea lespedeza ( Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Don) during the second growth cycle in 1986 and 1987 and during the first and second growth cycles in 1988. Predominant insect defoliators were grasshoppers and lepidopterous caterpillars, primarily Plathypena scabra (F.) and Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). Predominant sap-feeding taxa were the membracid Spissistilus festinus (Say); plant bugs, primarily Lygus lineolam (Palisot de Beauvois); aphids, primarily Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris); and a number of species of cicadellid leafhoppers and pentatomid stink bugs. Grasshoppers, aphids, and plant bugs were most abundant during the first cutting, whereas S. festinus , leafhoppers, and all Lepidoptera were most abundant during the second cutting. Grasshoppers, P. scabra , and total Lepidoptera typically were more abundant in low-tannin than in high-tannin cultivars, but population densities of sap-feeding insects were not associated with the tannin concentrations in sericea lespedeza cultivars. Comparison of insecticide-treated and untreated plots revealed that P. scabra caused extensive defoliation in August and September before the second cutting. No other taxa of herbivorous insects caused significant damage to sericea lespedeza. Defoliation by P. scabra reduced stem height, leaf number per stem, and leaf and stem dry weight but had little effect on forage crude protein and acid detergent fiber content. Yield loss was significant when peak densities of P. scabra were ≥2 larvae per sweep. Peak densities of about four larvae per sweep in 1986 reduced leaf dry weight by 75% and total forage yield by about 40%. However, substantial yield losses were avoided by harvesting early.

Three herbaceous regimes were established, using herbicides, to examine the effects of interference on growth and biomass partitioning in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). Trees were sampled near Auburn and Tallassee, AL. Trees at the Auburn site grown with low weed interference (LWI) had 4, 10, 10, 8, and 4 times greater total aboveground biomass than did trees with high weed interference (HWI) for ages one through five, respectively. Medium weed interference (MWI, Auburn site only) resulted in three times greater biomass the first 4 yr and two times greater total biomass by the fifth year compared to trees grown with HWI. Trees growing with LWI were 5, 8, 10, and 6 times larger than those with HWI for ages one through four, respectively, at the Tallassee site. At all levels of interference, the percentage of total biomass in foliage decreased, and stem and branch components increased, with increasing tree size at both sites. Trees growing with HWI had a lower percentage of total biomass in foliage and a greater percentage of total biomass in stem than those growing with LWI when compared over a common size. Growth efficiency per tree, expressed as annual increase in stem biomass per unit leaf area (g m-2), was slightly greater for trees growing with LWI compared to HWI when leaf area index (LAI3, total surface) was less than 0.2. For LAI values greater than 0.2 the relationship was reversed. The latter contradicts the idea that growth efficiency can be used as a measure of vigor for young loblolly pine. Changes in carbon partitioning to the development of leaf area are suggested to be driving the accelerated growth responses associated with a reduction of weed interference. Nomenclature: Picloram, 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloro2-pyridinecarboxylic acid; 2,4-D, (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid; triclopyr, [(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinyl)oxy]acetic acid; glyphosate, N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine; sulfometuron, 2-[[[[(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl) amino] carbonyl] amino] sulfonyl] benzoic acid; loblolly 1Received for publication December 4, 1989, and in revised form June 1, 1990. 2Grad. Res. Asst., Res. Assoc., Asst. Prof., Prof., and Grad. Res. Asst., respectively, School of Forestry and Alabama Agric. Exp. Stn., Auburn Univ., AL 36849-5418. Alabama Agric. Exp. Stm J. Ser. No. 9-902421P. 3Abbreviations: LAI, leaf area index; LWI, low weed interference; MWI, medium weed interference; HWI, high weed interference. 4Letters following this symbol are a WSSA-approved computer code from Composite List of Weeds, Revised 1989. Available from WSSA, 309 West Clark Street, Champaign, IL 61820. pine, Pinus taeda L.; horseweed, Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq #4 ERICA; dogfennel, Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam.) Small # EUPCP; broomsedge, Andropogon virginicus L. # ANOVI; panicum grass, Panicum spp.; blackberry, Rubus spp.; Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica Thunb. # LONJA; common lespedeza, Lespedeza striata (Thunb.) H. & A. # LESST; sericea lespedeza, Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Don # LESCU; Florida pusley, Richardia scabra L. # RCHSC; American burnweed, Erechtites hieraciifolia (L.) Raf. ex DC. # EREHI. Additional index words. Growth efficiency, leaf area, leaf area index.

(...) A growth chamber study was undertaken to measure the effect of temperature on seedling emergence and the influence of temperature and daylength on early growth of several sericea lespedeza genotypes. Emergence was reduced by about 20% with each reduction of 3 °C in day/night temperature within the range of temperatures used. Height, shoot dry weight, leaf dry weight, and stem dry weight of all genotypes tested were very sensitive to both daylength and temperature (...)

Structure of inflorescence and its variation were organographically and ontogenetically studied inLespedeza cuneata (Dum.-Cours.) G. Don. An axillary inflorescence of the species forms a compound inflorescence which is composed of three or four component inflorescences. Each component inflorescence bears four (rarely six), three, two, or one flowers. Based on the arrangement of inflorescence phyllomes, the component inflorescence with four flowers is interpreted as a pseudoraceme bearing two shortened lateral shoots (partial inflorescences) each of which has two flowers. The component inflorescence with one flower appears to be terminated by the flower and to compose the cyme. Organographic observations revealed that the terminally located flower is not truly terminal, but axillary in origin. Ontogenetic observations showed that the apices of component inflorescence and partial inflorescence exist in early developmental stages in spite of variation in the form of component inflorescence. The terminally located flower in the cyme-like inflorescence was thus demonstrated to be laterally borne on the partial inflorescence axis. The component inflorescence composing the cyme-like one inL. cuneata is a reduced form in the number of partial inflorescences and of flowers from the pseudoraceme. The cyme-like inflorescence inL. cuneata resembles the inflorescence ofKummerowia.

The biological impact of consumption of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Don) genotypes varying in tannin content was examined for two generalist insect herbivores, Heliothis zea Boddie and Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Foliage of high- and low-tannin genotypes did not substantially affect the growth and development of either species when incorporated into meridic diet except at large concentrations where a diet containing high tannin genotypes reduced larval weight and delayed pupation of both species. Fresh foliage of sericea lespedeza with varying levels of tannin did not adversely affect larval growth and development of S. frugiperda. All genotypes were a poor host for H. zea in that most larvae died before pupation. Initial larval weight of H. zea was not consistently different between high- and low-tannin genotypes. Except for one low-tannin genotype having a greater efficiency of conversion of digested diet than the other genotypes, foliage tannin content had little effect on diet assimilation and utilization and larval developmental and consumption rates of stages 6 and 7 H. zea larvae. H. zea neonates also did not show a significant preference for any genotypes. Therefore, tannin content of sericea lespedeza had relatively little effect on the growth and development of these generalist insect defoliators which suggests that low-tannin genotypes of sericea lespedeza will not be substantially more susceptible to defoliation by these species. The poor performance of H. zea on all L. cuneata genotypes suggests that the plant may contain factors other than tannin that inhibit the growth and development of this species or that sericea lespedeza lacks essential nutrients for proper development of H. zea. Resume Croissance et developpement de 2 chenilles alimentees sur Sericea lespedeza a teneurs en tanin elevee et basse Les effets de la consommation de phenotypes de la legumineuse S. lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) (Dumont) (G. Don) dont les teneurs en tanin different, ont ete examines sur 2 insectes generalistes; Heliothis zea Boddie et Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lep.: Noctuidae). Le feuillage de phenotypes a teneur elevee ou basse en tanin n'a pas affecte considerablement la croissance et le developpement des 2 especes, quand il a ete incorpore dans un regime meridique, sauf aux fortes concentrations ou un regime contenant le pheno-type riche en tanin a reduit le poids larvaire et retarde la nymphose des 2 especes. Le feuillage frais de S, lespedeza avec differentes teneurs en tanin n'a pas nui au developpement et a la croissance larvaire de S. frugiperda. Tous les phenotypes ont constitue un hote desavantageux pour H. zea dont toutes les chenilles sont mortes avant la nymphose. Les poids initiaux des chenilles de H. zea ne differaient pas significativement suivant la pauvrete ou la richesse en tanin des phenotypes. A l'exception d'un phenotype pauvre en tanin ayant une plus grande efficacite de transformation lors de la digestion, la teneur en tanin du feuillage a eu peu d'effet sur l'assimilation du repas, son utilisation, les taux de consommation et le developpement larvaire des stades 6 et 7 des chenilles d'H. zea. Les chenilles neonates de H. zea n'ont presente aucune preference significative pour l'un des phenotypes. Par consequent, la teneur en tanin de S. lespedeza a eu relativement peu d'effet sur la croissance et le developpement de ces deux generalistes defoliateurs, ce qui suggere que les phenotypes de S. lespedeza pauvres en tanin ne sont pas nettement plus susceptibles de defoliation par ces especes. Les faibles performances de H. zea sur tous les phenotypes de S. lespedeza suggerent que cette plante peut contenir des facteurs autres que les tanins qui inhibent la croissance et le developpement de cette espece ou que S. lespedeza manque de certains elements necessaires au developpement de H. zea.

This histological study was performed to determine wheter differences in location and concentration of polyphenols and condensed tannins could be observed in leaves and stems of sericea lespedeza genotypes of high and low phenolic content

Three dilute acid pretreated herbaceous crops (Weeping lovegrass,Eragrotis curvula; Sericea lespedeza,Lespedeza cuneata; and switch-grass,Panicum virgatum) were evaluated in the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process for ethanol production with selected yeast strains and enzyme combinations.Saccharomyces cerevisiae (D5A) was used in the fermentations as a single culture and in a mixed culture with β-glucosidase, producingBrettanomyces clausenii Y-1414. Cellulase enzyme was either employed alone or in combination with β-glucosidase. SSF’s were run at 37°C for 8 d along with a saccharification study at 45°C under similar enzyme loadings. Both cultures achieved high ethanol yields and rates of hydrolysis at the higher enzyme loadings, and the mixed culture shows improvement over S.cerevisiae for the lower enzyme loadings without β-glucosidase supplementation. Of the three herbaceous crops tested, Weeping lovegrass excels in both rate and final ethanol yields, followed closely by Switchgrass, whereas the legume(Sericea lespedeza) trailed behind both grasses in conversion performance.

(...) The effect of forage preservation method on condensed tannins was studied in a randomized-block field experiment with high-tannin (HT) and low-tannin (LT) sericea lespedeza, Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Don. Plants were harvested and fresh frozen (FF), oven dried (OD), freeze dried (FD), and sun cured (SC). Tannin concentrations were determined with a modified vanillin-HCl procedure. To improve the vanillin-HCl assay several parameters were examined. (...)

Potassium lespedezate (3) and potassium isolespedezate (4) were isolated from the nyctinastic plant Lespedeza cuneata L.G. Don. These compounds (3 and 4) were quite effective for leaf-opening of the plant Cassia mimosoides L. at 8×10-7 mol/l. The interaction between the leaf-closing substance (2) and leaf-opening substances (3 and 4) shall govern in circadian rhythm of Cassia plants.

A copper-resistant bacteria CCNWSX2332 was isolated from root nodules of Lespedeza cuneata growing in a gold mining tailing region in northwest of China. The specific growth rate of the strain was 0.62 microh(-1) in the presence of 2.0 mM Cu(2+) in TY liquid media, and the maximum copper accumulation of whole cell reached 147.03 microM Cu(2+) per gram (dry weight) after 4 h incubation. A partial sequence of the copper resistance gene copA was amplified from the strain, and the phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequence showed that CCNWSX2332 belonged to Agrobacterium, and it had 100% similarity with Agrobacterium tumefaciens type strain IAM13129(T).

A total of 108 strains of bacteria were isolated from root nodules of wild legumes growing in gold mine tailings in northwest of China and were tested for heavy metal resistance. The results showed that the bacterial strain CCNWRS33-2 isolated from Lespedeza cuneata was highly resistant to copper, cadmium, lead and zinc. The strain had a relatively high mean specific growth rate under each heavy metal stress test and exhibited a high degree of bioaccumulation ability. The partial sequence of the copper resistance gene copA was amplified from the strain and a sequence comparison with our Cu-resistant PCR fragment showed a high homology with Cu-resistant genes from other bacteria. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that CCNWRS33-2 belongs to the Rhizobium–Agrobacterium branch and it had 98.9% similarity to Agrobactrium tumefaciens LMG196.

Missouri ranks second in cow-calf numbers in the United States and its pastureland has experienced invasion of various plant species. As one of the invasive weeds, sericea lespedeza is becoming a serious threat to pasturelands in this state. The in-situ field survey in these vast pastures is time consuming and often impossible because of accessibility. Typical aerial survey is also difficult to detect sericea because the plant is of similar size and color as natural grass and, thus, cannot be effectively discriminated in broadband aerial color photos. This study used an airborne hyperspectral image to map sericea and its invasiveness in a public grass field in Mid-Missouri. The maximal 1st-order derivative in red-near infrared region (650–800nm) was derived to separate sericea from fescue, the dominant grass in pastures in Missouri. With a simple threshold approach, sericea of various sizes were identified in the study area. It was also found that the maximal 1st-order derivatives of sericea patches were log-linearly related to sericea “volume,” a quasi 3-dimensional biophysical variable as an approximate measure of sericea invasiveness. The squared correlation coefficient (r 2) of the regression was 0.65 and the estimation error of sericea “volume” estimation was 11% based on ground measurements at 27 sample sites. With this empirical regression model, the quantitative distribution of sericea volume was mapped, which could serve as a first step in alerting landowners and the general public about the seriousness of sericea invasion in Missouri pasturelands.

Background: Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don, a perennial legume native to Eastern Asia, has been used therapeutically in traditional Asian medicine to protect the function of liver, kidneys and lungs. However, its effect on inflammatory nitric oxide (NO) production and the active constituents have not yet been explored. Objective: In this study, we investigated the phytochemical constituents of L. cuneata and evaluated their effect on NO production using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 cells. Materials and Methods: The 80% methanol extract of the aerial part of L. cuneata were used for the isolation of flavonoids. The isolated compounds were elucidated by various spectroscopic methods including nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry spectrometry. To evaluate the effect on inflammatory NO production, LPS-stimulated murine microglia BV-2 cells were used as a screening system. Results: Nine flavonoids were isolated from the aerial parts of L. cuneata. Among the isolated flavonoids, compounds 4, 5, 7 and 9 are reported from the genus Lespedeza for the first time. Moreover, compounds 1 and 6 showed significant inhibitory effects on NO production in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells without cell toxicity. Conclusion: In this study, nine flavonoids were isolated from L. cuneata. Among the compounds, only 1 and 6, which have free hydroxyl groups at both C3 and C7 showed significant inhibitory activity on NO production in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. These results suggested L. cuneata and its flavonoid constituents as possible candidate for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

A commercial solid matric priming method and an osmotic priming method were used to measure seed priming responses of birdsfoot trefoil, kura clover, and sericea lespedeza. Differences were not observed using standard germination tests, but both priming methods show potential for increased germination rate (P>0.05). Conflicting results for matric and osmotic priming were found in terms of seed storage potential after priming, with matric primed seeds showing higher (P

The selection of plant species is critical for the successful establishment and long-term maintenance of vegetation on reclaimed surface mined soils. A study was conducted to assess the capability of 16 forage grass and legume species in monocultures and mixes to establish and thrive on a reclaimed Appalachian surface mine amended with biosolids. The 0.15-ha coarse-textured, rocky, non-acid forming mined site was prepared for planting by grading to a 2% slope and amending sandstone overburden materials with a mixture of composted and dewatered, anaerobically digested biosolids at a rate of 368 Mg ha(-1) (dry weight). Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa caucasia L.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), ladino clover (Trifolium repens L.), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), common sericea lespedeza and AULotan sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata L.), tall fescue-ladino clover, tall fescue-alfalfa, orchardgrass-birdsfoot trefoil, switchgrass-AULotan, and an herbaceous species mix intended for planting on reforested sites consisting of foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.], perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), redtop (Agrostis alba L.), kobe lespedeza (Kummerowia striata L.), appalow lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata L.), and birdsfoot trefoil were established between spring 1990 and 1991. Vegetative biomass and/or persistence were assessed in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002. The high rate of biosolids applied provided favorable soil chemical properties but could not overcome physical property limitations due to shallow undeveloped soil perched atop a compacted soil layer at 25 cm depth. The plant species whose persistence and biomass production were the greatest after a decade or more of establishment (i.e., switchgrass, sericea lespedeza, reed canarygrass, tall fescue, and crownvetch) shared the physiological and reproductive characteristics of low fertility requirements, drought and moisture tolerance, and propagation by rhizome and/or stolons. Of these five species, two (tall fescue and sericea lespedeza) are or have been seeded commonly on Appalachian coal surface mines, and often dominate abandoned pasture sites. Despite the high rates of heavy metal-bearing biosolids applied to the soil, plant uptake of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn were well within critical concentrations more than a decade after establishment of the vegetation.

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of the condensed tannin (CT)-containing forage sericea lespedeza (sericea lespedeza (SL); Lespedeza cuneata; 15.2% CT), on fecal egg count (FEC), larval development (larvae/10 g of feces), worm burden and immune response compared with a crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum)/Kentucky 31 tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea; control forage (CTF)) forage low in CT (0.32% CT) in grazing Angora does and their kids. Fifty worm-free mixed-age does were randomly allocated to three treatments. One treatment (10 does; initial liveweight (LW) = 45+/-1.5 kg) entailed grazing of SL forage from April 25 to July 15, 2002 with a second treatment of CTF (20 does; initial LW = 43+/-1.4 kg) grazing during the same period. Does of the third treatment (20 does; initial LW = 44+/-1.4 kg) grazed a sward of SL for 2 weeks and then one of CTF for 2 weeks followed by alternating between the two pastures every 2-week rotational grazing (ROT). To gauge levels of infective larvae on pasture, three worm-free Angora kids (initial LW = 3.6+/-0.2 kg) were randomly selected as tracers. Tracers grazed for final 60 days and were euthanized for determination of worm burden. The immune response of does was measured by skin thickness reaction after the intradermal injection of 250 microg phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Mean FEC for SL and ROT were substantially lower (P < 0.01) than for CTF does (145, 329 and 894 eggs/g, respectively). The FEC for kids was lower (P < 0.05) for SL than for ROT and CTF (550, 2757 and 3600 eggs/g, respectively). Total fecal egg output (3.3, 6.0 and 26.9 x 10(5) eggs/day, respectively) and larval development (242, 263 and 792 larvae/10 g, respectively) were lower (P < 0.05) for SL and ROT than for CTF. Tracers grazing on SL had lower total worm burdens than ROT and CTF (P < 0.01). The immune response was higher (P < 0.01) for SL (4.9 mm) and ROT (6.0 mm) than for CTF (3.0 mm) at 12 h after injection of PHA. The packed cell volume (PCV) in does was higher (P < 0.01) for SL and ROT than for CTF (27, 26 and 23%, respectively). Does that grazed CT-containing forage had considerably lower milk somatic cell counts (SCC) than does grazing non-CT-containing forage. In summary, grazing CT forages reduced FEC, larval development and worm burden, and also appeared to enhance immune response. The CT-containing forage SL reduced gastro-intestinal parasite infections of Angora does and kids.

Pyritic soil material was excavated and placed in an upland environment during the construction of the TennesseeTombigbee Waterway in Mississippi, USA. The material eventually became very acidic (pH = 2.8), and conventional attempts to revegetate failed. A greenhouse study was conducted to assess effectiveness of various amendments on the growth of Paspalum notatum var. ‘Pensacola’ (bahiagrass). Lime was added at 51.6 t ha-1 in combination with five rates (9.4, 18.6, 37.4, 74.6 and 149.5 t ha-11) of either chicken manure, composted sewage sludge, or tree bark, plus 149.1 kg NH4NO3 ha-1 + 257.8 kg ha-1 of 0-17-34 NPK fertilizer. The unamended soil yielded no growth, while liming alone allowed plant establishment and the addition of fertilizer doubled plant yield. Increasing the bark amendment reduced growth of bahiagrass, while yields increased as the rate of sewage sludge increased. Chicken manure produced the highest plant yield with values increasing from the 9.4 to 74.6 t ha-1 rates and declining slightly at the 149.5 t ha-1 rate. Based on these results, lime and chicken manure were applied to a field demonstration of herbaceous and woody plant restoration on acid, pyritic soil material. Chicken manure increased yields of Paspalum notatum var. ‘Pensacola’, Eragrostis curvula and Lespedeza cuneata var. ‘Interstate’ in lime amended plots. Woody plant establishment was restricted in plots containing L. cuneata. Suppression of L. cuneata with high application rates of N improved woody plant establishment.

Sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata] is a deep-rooted legume that can be established successfully on eroded and depleted croplands. It is tolerant of drought, high levels of aluminum, and low soil fertility; environmental conditions found throughout the southeastern region of the USA. Sericea lespedeza is capable of improving soil by increasing its organic matter and nitrogen content rapidly. A field with a four year stand of sericea lespedeza grown for soil conservation or biomass production may have over 7 Mg ha{sup {minus}1} of residues on the surface. Once established, sericea lespedeza maintenance costs are relatively small compared to other plants. While most herbaceous plants require nitrogen fertilization, sericea lespedeza fixes its own. Compared to most other crops, relatively few diseases and insect problems are associated with sericea lespedeza. A field experiment aimed at measuring biomass yield of 81 genotypes of sericea lespedeza over time and variation in biomass composition was conducted. Genotype R194-79-290-9 had the highest mean biomass yield and, consistently, ranked among the top four during the years that this study was conducted. Other genotypes that also had a good performance over the four years are the cultivar Serala and the breeding line 75-2-3. No significant differences were found amongmore » genotypes for percentage of crude protein content. There were significant differences among genotypes for neutral detergent fiber, hemicellulose, and holocellulose content. There were not significant differences among genotypes for acid detergent fiber, lignin and cellulose content. Further testing of the best genotypes should be conducted at several locations to determine the genotype to be released for the specific purpose of biomass production. Screening of accessions from the Plant Introduction System should be conducted to determine their variability for lignin and crude protein content.« less

The objective of this study was to collect data that would provide a foundation for the concept of using vegetation to enhance in situ bioremediation of contaminated surface soils. Soil and vegetation (Lespedeza cuneata, Paspalum notatum, Pinus taeda, and Solidago sp.) samples from the Miscellaneous Chemicals Basin (MCB) at the Savannah River Site were used in tests to identify critical plant and microbiological variables affecting the fate of trichloroethylene (TCE) in the root zone. Microbiological assays including phospholipid acid analyses, and {sup 14}C-acetate incorporation were conducted to elucidate differences in rhizosphere and nonvegetated soil microbial communities from the MCB. The microbial activity, biomass, and degradation of TCE in rhizosphere soils were significantly greater than corresponding nonvegetated soils. Vegetation had a positive effect on microbial degradation of {sup 14}C-TCE in whole-plant experiments. Soils from the MCB containing Lespedeza cuneata, Pinus taeda, and Glycine max mineralized greater than 25% of the {sup 14}C- TCE added compared with less than 20% in nonvegetated soils. Collectively, these results provide evidence for the positive role of vegetation in enhancing biodegradation.

Two experiments were conducted near Maple Hill, KS in 1998 to compare the effectiveness of herbicides and mowing used alone and in combination for control of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata). Remedy at 0.5 lb/acre was more effective when applied during the vegetative growth stage (>87%) than during flowering or seed production. Ally at 0.4 oz/acre provided control equivalent to Remedy and was equally effective at both the vegetative and bloom stages. Both herbicides provided less than 60% control when applied during seed production. A single mowing on July 8 was not effective. Mowing followed in 6 weeks by Remedy at 0.25 lb/acre or Ally at 0.2 oz/acre provided control equivalent to that with the higher rates of Remedy or Ally alone.