![]() The buckwheat would start to fade quickly, and partridge pea would start to dominate and close canopy while the pigeon pea tap roots are drilling towards the water table. In this scenario, the buckwheat would germinate in two to four days, close canopy, and then the partridge pea and pigeon peas would germinate. This combination would be best completed with buckwheat in the mix because partridge peas take a while to germinate. While not quite as fast as buckwheat, it was certainly fast enough to be used as a nurse crop for another cover crop that takes longer to establish, like pigeon peas. Partridge pea in the Lower Rio Grande Valley closed canopy cover very quickly after germination. In Malaysia, the relative Cassia cobanensis was found to be a host plant of several beneficial predators and parasitoids of oil palm pests (Ahmad et al., 2012), and it’s likely that a similar association is repeated in Texas for pests of other crops. In addition to being pest-free, they attracted many native pollinators and were nice to look at because of their showy flowers. Otherwise, the plants were healthy despite the dry, hot conditions. In the Rio Grande Valley, we saw no diseases, but there were a few pods affected by borers. rotundifolia and infestation by green stink bugs (Cameron, 2010). Pest ReductionĪustralians have observed several fungal diseases of C. rotundifolia loses leaves under drought conditions, unless it’s been heavily grazed (Hacker et al., 2001). ![]() fasciculata in the Rio Grande Valley tended to progress faster physiologically and hasten towards seed production. rotundifolia doesn’t tolerate slow drainage or flooding very well, but C. It needs at least 24 inches per year to survive, but 35 inches will allow it to achieve perennial status. rotundifolia can be either annual or perennial, depending upon annual rainfall. rotundifolia consistently improved available nitrogen, soil phosphorous concentrations, soluble organic carbon, and other soil health parameters relating to organic matter percentage and microbial activity in the soil (Zhong et al., 2018). Partridge pea positively and significantly improves organic matter content and quality over the long term. Photo: Justin Duncan, NCAT Organic Matter Partridge pea cover crop in Waller, Texas. It also uses the native Rhizobium present in the soil there. It performs very well on depleted soils and completes its lifecycle with minimal inputs. In the lower Rio Grande Valley, it’s a native plant. It fixes nitrogen in good amounts, performing almost as well as an application of 100 pounds per acre N at fertilizing corn planted in its incorporated residue (Tanimu et al., 2007). Cassia can flourish in these conditions and initiate the reclamation process (Gillman, 2014). Mined areas are low in fertility, organic matter, macronutrients, and micronutrients, and especially soil flora and fauna and microorganisms. Soil NutrientsĪs a cover, Cassia is effective at reclaiming surface-mined areas due to its excellent pioneering potential. The root was once traditionally used in Native American medicine as a stimulant and to increase stamina (Hamel and Chiltoskey, 1975). These red clay soils are somewhat similar to those found throughout the humid southern United States.Ĭassia should not be grazed by cattle while it is in later stages of growth, i.e., after flowering, due to toxicity issues. These soils are low in macronutrients, micronutrients, and trace elements, as well as high in aluminum, but, nonetheless, round-leaf Cassia is productive (Hacker et al., 1997). It also does well on the depleted red clay soils of southern China. In other words, it appreciates sandy soils. Partridge pea is adaptable to areas where there is adequate drainage, as well as moisture. A honey bee visits this partridge pea flower, collecting pollen and nectar for its hive.
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