Herbaceous mimosa persistence in grazed pasture

Abstract

Herbaceous mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa Torr. & A. Gray [Fabaceae]) is a perennial, warm-season, native legume widely adapted in southern and eastern Texas, across Louisiana, and into Mississippi. Limited natural occurrence in Louisiana pastures and preliminary evaluation of experimental pasture plantings indicate potential value as a pasture legume. Typical low growth and limited spread in Louisiana pastures suggest a competitive disadvantage for herbaceous mimosa within pastures of the sod-forming grasses. Potential for seasonal deferment from grazing (April–May, June–July, or August–September) to contribute to stand improvement of this legume was evaluated at 2 sites in Louisiana. Measures of forage nutritive value were also compared to those of the warm-season grasses. In contrast to expectations, populations of the legume increased similarly under all grazing treatments, even with contrasting seasons of drought and temporary flooding. The legume population increases indicate that the competitive advantage of the grasses may be more closely related to typical pasture management practices involving nitrogen fertilization and chemical weed control than to the selective grazing of the legume. Forage of herbaceous mimosa provided higher crude protein and lower fiber concentrations in late summer and autumn than those of the companion grasses. Herbaceous mimosa provides a potentially useful pasture legume option for sustainable management objectives, particularly with low-input approaches. This legume is especially suitable for multiple-use management with grazing tolerance and quality forage contributing to the previously recognized value for wildlife habitat and pollinator habitat among other ecosystem services provided to diverse pasture landscapes.