Stylosanthes humilis

Townsville stylo, Townsville lucerne, annual stylo

Erect annual herb up to 1 m high with narrow trifoliate leaves. Introduced on natural grasslands with great success, and considered an outstanding pasture legume because of its high yield of nutritious fodder, obtainable year after year, by applying only phosphatic fertilizer. It has in many instances almost doubled the stocking capacity of natural pastures in Australia, mainly because of the drastically reduced weight loss in the dry season. Mixes with many grasses, most importantly with Heteropogon contortus. Before sowing the land should be grazed heavily or burned to reduce grass competition. Direct oversowing gives a lower stand density than sowing on disked land. Also, heavy grazing of newly established swards reduces grass competition as the young legume is less palatable than the grass. Inoculation of the seeds usually not necessary. Also grown alone for both grazing and hay.

As % of dry matter

DM

CP

CF

Ash

EE

NFE

Ca

P

Ref

Fresh aerial part,

Thailand

29.2

19.8

20.9

27.7

3.6

28.0

1.64

0.33

56

Fresh, late vege-

tative, Burma

22.0

21.0

8.0

3.0

46.0

0.80

0.22

454