VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Lespedeza striata | Common Lespedeza 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Common lespedeza is planted for high-quality forage, pasturage, and hay
for all classes of livestock [10,25].  White-tailed deer and wild
turkeys consume the foliage [11,25].  The seeds are eaten by rodents and
birds, including cotton rats, northern bobwhites, wild turkeys,
mallards, starlings and mourning doves [2,9,11,25].


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
The nutritional value of first cut, sun-cured, common lespedeza hay is
as follows [19]:

                   percent dry weight

Dry matter                91.4
Ash                        4.8
Crude fiber               25.2
Ether extract              3.8
N-free extract            43.7
Digestible protein
        Cattle             9.2
        Goats              9.7
        Horses             9.5
        Rabbits            9.4
        Sheep              9.2


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Common lespedeza has some applications for soil stabilization [20,25].
It does not do well, however, on highly eroded subsoils [9].  In
southern Virginia and northern Tennessee, seed mixtures containing
common lespedeza were either hydroseeded or aerially seeded on graded,
fertilized maganese mine spoils.  This treatment resulted in excellent
cover [17].

Common lespedeza is often included in grass mixtures or grass-perennial
legume mixtures in order to promote rapid establishment of grasses
[27,29].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Common lespedeza is planted for soil improvement [27,29].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Common lespedeza is relatively drought resistant [9].  

In northern parts of its range, frost may kill common lespedeza before
seed maturation [20].  

Scarification of common lespedeza seed improves germination rates [25].
Methods of cultivation are detailed [20,29].

In Mississippi, the best growth of legumes, including common lespedeza,
was achieved with a prescribed fire treatment.  Less favorable growth
resulted from burning and grazing, grazing alone, and protection from
both fire and grazing [28].

Related categories for Species: Lespedeza striata | Common Lespedeza