Florida Agricultural Experiment Station


and lespedeza. Kobe and common lespedeza are recommended
varieties. Korean lespedeza generally makes poor growth and
does not volunteer satisfactorily.
 The grasses and legumes best suited for the heavier textured
soils, as those in western Florida, are Dallis, Bermuda, Napier,
Bahia and carpet grasses; clovers; and annual lespedezas. Heavy
textured soils or those underlaid with clay in western Florida
are particularly suitable for lespedeza.
 Para, Bermuda, Napier and St. Augustine grasses and the
winter clovers have been found well suited to the muck soils
of the Everglades area. Success in growing many of these pas-
ture plants depends upon fertility and grazing management prac-
tices. See also appendix Table 1.

 FERTILIZATION
 Most Florida soils are deficient or low in availability of 1
or more of the nutrients essential for pasture grasses or
legumes. The absence or deficiency of 1 nutrient in the soil,
regardless of the abundance of other nutrients, will retard plant
growth. Since plants differ widely in their nutritional require-
ments the nutrients to be supplied will depend upon the plant
species to be grown as well as upon the soil deficiencies.
 The objective of practical fertilization is to supply
 the nutrients specifically required for the plants to be
 grown, provided the soil is deficient in the nutrients
 in question. Proper fertilization will increase plant
 growth and improve mineral content and quality of
 forage.
 The fertilizer practices for pasture establishment and main-
 tenance differ and are discussed separately for pasture estab-
 lishment and maintenance.

 FERTILIZERS FOR ESTABLISHING PASTURES ON FLAT
 PINE AND PRAIRIE LAND
 Grasses.-Eight grasses were planted in large blocks and
 given 12 lime and fertilizer treatments to find the grasses best
 suited to the flat pine areas and their fertilizer and lime require-
 ments. Such tests were established on Leon fine sand during
 early summer near Callahan and Zephyrhills.
 Typical carpet and Bermuda grass growth as stimulated by
 fertilization on the Callahan experiment is shown in Figs. 9
 and 10. Carpet grass planted and treated with 400 pounds per