FORAGE DESMODIUMS ECOLOGY AND POTENTIALS

Abstract

The Desmodiums belong to a large genus Desmodium comprising 450 species,
distributed all over the world. In India, 49 species are reported from tropical,
subtropical and temperate regions. Almost all the species are important pasture
legumes and being palatable and nutritious are considered as alfalfa of the
tropics. Research attention on the forage value of desmodiums is rather low in
comparison to other pasture legumes. In this paper, the ecology and potentials
of Desmodium of forage value are highlighted