Do you know the difference, is stylo a grass or a legume? Maybe you are already familiar with this green plant and even rely on it as animal feed. But insight into the stylo will complement the friendly interaction with this green plant.
This article will specifically answer the question “is stylo a grass or legume” along with other important insights about Stylosanthes. It also provides information on how to process stylo-based silage in the right way and using the best tools.
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The Difference Between Grass and Legumes
Let’s start with the general thing, namely knowing the difference between grass and legumes to answer the question “is stylo a grass or legume”. At first glance, these two types of plants look similar. Both of them can thrive in open land, are liked by livestock, and support increased productivity on farms.
But if you look further, there are some differences between the two. Grasses are plants dominated by long blade-like leaves, while legumes have true stems and leaves. The next difference is that grass can grow in a variety of conditions and weather conditions, while legumes thrive on the soil at a certain altitude, although their drought tolerance is also quite high.
When the grass has a low level of palatability, the legume is very attractive to livestock, in terms of aroma, texture, and taste. The grass is also not very reliable to be used as animal feed, while legumes have more nutritional content in the form of minerals and various vitamins. Legumes can also work with microbes to enrich the soil.
Is Stylo a Grass or Legume? Check the answer Here
Judging from its origins and characteristics, stylo belongs to the legume type of plant, so it can be relied upon for the manufacture of fermented animal feed, as well as for planting in pastures to facilitate livestock grazing. This plant, native to America, quickly naturalized to many regions, giving rise to a wide variety of stylo species.
Advantages of Stylo Planting for Feed Stock
As one of the superior feed ingredients, stylo can meet the nutritional needs of livestock so that it can significantly increase meat and milk production. If you are still unsure about growing stylo in open ground, let’s look at some important reasons why stylo should be relied upon to design high-nutrient feed stocks every year:
Relatively Easy Stylo Planting
Stylo can thrive in tropical and subtropical areas with a land elevation of 0-1000 mm above sea level. The tolerance of this plant is also quite high in the face of drought. Instead of letting your livestock graze carelessly, it’s better to adjust the type of feed both when it is grazed or used as silage.
Good for the Soil and Suppresses Weed Production
Stylo planting on marginal land is highly recommended because it supports soil conservation. Stylo roots can penetrate deep into the soil so that they can store water reserves and other nutrients. The provision of organic fertilizers can also support soil recovery, thereby suppressing weed growth.
Mainstay Fermented Feed Manufacturing Raw Materials
Stylo is the main raw material for making high-nutrition silage. But you have to apply the right methods in the manufacturing process. Stylo cutting must be done at the right time and conditions so as not to interfere with the plant’s regeneration process, as well as to optimize the nutrients contained in it.
When you know the answer to the question “is stylo a grass or legume”, it will be easier to sort out green grasses that are ready to be harvested and which ones still need to be allowed to grow. Try to cut the stylo to a uniform size and use a sharp cutting tool. If you produce silage in large quantities, you can use a special machine to speed up the silage production process.
Use of Film Silage to Support Stylo-Fermented Feed
Questions about “is stylo a grass or legume” will give you complete information about how to process this nutritious feed ingredient into silage. When you don’t have adequate airtight storage space, it’s time to produce silage efficiently using silage film.
This is a packaging device used to make the feed fermentation process faster and more efficient. After the stylos and other feed ingredients have been harvested and compacted, the next step is to wrap them with silage film in a box or cylindrical shape.
Many manufacturers offer silage film, bale net wrap, and round bale film to support silage making. You have to be selective in choosing the credible and experienced silage film manufacturer, so you can get packaging products that meet standards. Selection of the correct silage film will also expedite the silage fermentation process to produce feed that is durable and highly nutritious.
So, are you still curious, is stylo a grass or legume? Hopefully, this article can add to your insight into knowing the best feed ingredients for livestock, and can wisely choose film silage from the best producers.