Abstract
The results are reported of an experiment on the Lilongwe Plain to investigate the effects of close grazing with sheep on the productivity of six tropical pasture legumes grown with Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana). Over a four year ley period only Desmodium uncinatum cv. 'Silverleaf' and Macroptilium atropurpureum cv. 'Siratro' persisted. 'Siratro' was slower to establish than 'Silverleaf' but there were no outstanding differences in the last two seasons. None of the legume had any effect on sward productivity in the first season, but the influence of 'Silverleaf' and 'Siratro' increased with time. Maximum values for N fixation and transfer were recorded in the fourth season.
