Publication Date
1993
Description
A grazing experiment is in progress in Costa Rica with Arachis pintoi, Centrosema macrocarpum and Stylosanthes gulanensis combined with Brachiaria brizantha and B. Humidicola at 2 stocking rates. The proportion of C. macrocarpum declined in all treatments to low levels,· as did S. gulanensls, except at the low stocking rate in association with B. humidicola. A. pintoi maintained a high proportion with B. humidicola, especially at the high stocking rate. The best grass-legume balance was achieved in the combination of A. pintoi with B. brizantha at the high stocking rate. Volunteer species dominated the C. macrocarpum and B. humidicola mixtures, whereas with S. gulanensis they were increasing; in all treatments, except that with B. brizantha at the low stocking rate, •The treatments with A. pintoi had only small amounts of volunteer spp. The success of A. pintoi is probably based on its prostrate growth habit, dense stolons, the long half-life of the population and Its capacity to flower year-round.
Citation
Ibrahim, M and Mannetje, L't, "Grass-Legume Balance Under Grazing in the Humid Tropics of Costa Rica" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 25.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session52/25
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Grass-Legume Balance Under Grazing in the Humid Tropics of Costa Rica
A grazing experiment is in progress in Costa Rica with Arachis pintoi, Centrosema macrocarpum and Stylosanthes gulanensis combined with Brachiaria brizantha and B. Humidicola at 2 stocking rates. The proportion of C. macrocarpum declined in all treatments to low levels,· as did S. gulanensls, except at the low stocking rate in association with B. humidicola. A. pintoi maintained a high proportion with B. humidicola, especially at the high stocking rate. The best grass-legume balance was achieved in the combination of A. pintoi with B. brizantha at the high stocking rate. Volunteer species dominated the C. macrocarpum and B. humidicola mixtures, whereas with S. gulanensis they were increasing; in all treatments, except that with B. brizantha at the low stocking rate, •The treatments with A. pintoi had only small amounts of volunteer spp. The success of A. pintoi is probably based on its prostrate growth habit, dense stolons, the long half-life of the population and Its capacity to flower year-round.
