Theme 02: Grass-Legume Mixtures
Description
Little information is available on the contribution of tropical legumes to forage yield in the eastern Caribbean. This study assessed the effects of three grazing cycles (GC; 5, 10 and 15-wk) on seasonal dry matter (DM) yield of binary mixtures of the tropical legumes glycine (Neonotonia wightii) and desmanthus (Desmanthus virgatus) with “Bambatsi” (Panicum coloratum) and “Mottgrass” (Pennisetum purpureum Shum.). Plant responses were assessed by mob-grazing with sheep (12-24 hrs; to average stubble height of 15-cm) for each GC. Grazing cycles affected yield of both the legume and grass component (P< 0.05). At GC of 5-weeks, forage DM ranged from 1.5-2.0 Mg ha-1 in both years. Forage yield increases at10 and 15-wk for both grass and legume were two-fold. Legume yield contribution ranged from 12-32 percentage by weight in 1997 and 33 to 58% in 1999. Desmanthus dominated bambatsi swards. Glycine associated well with both bambatsi and Mottgrass. Because of its aggressive shrub-growth habit, Desmanthus is better suited for use as hedgerows in native pastures. Glycine is more compatible to use as binary mixtures with grasses to increase yield and nutritive value in the eastern Caribbean.
Included in
Tropical Legumes to Augment Forage Yield in the Eastern Caribbean
Little information is available on the contribution of tropical legumes to forage yield in the eastern Caribbean. This study assessed the effects of three grazing cycles (GC; 5, 10 and 15-wk) on seasonal dry matter (DM) yield of binary mixtures of the tropical legumes glycine (Neonotonia wightii) and desmanthus (Desmanthus virgatus) with “Bambatsi” (Panicum coloratum) and “Mottgrass” (Pennisetum purpureum Shum.). Plant responses were assessed by mob-grazing with sheep (12-24 hrs; to average stubble height of 15-cm) for each GC. Grazing cycles affected yield of both the legume and grass component (P< 0.05). At GC of 5-weeks, forage DM ranged from 1.5-2.0 Mg ha-1 in both years. Forage yield increases at10 and 15-wk for both grass and legume were two-fold. Legume yield contribution ranged from 12-32 percentage by weight in 1997 and 33 to 58% in 1999. Desmanthus dominated bambatsi swards. Glycine associated well with both bambatsi and Mottgrass. Because of its aggressive shrub-growth habit, Desmanthus is better suited for use as hedgerows in native pastures. Glycine is more compatible to use as binary mixtures with grasses to increase yield and nutritive value in the eastern Caribbean.
