Publication Date
1993
Description
China grass pasture occurs mainly on fallow lands throughout northern Benin, Floristic analysis showed an average number of 31 species among which 55% are recognised as palatable. Forage categories (%) were: good grasses 0.1; medium value grasses 29.8; poor quality grasses 4.3; legumes 24.l; miscellaneous forbs 27.2 and unpalatable species 14.5. China grass (Pe1111ise1Um polystachion) accounted for 20.4%. Maximum dry matter (OM) production of the pasture recorded at the end of the growing season was 6.30 I/ha, Weighting contributive value of china grass lo the productivity was 48.1 %; its digestible protein content decreased from 34.1 g/kg OM at the beginning of the growing season lo 23.0 g/kg OM at the end of the rains, Similarly, energy value decreased from 0.71 to 0,51 UP/kg OM (I feed unit= 1 UF = 1.65 kcal), Mineral nutrient content of china grass at maturity for Na, K, Ca, Mg and P were (kg/ha): 1.0, 85.5, 13.0, 22.7 and 7,7, respectively. Grazing value calculated on the basis of species contributive values was 44.9% and the rate of unpalatable species spreading was 0.19.
Citation
Lejoly, J and Sinsin, B, "China grass (Pemiisetum polystacliion (L,) Shult) pasture in northern Benin: fodder species composition, productivity, feed value and grazing value" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 14.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session10/14
Included in
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China grass (Pemiisetum polystacliion (L,) Shult) pasture in northern Benin: fodder species composition, productivity, feed value and grazing value
China grass pasture occurs mainly on fallow lands throughout northern Benin, Floristic analysis showed an average number of 31 species among which 55% are recognised as palatable. Forage categories (%) were: good grasses 0.1; medium value grasses 29.8; poor quality grasses 4.3; legumes 24.l; miscellaneous forbs 27.2 and unpalatable species 14.5. China grass (Pe1111ise1Um polystachion) accounted for 20.4%. Maximum dry matter (OM) production of the pasture recorded at the end of the growing season was 6.30 I/ha, Weighting contributive value of china grass lo the productivity was 48.1 %; its digestible protein content decreased from 34.1 g/kg OM at the beginning of the growing season lo 23.0 g/kg OM at the end of the rains, Similarly, energy value decreased from 0.71 to 0,51 UP/kg OM (I feed unit= 1 UF = 1.65 kcal), Mineral nutrient content of china grass at maturity for Na, K, Ca, Mg and P were (kg/ha): 1.0, 85.5, 13.0, 22.7 and 7,7, respectively. Grazing value calculated on the basis of species contributive values was 44.9% and the rate of unpalatable species spreading was 0.19.
