Publication Date
1993
Description
Monthly rates of litter production were compared in pastures of Brachiaria dictyonenra either alone or in associations with Centrosema acutifolium or Stylosanthes capitata at low (I) medium ( 1.5), or high (2.0 animals/ha) stocking rates. Even though litter biomass at the start of grazing differed between treatments, after 3 months' grazing there were no differences either between grass or grass-legume pastures or between stocking rates in monthly rates of litter production. There were large differences in the quality of pasture litter however, the associations having 3- to· 4-fold greater concentrations of N, P and Ca compared with grass-only pastures but smaller or no differences in K and Mg. The lignin: N ratio, an index of litter decomposition and quality, was also smaller in grass-legume pastures compared with grass-only pastures. The results demonstrate the value of a legume for improved nutrient cycling in grazed tropical pastures.
Citation
Thomas, R J.; Fisher, M; Lascano, C; Rao, I M.; Ayarza, M; and Asakawa, N, "Nutrient Cycling via Forage Litter in Tropical Grass-Legume Pastures" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 14.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session13/14
Included in
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Nutrient Cycling via Forage Litter in Tropical Grass-Legume Pastures
Monthly rates of litter production were compared in pastures of Brachiaria dictyonenra either alone or in associations with Centrosema acutifolium or Stylosanthes capitata at low (I) medium ( 1.5), or high (2.0 animals/ha) stocking rates. Even though litter biomass at the start of grazing differed between treatments, after 3 months' grazing there were no differences either between grass or grass-legume pastures or between stocking rates in monthly rates of litter production. There were large differences in the quality of pasture litter however, the associations having 3- to· 4-fold greater concentrations of N, P and Ca compared with grass-only pastures but smaller or no differences in K and Mg. The lignin: N ratio, an index of litter decomposition and quality, was also smaller in grass-legume pastures compared with grass-only pastures. The results demonstrate the value of a legume for improved nutrient cycling in grazed tropical pastures.
