Grass-legume mixtures for enhanced forage production: analysis of dry matter yield and competition indices

A six months field trial was conducted at the University Putra, Malaysia to evaluate dry matter yield and nature of competition between Panicum maximum (guinea grass) and each of the following legumes; Stylosanthes guianensis (stylo), Macroptillium bracteatum (burgundy bean), Arachis pintoi, and Cen...

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Main Authors: Baba, Mohamed, Abd Halim, Mohd Ridzwan, Alimon, Abdul Razak, Abu Bakar, Idris
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academic Journals 2011
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23595/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23595/1/23595.pdf
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author Baba, Mohamed
Abd Halim, Mohd Ridzwan
Alimon, Abdul Razak
Abu Bakar, Idris
author_facet Baba, Mohamed
Abd Halim, Mohd Ridzwan
Alimon, Abdul Razak
Abu Bakar, Idris
author_sort Baba, Mohamed
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description A six months field trial was conducted at the University Putra, Malaysia to evaluate dry matter yield and nature of competition between Panicum maximum (guinea grass) and each of the following legumes; Stylosanthes guianensis (stylo), Macroptillium bracteatum (burgundy bean), Arachis pintoi, and Centrosema pubescens (centro) in accordance with DeWit (1960) replacement principle. There were 20 treatments in all consisting of monocultures of grass, legume and grass-legume mixtures in the ratios 4:0, 3:1, 2:2, 1:3 and 0:4. The competition indices employed were relative yield total (RYT), relative crowding coefficient (RCC) or (k) and aggresivity index (AI). Guinea-stylo, guinea-Arachis and guineaburgundy mixtures, irrespective of ratio combination, showed lower total dry matter yields than their respective grass monocultures. Guinea-centro (2:2) and guinea-centro (3:1), on the other hand, gave higher total dry matter yields (14.52 and 13.82 tons/ha), respectively than their grass monocultures. No significant differences were observed among mixtures; however, monocultures of legumes produced significantly lower yields (p < 0.05) than those of grass and mixtures. All mixtures recorded mean RYT values of greater than one (1). Guinea-stylo (GS 2:2) and guinea centro (GC 2:2) had the highest RYT values of 1.41 and 1.40 respectively. Mean k values of grasses in mixtures were higher than those of legumes except in guinea-stylo (GS 1:3) and guinea- Arachis (GA 1:3). Mean aggressivity index suggests that legumes were generally more aggressive at 1:3 grass-legume mixture combination, while grass gained the upper hand at 2:2 and 3:1 grass-legume proportion. Guinea-centro (GC 2:2) was recommended as the most compatible combination.
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spelling upm-235952017-11-08T04:50:24Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23595/ Grass-legume mixtures for enhanced forage production: analysis of dry matter yield and competition indices Baba, Mohamed Abd Halim, Mohd Ridzwan Alimon, Abdul Razak Abu Bakar, Idris A six months field trial was conducted at the University Putra, Malaysia to evaluate dry matter yield and nature of competition between Panicum maximum (guinea grass) and each of the following legumes; Stylosanthes guianensis (stylo), Macroptillium bracteatum (burgundy bean), Arachis pintoi, and Centrosema pubescens (centro) in accordance with DeWit (1960) replacement principle. There were 20 treatments in all consisting of monocultures of grass, legume and grass-legume mixtures in the ratios 4:0, 3:1, 2:2, 1:3 and 0:4. The competition indices employed were relative yield total (RYT), relative crowding coefficient (RCC) or (k) and aggresivity index (AI). Guinea-stylo, guinea-Arachis and guineaburgundy mixtures, irrespective of ratio combination, showed lower total dry matter yields than their respective grass monocultures. Guinea-centro (2:2) and guinea-centro (3:1), on the other hand, gave higher total dry matter yields (14.52 and 13.82 tons/ha), respectively than their grass monocultures. No significant differences were observed among mixtures; however, monocultures of legumes produced significantly lower yields (p < 0.05) than those of grass and mixtures. All mixtures recorded mean RYT values of greater than one (1). Guinea-stylo (GS 2:2) and guinea centro (GC 2:2) had the highest RYT values of 1.41 and 1.40 respectively. Mean k values of grasses in mixtures were higher than those of legumes except in guinea-stylo (GS 1:3) and guinea- Arachis (GA 1:3). Mean aggressivity index suggests that legumes were generally more aggressive at 1:3 grass-legume mixture combination, while grass gained the upper hand at 2:2 and 3:1 grass-legume proportion. Guinea-centro (GC 2:2) was recommended as the most compatible combination. Academic Journals 2011-10-19 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23595/1/23595.pdf Baba, Mohamed and Abd Halim, Mohd Ridzwan and Alimon, Abdul Razak and Abu Bakar, Idris (2011) Grass-legume mixtures for enhanced forage production: analysis of dry matter yield and competition indices. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 6 (23). art. no. DC74AAC37733. pp. 5242-5250. ISSN 1991-637X http://www.academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR/article-abstract/DC74AAC37733 10.5897/AJAR11.615
spellingShingle Baba, Mohamed
Abd Halim, Mohd Ridzwan
Alimon, Abdul Razak
Abu Bakar, Idris
Grass-legume mixtures for enhanced forage production: analysis of dry matter yield and competition indices
title Grass-legume mixtures for enhanced forage production: analysis of dry matter yield and competition indices
title_full Grass-legume mixtures for enhanced forage production: analysis of dry matter yield and competition indices
title_fullStr Grass-legume mixtures for enhanced forage production: analysis of dry matter yield and competition indices
title_full_unstemmed Grass-legume mixtures for enhanced forage production: analysis of dry matter yield and competition indices
title_short Grass-legume mixtures for enhanced forage production: analysis of dry matter yield and competition indices
title_sort grass-legume mixtures for enhanced forage production: analysis of dry matter yield and competition indices
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23595/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23595/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23595/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23595/1/23595.pdf