Dry matter herbage productivity and aspects of chemical composition in four forage shrub legumes at a subhumid site in Ghana

Abstract

Four forage shrubsLeucaena leucocphala, Gliricidia sepium, Flemingia macrophylla andCajanus cajan were evaluated for herbage productivity in two years after they had been established in hedgerows 4 m apart and within row spacing of 15 cm. Herbage dry matter yields were assessed after harvesting at 1 and 2 years of primary growth. During the third year regrowth, yields at cutting intervals of 6 weeks (3 cuts), 12 weeks (1 cut) and 18 weeks were assessed for the four species.Gliricidia sepium consistently outyielded the three other species in regrowth yields with yields exceeding 2 t/ha. In CP%, Ca% and P% analysisLeucaena leucocephala was outstanding with the highest values being 29.0%, 1.74% and 0.36% respectively.