Effect of Seed and Vegetative Forage Propagules on Pasture Establishment

Abstract

Four forage propagules consisting of two grass species namely Andropogon gayamus and Panicum maximum and two legumes species, Centrosema pubescen and Calopogonum mucunoides were investigated to determine the effect of their propagules on pasture establishment. The propagules were cultivated by seed and vegetative methods twice yearly for periods of four years. The forages were harvested from each plot and the carrying capacities on each plot determined. The Tropical Livestock Unit (TLU) of the propagules was also calculated using the forage yield in each plot. The results indicated significant differences (p <0.05) among the carrying capacities from the propagules. The legumes seed propagules were superior to their vegetative counterparts. However, the grass vegetative propagules had a better carrying capacity than grass seed propagules. Both seed and vegetative propagules cultivated during the rainy season were better than those cultivated during dry season. The TLU of seed propagules were superior to vegetative propagules with legumes seed sole cropping propagules having the highest carrying capacity. The grass/grass mix cropping had the least value among other propagules because of intra species competition.