Effects of Seed Proportion on Forage Yield of Greenleaf Desmodium (<i>Desmodium intortum)</i> and Guinea Grass (<i>Panicum maximum)</i> Mixture at Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center

Abstract

Establishing of grass-legume pastures is one of the recognized strategies for enhancing both quantity and quality of feed resources. Therefore, determining the impact of seed proportion on the nutritional qualities and forage yield of combinations of guinea grass and green leaf desmodium is the goal of this study. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications was used to arrange five seed proportions of desmodium and guinea grass. Analysis of variance revealed that variations in treatments have significant differences (p<0.05) on panicum heights, desmodium tillers, and Desmodium height. In addition, the effects of years showed significant (p<0.05) effects on panicum tiller, desmodium height, and percentage of coverages. Interaction of treatments with years showed a significant effect on tiller per plant and plant heights while the other parameters weren’t influenced. The combined mean of dry matter and percentage of coverage have showed significant differences (p<0.05) between the treatments. This result reveals that the seed proportion have effect on the dry matter and percentage of plant coverages. The aggressivity index also has significant mean differences (P<0.05) between the treatments. Legumes with the lowest proportion (25%) performed less competently than those with the highest proportions (75%) and 50% D. intortum. The crowding coefficient of P. maximum and D. intortum mixed forage showed significance differences (P<0.05). However, the value of seed proportion on crowding coefficient of panicum maximum and desmodium intortium were more than one. The LER has significant differences (P<0.05) due to ratio of P.maximum and D.intortium mixture and its value at T2, T3, and T4 showed as to be (LER>1) that revealed the yield advantages. Cobined mean results showed that there is significance difference (P<0.05) of CP, Ash, ADF, NDF and ADL due to different seed proportion mixture. In addition the CP of panicum incurred from 8.24% to 18.55% by mixing different seed proportion of D.intortium. An integration of legume forage with grasses improves the feed quality and quantity. Thus, based on the dry matter, yield advantage and nutritive values the integration of 75% and 50% desmodium is recommended for use in the study areas and similar agro-ecologies.