Addo-Kwafo, A

Barnes, PB

English

AJOL - African Journals Online

Initial evaluation of some introduced forage plants for herbage productivity at two sites in Ghana P.B.BARNES&A.ADDO-KWAFO Animal Research Institute, Achimota, Ghana SUMMARY A preliminary evaluation of some recently-released forage species obtained from (Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) and International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA) was undertaken at two subhurnid sites in Ghana. The forage germplasm from CIAT comprised 21 herbaceous legumes, six shrub legumes and eight grasses. Those from ILCA were made up of20 herbaceous legumes. In the evaluation of the CIAT species carried out at only one site, it was found that in the herbaceous legumes, Aeschynomeme histrix, Centrosema macrocarpum var. 5452 and 5713. Desmodium ovalifolium and Stylosanthes guianensis var. Pucal/pa and Pauciflora, produced the greatest soil cover (28.3-58.4 %) and dry matter (DM) yields (up to 2.25 tJha in 6 months). Brachiaria brizantha and Panicum maximum varieties and Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk performed best among the grasses (up to 3.7 II ha in 6 months) and Leucaena leucocephala and Cajanus cajan produced the greatest heights and DM yields among the leguminous shrubs. In the ILCA species, Macrotyloma axillare, Stylosanthes guianensis ILCA 4, S. hamata ILCA 167, Lab/ab purpureus, Rhynchosia minima and Sty!osanthes scabra ILCA 140 and 441 showed high potential in herbage yield (up to 3.3 tJha in 6 months) among the legumes evaluated at two sites. Provisional communication. Received 26 ]un 93; revised 1 Aug 94. Introduction The range of improved forage species on which is based the small area of cultivated or improved pastures in Ghana is quite small. Recent forage evaluation studies conducted in Pokoase, Ghana (Barnes, 1985) showed that a wide range offorage species developed in northern Australia are adapted to that site. In recent times, many more forage species RESUME BARNES, P. B. & KDDO-K WAFO, A.: Une evaluation initiale de quelques plantes Jourra'geuses introduites pour la product/vite d'herbage a deux endroits au Ghana. Une evaluation preliminaire de quelques especes de fourrage recemment delivre est oblenu de Centro Interoacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) et ILCA, a ete effectuee en deux terrains moins hum ide au Ghana. Le fourrage germplasme de CIAT compose de vingt-et-un legumineuses herbacees, six legumineuses arbustes et huit graminees et ceux de ILeA etaient composes de vingt legumineuses herbacees. Au cours de I'evaluation des especes de CIAT executee a un seul endroit, it a ete decouvert que dans les h!gumineuses herbacees, Aeschynomeme histrix, Centrosema macrocarpum vars 5452 et 5713, Desmodium ovalifolium et Stylosanthes guianensis vars. PucaH pa et Pauciflora ont produit la plus grande couverture du sol (28.3-58.4 pour cent) et les rendements de matiere seche (jusqu'a 2.25 IIha en 6 mois). Brachiaria brizantha et les varietes, Pan/cum maximum et Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk, ont ete les meilleurs parmi les graminees (jusqu'a 3.7 tJha en 6 mois) et Leucaena /eucocephala et Cajanus cajan ont produit les plus gran des hauteurs et les rendements de DM parmi les arbustes legumineux. Parmi les especes de ILCA, Macrotyloma axil/are. Stylosanthes guianensis ILCA 4, S. hamata ILCA 167, Lablab purpureus. Rhynchosia minima et Stylosanthes scabra ILCA 140 et 441 ont montre un potentiel eleve en rendement herbageuse (jusqu'ft 3.3 tJpa en 6 mois) parmi les Jegumineuses evaluees en deux endroits. adapted to tropical savanna regions have been developed by international research centres no-table among them Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (ClAT) based in Columbia. This initial evaluation study is based on new ly-released forage gennplasm from CIA T and Interna-tional Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA) with a view to select adaptable and productive species to widen the range of forage species available for Ghana Jnl agric. Sci. 24~27. 139-144 Accra: National Science & Technology Press I 140 P. B. Barnes & A. Addo-Kwafo (1994) Ghana Jnl agric. Sci. 24-27, 139-144 forage cultivation in Ghana. Materials and methods Trial 1: Evaluation of CIA Tforage species Experimental site and field operations. The trial was conducted at Pokoase Agricultural Sta-tion, lat. 5Q 40'N, which lies in a transition between Shrub species were sown by scarified seed in individual spots 50 cm apart also in four rows. Sowing of all plots was carriedouton22Aug91 on cultivated seedbeds. Sample areas on plots com-prised 4.0 m2 (4 m x 1 m) of two central rows of plants. Establishment period evaluation. Establish-TABLE 1 Monthly Rainfall Totals (mm) and Raindays for 2 Years (1991) and (1992) for Pokoase and Nyankpala Agricultural Stations Pokoase Month 1991 January 30.8(2) February 4.4(1 ) March 21.4(3) April 109.7(7) May 500.7(14) June 154.8(10) July 251.7(9) August 37.6(7) September 22.5(5) October 50.2(5) November 27.6(6) December 4.5(2) Total 1215.9 forest and coastal savanna zones. The soil in the site has medium fertility with the following param-eters: soiJpH, 5.80t06.35; P,2.00 ppm; N, 0.025 per cent. Annual rainfall at Pokoase has a 30-year average ofl050mm butwas 1216mmin 1991 and 632mmin 1992(Table 1). The main rainfall period is between April and November with a short dry spell in August. The experimental design used was randomized complete blocks with three replications. In all, 35 forage species made up of21 herbaceous legumes, six shrub legumes and eight grasses were sown (Table 2). Plot dimensions were 5 m x 2.5 m. Sowing of the herbaceous legumes and grasses was done in four rows perpiotatrow spacing of 50 cm and scarified seed was drilled in continuous flow in the rows. NyankpaJa 1992 1991 1992 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 47.7(2) 0.0 32.6(3) 30.2(2) 12.6(1 ) 30.5(4) 91.2(6) 69.3(5) 123.4(4) 256.6(13) 45.4(6) 31.3(5) 97.8(7) 96.6(9) 28.9(8) 180.4(11 ) 127.2(9) 6.6(3) 364.2(13) 74.7(5) 183.2(7) 255.0(13) 234.3{11) 67.4(10) 102.7(9) 30.8(4) 128.6(7) 0.0 45.6(4) 0.0 0.0 0.0 632.5 1425.7 736.4 men! assessments were done at 8 and 12 weeks after sowing using a Im2quadrat which was subdivided into 25 squares each square with 20 cm sides. Soil cover percentage was estimated with these 25 squares and then total cover was estimated at the two specified times for herbaceous legumes and grasses. For the shrubs, plant height at 8 and 12 weeks were assessed to measure establishment perfor-mance. The dates for the measurements were 22 Oct 91 forthe8-weekperiodand5Dec91 forthe 12-week period. Production period evaluation (primary growth). Primary growth assessments of all the 35 entries were done 6 months after establishment on 24 Feb 92. Herbage material was harvested at 5-10 cm for prostrate species, at 10-15 for erect species and at Evaluation of some introduced forage plants in Ghana 141 TABLE 2 Table 2 contd. Soil Cover Percentage of Herbaceous Legumes and Speclesl Accession CIAT No. Percent soil Dry matter Grasses and Plant Height of Shrubs al 12 Weeks after (grasses) or Variety cover at yield (1Iha) Sowing and Dry Malter Yield (llha) of All Entries after 12 weeks (at 6 Six Months Growth months) Species! Accession CIAT No. Percenl soil Dry matter Andropagon (herbaceous or Variety cover at yield (1Iha) Carimagua 16.3 0.43 legumes) 12 weeks (at 6 gavanus months) Brachiaria Aeschynomene br/zantha La Libertad 31.4 3.67 hislrix 9690 52.5 2.25 Brachiaria Arachis pintai 17434 11.0 0.33 brizantha Marandu 18.0 0.83 Cassia rotundifalia Wynn 30.5 1.00 Brachiaria Centrossema decumbens Basilisk 45.5 2.67 acutifolium Vichada 37.5 0.75 Brachiarla Cenlrosema diclvoneura Llanero 12.0 0.50 aculifolium 5568 45.5 1.33 Brachiaria Centrosema humidicola 6379 20.6 0.83 brasilianum 5234 59.8 1.25 Panicum maximum 673 46.0 1.42 Cenlrosema macrocarpum 5452 55.6 1.67 Panicum maximum T58 43.& 2.00 Cenlrosema SE (mean) (± 6.2) (± 0.05) macrocarpum 5713 58.4 1.53 Centrosema CIAT No. Planl heighl Dry matter pascuorum Cavalcade 39.6 1.42 Legume or Variety (em) at yield (tlha) shrubs 12 weeks (at 6 Cenlrasema months) pubescens 5172 40.9 0.83 Desmodium Cajanus cajan 18700 130.4 0.70 ova I ifolium 13089 18.1 1.67 Cratylia argentea 18516 32.5 0.42 Desmodium Codariocalyx strigillosum 13155 2.0 gyro ides 3001 20.9 0.30 Stylosanthes Desmadium capitala Capica 27.9 0.38 vetutinurn 33138 Stylosanthes Flemingia guianensis PucalJpa 48.4 2.03 macrophylla 17403 18.6 0.22 Stylosanthes guianensis Pauciflora 28.3 1.92 Leucaena Stylosanthes hamata Verano 33.1 0.42 leucacephala 17502 55.3 0.50 Stylosanthes hamata 147 66.8 1.00 SE (mean) (± 2.2) (± 0.11) Stylosanlhes macrocephala 128/ 14.5 0.32 20-30 cm for shrubs on 24 Feb 92. Fresh weight was Stylosanthes recorded in the field after the harvests. The har-sympodialis 1044 47.6 0.83 vested samples were sun dried for 4 days after Zornia glabra 8279 42.5 0.92 which weights were recorded for dry matter on 28 Zornia lalifolia 72& 11.5 Apr 92. SE {mean} (± 5.0) (± 0.21} 142 P. B. Barnes & A. Addo-Kwafo (1994) Ghana Jnl agric. Sci. 24-27, 139~ 144 Trial 2: Evaluation of ILCA species This evaluation was conducted at two sites, namely, Pokoase (already described) and Nyankpala. Nyankpala (lat. 9° 40'N) lies in the guinea savanna zone has a mean annual rainfall of 1081mm. Twenty forage legumes (Table 2) were the eri~ tries for evaluation at the two sites. A randomized complete block with four replications was used. The plot sizes were 1 m x 3 m and each was separated by aim path and blocks were separated by 2 m paths. Scarified seed was sown in the 3 m2 plots in two central rows at40 cm apart in the length direction of each plot. The Pokoase trial was sown on I Jun 92 and the Nyankpala one was sown on 17 Jul 92. Harvesting of herbage for yield assess-ments was carried out in Pokoase on 16 Dec 92 and at NyankpaJa on 10 Dec 92 and these two harvest times coincided with full vegetative development in most entries. One harvest was taken in the centre of each pIot with a 1 m2quadrat and at between 5-10 cm height. The dry weights ofthe samples were determined after the samples were dried in labora-tory ovens for 48 hours at 60°C. Results Trial] Rainfall from August 1991 the start ofthe trialto the end of the year was high and well distributed (Table 1). In Table 2 are presented soil cover percentage for grasses and herbaceous legumes and plant height of shrubs and dry matter yields of herb age of all entries. In soil cover percentage (an index of rate of establishment) it could be seen that among the herbaceous legumes, the entries which achieved the most pronounced cover were Stylosanthes hamta 147, Centrosema brasilianum, C. macrocarpum 5713 and 5452 and Aeschyomene histrix. Theentrieswhichregisteredthelowestsoil cover were Desmodium strigillosum, Arachis pintoi, Zornia {atifoli, Stylosanthes macrocephala and Desmodium ovalifolium. In dry matter yields after 6· 7 months of primary growth among the herbaceous legume entries, it could be discerned that Aeschynomene histrix, Stylosanthes guianensis (Pucallpa), S. guianensis (Pauciflora), Centrosemamacrocarpum 5452 and 5713 and Desmodium ovalifolium produced the highest dry matter yields. Corresponding to their low soil cover percentages there were low dry matter yields in Arachis pintoi, Zornia latifolia, Desmodium strigillosum. Among the grasses soil cover percentage was highest in Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk and Panicum maximum cultivars. The high soil cover values reflected in high dry matter yields in the same entries. However, Brachiaria brizantha cv. La Libertad registered the highest dry matter yield with its medium soil cover percentage of31. 4 per cent. In the leguminous shrubs Cajanus cajan pro-duced the greatest height followed by Leucaena leucocephala. There was positive relationship between plant height and dry matter yields in all entries. Trial 2 Overall, there were higher herbage yields for most entries at Pokoase than at Nyankpala because of probably better distribution of rainfall and also a one-and~halfmonths longer growth period in the former site (Table 3). At Pokoase, the highest dry matter yield entries were Macrotyloma axillare, Stylosanthes hamata 167 and 75, Rhynchosia minima, Lablab purpureus, Stylosanthes guianensis 4, and S. scabra 140 and 44 L Centrosema brasilianum, Centrosema pascuorum and Chaemacrista rotundifolia failed to establish well for no known cause (Table 3). AtNyankpala, the highest yielding entries were Stylosanthes scabra, Centrosema brasilianum, Macrotyloma axil/are and Lablab purpureus simi~ larto highest yielding species at Pokoase (Table 3). At both sites, the entries Zornia tatifolia, Chaemacrista rotundifolia and Desmodium unci-natum established poorly or yielded herbage poorly. Discussion The forage materials evaluated in Trial 1 were developed by the Tropical Pastures Program, Evaluation of some introduced forage plants in Ghana 143 TABLE 3 vals on herbage yields of some Dry Matter Yields after I) Months Primary Growth oj Forage Legumes tn/ries used in Trial 2 at Two Sites, Pokuase (lat. 5° 40 "N, avo rainfall, 1050 mm) and Nyankpala (lat. 9" 40'N, avo rainfall 1080 mm) legumes in the coastal savanna of Ghana, Adjei & Fianu (1985) found that Aeschynomene americana and Cajanus cajan produced the highest dry matter yield among the legumes evalu-ated which includedStylosanthes humilis, Macroptilium lathyroides, M atropurpureum, Centrosema pub13scens and Desmodium intortum. Entry (Species/Accession) ILCA No. Dry matter herbage yields (t/ha) Pokoase Nyankpala Centrosema brasilianum 6773 Centrosema pascuorum 6774 Centrosema pubescens (Centro) 219 2.41 Chamaecrista rotundifolia 9288 Cli/oria ternatea 9291 2.33 Desmodium intortum (Greenleat) 104 2.12 Desmodium uncinatum (silverleaf) 6765 0.&2 lablah purpureus 147 2.89 Macroplilium atropurpureum (Sirato)69 2.26 Macrotyloma axillare (Archer) 6756 3.29 Neonolonia wightii (Tinaroo) 676J 2.21 Rhynchosia minima 13935 2.94 Stylosanthes guianensis (Cook) 4 2.87 Stylosanthes guianensis 163 1.94 Stylosanthes hamala 75 2.73 Slylosanthes hamata 167 3.07 Stylosanthes scabra (Seca) 140 2.79 Stylosanthes scabra (Fitzroy) 441 2.64 Vigna unguiculata 9333 Zomia latifolia 172 SE (mean) (:!:0.55) Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIA 1\ Columbia. This trial established that among the herbaceous legumes, Aeschynomene histrix, Centrosema.macrocarpum varieties, Desmodium ovalifolium and Stylosanthes guianensis varieties produced the greatest DM in primary growth. For their fast growth these legumes could thus be established for fodder for cut and carry system of feeding ruminants. In Trial 2, fast-growing and high-herbage-yielding herbaceous legumes like Lablah purpureus,Macroty[oma axillare, Stylosanthes scabra, S. guianensis andS. hamata could also be recommended for cultivation for zero-grazing. In a study involving the effect of cutting inter-2.20 1.60 us 1.43 0.45 1.98 L88 2.08 0.18 1.45 1.33 1.37 1.50 1.33 3.40 0.57 (:!:0.33) In evaluation of Centrosema spp. in Puerto Rico, Ramos & Tergas (1990) found that Centrosema brasilianum, C. pubescens and C. macrocarpum accessions produced the best av-erage soil cover up to 73-84 per cent after 16 weeks from 35 per cent at 12 weeks after establish-ment. These findings corrobo-rate the observations in the cur-rent study. Among the grasses evaluated, Brachiaria brizantha (La Libertad). Brachiaria. decumbenscv. BasiliskandPani-cum maximum varieties showed the highest DM yields. Heering (1989) evaluated a number of Brachiaria species in Zwai, Ethiopia for features like leafiness, plot cover vigour, spread and plant height. He found that accessions of B. decumbens, B. ruziziensis and B. brizantha showed the best performance for these features. This fmding con-firms the results in the present study. Establishment and primary growth of the forage shurbs Leucaena leucocephala, G [iricidia sepium and Cajanus cajan are very successful in many areasjn WestAfrica(Cobbinaetal.1990;Adjei& Fianu, 1985). Primary growth herbage yields of7 tI ha and 5 tlha have been obtained in stands of LeucaenaandGliricidiaafier 12 months (Cobbina etai., 1990). Thepresentstudyalsoconfumedthe fast growth and high productivity ofLeucaena and 144 P. B. Barnes & A. Addo-Kwafo (1994) Ghana Jnl agric. Sci. 24-27, 139-144 Cajanus cajan. Forage shrubs evaluated for the firsttime by the Animal Research Institute in Ghana and which seem to have high potential in herbage production are Cratylian argenteaand Codariocalyx gyroides. In a dry matter yield study of some native legumes and Codariocalyx gyroides in Belize, Central Ameria, Lazier (1981) found that C. gyro ides was the most successful legume among legume entries from the genera Centrosema, Desmodium, Ca/opogonium and species like Macroptilium lathyroides, Rhynchosia minima and S. guianensis. REFERENCES Adjei, M. B. & Fia n u, F. K. (1985) The effect of cutting interval on the yield and nutritive value of some tropical legumes on the coastal grassland of Ghana. Trop. Grass. 19 (4), 164-170. Barnes, P. B. (1985) Preliminary evaluation of some introduced pasture species for dry matter yields in a sub-humid environment in Ghana. PGRCIE-lLCA Germplasm Newsl. 9, 3-8. Cobbina, J., Attah-Krah, A. N., Meregini, A. O. & Duguma, B. (1990) Productivity of some browse plants on acid soils of south-eastern Nigeria. Trop. Grass. 24,41-45, Heering, J. H. (1989) Initial evaluation of Brachiaria species. PGRCIE·ILCA Germplasm Newsl. 20, 2-6. Lazier, J. R. (1981) Dry matter productivity of eighteen native Belizean legumes and Codariocalyx gyroides with Para grass (Brachiaria mutica) under clipping. Trop. Agric. (Trin. 58 (3), 221-233. Ramos Santan, R. & Tergas, L. E. (1990) The estab-lishment and adaptation offorage crops on an Ultisol in Puerto Rico. 2. Centrosema spp. Pasturas Tropicales (Columbb) :2 (l), 30 -34. 

Initial evaluation of some introduced forage plants for herbage productivity at two sites in Ghana

https://www.ajol.info/index.php/gjs/article/download/117491/107058

Initial evaluation of some introduced forage plants for herbage productivity at two sites in Ghana

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

AJOL - African Journals Online