Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-pfhbr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-09T02:20:01.396Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Growth Analysis of Perennial Grasses in Tropical India II. Herbage Growth in Mixed Grass/Legume Swards

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

R. D. Singh
Affiliation:
Ranchi Agricultural College and Research Institute, Kanke, Bihar
B. N. Chatterjee
Affiliation:
Ranchi Agricultural College and Research Institute, Kanke, Bihar

Summary

The perennial grass Pennisetum polystachyon was grown alone or in mixture with the indigenous legumes Atylosia scarabaeoidesand Clitoria ternata and the exotic species Calopogonium mucunoides, Centrosema pubescens and Stylosanthes gracilis. Only the last two persisted for more than one or two years. Mean annual yield from the mixture containing Centrosema was 61 to 65 q./ha., of which 20 per cent was legume herbage. The protein content of grass was about 3 to 6 per cent and of legumes 10 to 14 per cent. Mixed swards produced as much protein as in a previous experiment where pure swards of Pennisetum polystachyon received 44. kg./ha. of nitrogen in fertilizer form. Soil nitrogen increased under the Centrosema mixture and yields from the mixture increased during the experiment. Yields of grass herbage from the mixtures were generally lower than those of the grass swards. The reduction in yield of grass grown in mixed swards was mostly due to decreases in the area of foliage rather than to reductions in net assimilation rate.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1968

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bunting, A. H. & Lea, J. D. (1956). Emp. J. Exp. Agri. 24, 185.Google Scholar
Chatterjee, B. N. & Bose, B. B. (1963). Bihar Animal Husbandry Bull. 8, 14.Google Scholar
Donald, C. M. (1963). Adv. in Agron. 15, 1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Green, J. O. & Cowling, D. W. (1960). Proc. 8th Intern. Grassld. Congr., Reading, 126.Google Scholar
Haines, H. H. (1924). Botany of Bihar & Orissa., London: Adlard & West Newman.Google Scholar
Singh, R. D. & Chatterjee, B. N. (1968). Expl Agric. 4, 117.Google Scholar
Watson, D. J. (1952). Ada. in Agron. 4, 101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar