Animal Production from Hyparrhenia Grassland Oversown With Stlyosanthes Gracilis.

Abstract

The value of over sowing natural grassland with Stylosanthes gracilis was investigated with and without top dressing of single super-phosphate. Over a period of 30 months animal production was significantly higher on the fertilized pastures, averaging 423 lb live-weight gain per acre (474 kg/ha) per annum compared with 249 lb live-weight gain per acre (279 kg/ha) per annum from the unfertilized pastures. Single super-phosphate increased herbage yields mainly by encouraging more vigorous growth of Stylo plants, which suppressed the Imperata cylindrica content of the sward and increased the proportion of other valuable grasses. The quality of herbage on fertilized plots was significantly higher. The practical application of these findings is discussed.