I. EZENWA and M.E. AKEN'OVA

Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Verano stylo (Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano)-guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv. Ntchisi) mixtures were established by drilling stylo seeds in single rows or broadcasting between 2 grass rows spaced 1 m apart (single row pattern) at Ibadan, in the humid zone of south-west Nigeria. Other treatments consisted of drilling in 2 rows or broadcasting the seeds between grass rows spaced 1.5 m apart (double row pattern). Stylo was sown at the same time as or 20 days before or after the grass was established vegetatively. The objective of the study was to determine the most effective procedures for establishing this grass-legume mixture. Only the effects of pattern of sowing on grass and legume dry matter (DM) yields were significant in both the first and second years of harvesting. Stylo produced 53% more DM with double rows than with single rows (2.6 vs. 1.7 t/ha/yr). However, on average, 12% more total (grass + legume) forage DM yield was produced with single (7.3 t/ha) than with double row. The results indicate that guinea grass-Verano stylo mixture can be established by drilling or broadcasting the legume seed between grass rows spaced 1.0 m apart at the same time as or about 20 days before or after the grass is planted.