Growth, Botanical Composition, Dry Matter Yield And Persistence Of Panicum-Chamaecrista Mixtures In The Derived Savanna Of Southwest Nigeria

A study was conducted at the College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria, to evaluate the agronomic performance of Panicum maximum (Ntchisi) and Chamaecrista rotundifolia cv Wynn planted in mixtures. The legume was drilled or broadcast between rows of the grass planted at 1m x 1m or 0.75m x 0.5m apart in a randomized complete block design in year 2000. The pastures were evaluated for growth performance, botanical composition and dry matter yield, in the subsequent years up to 2005. The persistence of the pastures was evaluated in year 2002 and 2005 by estimating the number of legume seeds that had accrued to the pasture sod. Chamaecrista rotundifolia recorded higher seedling population (P< 0.05) when drilled in sole stands than in mixture with P. maximum. The legume produced more branches when it was drilled in sole stands or sown into P. maximum spaced at 0.75m x 0.50m.