I.R. Muhammad  , A. Mustapha  , B. Mohammed  , L.S. Abdurrahman  , M.Y. Ahmad  , 
    Commercially Focused Forage Production from Columbus Grass and Centurion Grown Alone or in Mixtures in the Semi Arid Environment,
    Agricultural Journal,
    Volume 4,Issue 2,
    2009,
    Pages 91-95,
    ISSN 1816-9155,
    aj.2009.91.95,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=aj.2009.91.95)
    Abstract: An experiment was conducted to determine the component and summative yields of Columbus grass and Centurion species in Semi arid zone. The treatment combination were seed rate of 30 kg ha<SUP>-1</SUP> of <I>Sorghum almum</I>, 10 kg ha<SUP>-1</SUP> <I>Centrosema pascuorum</I> each representing 100% sole pasture and their mixtures in the ratios of 25% <I> S. almum</I>: 75% <I>C. pascuorum</I>, 50%<I> S. almum</I>: 50% <I>C. pascuorum</I> and 57%<I> S. almum</I>: 25% <I>C. pascourum </I>laid out in a complete randomized block design using plot size of 4x2 m. Pasture was sampled to monitor establishment and physiological development from 14 Days Post-Planting (DPP) and thereafter at 2 weeks interval up to full bloom stage. At full bloom stage forage was harvested to determine Dry Matter yield (DM). Results obtained showed stand counts of <I>Sorghum almum</I> statistically (p&lt;0.05) increased from day 14 and attained a maximum by 56 days. From 42 DPP and subsequently, mixture with 25 or 50% <I>C. pascourum</I> had higher (p&lt;0.05) stand counts relative to other treatments. Pasture height varied from 25.1-28.5 cm at 14 DPP. Thereafter, from 42 DPP, differences (p&lt;0.05) manifested up to 84 DPP amongst the treatments evaluated. The treatment with 25% <I>C. pascourum</I> had taller (p&lt;0.05) sward stand relative to other factors. Sward grown in mixture were comparable (p&gt;0.05) in fresh leaf (75-83%). Dry matter yield was significantly different (p&lt;0.05) in both component and cumulative yield. The mixture with 50% <I>C. pascourum</I> was statistically superior to all other treatments. Higher (p&lt;0.05) total DM yield was obtained with treatment that had 50%<I> S. almum</I> plus 50% <I>C. pascourum. </I>Cost-benefit analysis of production showed higher output and net benefit from the mixed pasture sward of 50% Columbus grass and 50% Centurion. Based on the results of the present study, commercial pasture production would be more economical from mixed pasture sward of 50% Columbus grass and 50% Centurion in the zone.
    Keywords: Sorghum almum;Centrosema pascourum;mixed pasture;commercial pasture production;semi arid zone