TY  - JOUR
T1  - Yield Potential of Grass-Legume Pastures under Different Management Conditions
AU - , M. Barahenda AU - , M.N. Shem AU - , N.L. Kanuya AU - , I. Ntakabeza AU - , J. Gasana AU - , G. Uwimana AU - , O. Umunezero AU - , D. Uwumukiza 
JO  - Research Journal of Animal Sciences
VL  - 1
IS  - 2
SP  - 59
EP  - 61
PY  - 2007
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1993-5269
DO  - rjnasci.2007.59.61
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjnasci.2007.59.61
KW  - Herbaceous legumes
KW  -intercropping
KW  -mulching
KW  -persistence
KW  -cutting interval
KW  -herbage production
AB  - The objectives of this study were to evaluate the survival of herbaceous legumes under frequent harvesting and the productivity of <I>Pennisetum purpureum</I> under mulching and intercropping conditions. The study was carried out at Rubona research station in the mid-altitude zone of Rwanda. The herbaceous legumes used in the experiment were <I>Pueraria phaseoloides</I>,<I> Desmodium intortum</I> and <I>Sytlosanthes guinensis</I>. The herbage was harvested at a cutting height and interval/frequency of 10 cm and three months, respectively in both wet and dry seasons. Average yields of the five harvests of <I>Pueraria phaseoloides</I>,<I> Desmodium intortum</I> and <I>Sytlosanthes guinensis</I> were 2.0, 1.65 and 1.24 t DM ha <SUP>1</SUP>, respectively with no significant (p>0.05) difference between them. <I>Sytlosanthes guinensis</I> could not persist frequent harvesting and therefore disappeared after the 4th harvesting. Mulched plots of <I>Pennisetum purpureum</I> gave highly significant (p< 0.001) cumulative DM yield (25.7 t ha <SUP>1</SUP>) than both intercropped with <I>Desmodium intortum</I> (20.4 t ha <SUP>1</SUP>) and the control (15.3 t ha <SUP>1</SUP>) plots. It was concluded that <I>Desmodium intortum</I> and <I>Pueraria phaseoloides</I> exhibited higher yields and better persistency than <I>Sytlosanthes guinensis</I> but their suitability to withstand frequent harvesting under farmers’ conditions needs further evaluation. Furthermore, mulching seemed to be important in sustaining production of <I>Pennisetum purpureum</I> in cut-and-carry systems.
ER  -