Production and nutritive value of three grass species cultivated for ley pasture in the Borgou region of Benin

Panicum maximum cv. C1, Andropogon gayanus var. bisquamulatus (broad- and narrow-leaf) and Pennisetum purpureum were compared as ley pastures for 3 consecutive years (2000–2002) in the Borgou region of Benin. Their nutritive value for ruminants was also estimated by calculation, based on their chemical composition. The site was on an infertile soil (N = 0.05%; organic carbon = 0.4%). The rainfall recorded during the humid season in 2000 (March–October) was close to the average for the region (1200 mm). However, dry periods occurred during the rainy seasons in 2001 and 2002. Higher production (P 0.05), while yields of the other two species declined. Higher digestible crude protein concentrations (52–62 g/kg DM) were recorded for P. maximum cv. C1 and A. gayanus broad-leaf type compared with the other grasses. However, all forages were potentially deficient in Na, P, Cu and Zn.

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