Evaluation of biomass production and nutritive value of nine Panicum maximum ecotypes in Central region of Benin

Abstract

The grassland resource could be better managed if the effect of different defoliation regimes on the amount of the dry matter and nutritive value was known. Consequently, 9 ecotypes of Panicum maximum were evaluated in central region of Benin with an average 1100 mm annual rainfall during 3 years for ley pasture without any fertiliser input. Three cutting regimes (3-10-3, 5-6-5 and 6-4-6-week) were tested for dry matter production (DM), crude protein (CP) content, CP production and mineral (Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, Zn, Mn, Cu and Co) contents. Significant differences were observed between ecotypes (p<0.001), cutting regimes (p<0.001) and years (p<0.001) for DM and CP production. Ecotype and cutting regime influenced significantly CP content (p<0.05) but year had no influence. Forage harvested from 3-10-3-week regime produced significantly (p<0.05) more DM (4742 kg DMha -1 ) than 5-6-5-week (3635 kg DMha -1 ) or 6-4-6-week cutting regime (3789 kg DMha -1 ). But the reverse effect was observed for CP content as 3-10-3-week regime (5.68 gkg -1 DM) had significantly (p<0.05) lower CP than those of 5-6-5week (8.55 gkg -1 DM) or 6-4-6-week cutting regimes (7.15 gkg -1 DM). Mineral concentrations varied between ecotypes but not by cutting regimes and years. Three ecotypes (n° 1, 4 and 5) consistently outproduced than others and can be harvested through 5-6-5-week cutting regime. P, Na, Zn and Cu deficiencies were the most common detected in the cropped forages.

Effect of Row Spacing, Mineral and Organic Fertilizers on Yield and Growth Parameters of Panicum Maximum on Ferralitic Soil in Benin (West Africa).

“…Consequently, energy content (15.14 MJ/kg DM) was very high, though ash level was quite high too (16.42%DM). Macro-mineral: Ca, P, Mg and K contents are 5.87, 0.86, 1.69 and 11.04 mg/kg DM (Adjolohoun et al, 2013a;Musco et al, 2016).…”

“…However, some ecotypes tolerate rainfall below 800 mm of water per year (Cook et al, 2005, Adjolohoun et al, 2008. Panicum maximum local can yield between 5-10 t/ha DM (Buldgen et al, 2001;Adjolohoun et al, 2013a). It has showed a very high CP (8-26% DM) and the low structural carbohydrates (NDF: 50.80%) content.…”

Pratiques de la production et d’exploitation des fourrages dans la Région des Plateaux au Togo

“…Par ailleurs, d'un côté, il convient de souligner qu'en matière de graminées fourragères utilisées dans les UE, l'espèce P. maximum (92,48%) est de loin la graminée la plus produite devant l'espèce Penniseutum purpureum (30,79%) et le Sorghum bicolore ((30,35%), L'importance du choix de la graminée P. maximum serait liée à certaines de ses caractéristiques reconnues par les enquêtés. Il s'agit essentiellement de sa productivité en biomasse, sa résistance aux aléas climatiques notamment au stress hydrique, son appétence par les herbivores domestiques, sa résistance au feu de brousse, au broutage et au piétinement (Adjolohoun et al, 2012(Adjolohoun et al, , 2013. Ce qui rejoint les motivations des essais menés par l'ORSTOM dans les années 1960 sur l'espèce P. maximum ayant abouti à la sélection des cultivars très productifs et de bonne valeur fourragère (Toutain et al, 2009).…”

Andropogon Gayanus Kunth Forage Production and Nutritive Values Under Different Cutting Intervals in South Region of Benin.

“…Several studies have been conducted to test the effect of age of cutting on both yield and quality factors. Babatoundé (2005), Onyeonagu (2012), Adjolohoun et al (2013) and Gbenou et al (2018) commented that cutting frequency was the major factor that influenced the DM production and nitrogen concentration of grasses. Generally, studies conducted on the effect of cutting frequency on plant DM production showed that the more infrequent cutting, the higher the DM yields but the crude protein concentration and the proportion of digestible forage dropped correspondingly.…”

“…In West Africa, pasture species evaluation with the objective of identifying the most productive and adapted species has been of interest for some years (Michiels et al, 2000 ;Buldgen et al, 2001;Babatoundé, 2005 ;Adjolohoun et al, 2013). Most of these species concerned exotic plants such as Pennisetum purpureum, Brachiaria.…”