Adaptability and Forage Productivity of Panicum phragmitoides Stapf. in the Southern Region

Abstract

Background: Adaptability and forage productivity of Panicum phragmitoïdes in the humid region of Côte d’Ivoire were evaluated compared to Panicum maximum cv C1 from October 2018 to April 2019. Methods: Three accessions of P. phragmitoïdes and P. maximum cv C1 were transplanted by cuttings with three replicates in a randomized complete blocks design to evaluate adaptability parameters and forage yield. Result: The average number of tallies per tuft of P. phragmitoïdes ranged from 15.83±2.24 to 19.17±7.39 versus 33.67±5.10 tallies for P. maximum cv C1. Accessions of P. phragmitoïdes ranged in height from 146.33±9.49 to 151.42±15.88 cm and were higher than P. maximum cv C1 which was 119.50±20.67 cm. The forage productivity of P. phragmitoïdes and P. maximum cv C1. were identical and ranged from 4.84±1.07 to 8.20±3.72 t DM/ha/year. P. phragmitoïdes seems to adapt well in the humid region of Côte d’Ivoire.