AGRONOMIC EVALUATION OF TROPICAL GRASSES ASSOCIATED WITH Canavalia brasiliensis IN DRY TROPIC

Abstract

Livestock production in some tropical regions is characterized by the use of naturalized forages in extensive management with low production rates. The use of improved grass-legume associations represents a sustainable intensification opportunity for this type of agroecosystems. The objective was to evaluate the production in establishment of forage associations for grazing systems in the dry tropics of Colombia. In a randomized complete block design with slope as the block factor and experimental units of 2700 m2 with four replications, the agronomic and nutritional quality characteristics of six treatments were compared: Urochloa hybrid cultivar Mulato II, U. brizantha cultivar Toledo and Megathyrsus maximus cultivar Mombasa, established alone or associated with Canavalia brasiliensis, against the control Dichantium aristatum, a naturalized forage of the region. Mulato II, Toledo and Mombasa alone and in association showed greater (p ≤ 0.05) vigour, height, cover and forage production than the control. Mombasa produced 10.7 Mg ha-1 MS (Megagrams of dry matter per hectare), exceeding (p ≤ 0.05) by 74, 53 and 84 % that were recorded in Mulato II, Toledo and control, respectively. C. brasilienses promoted higher productivity in the association with Mulato II and improved nutritional characteristics in the associations with Toledo and Mombasa compared to specific monocultures and the control. The improved grasses alone or associated with C. brasiliensis were a better forage option than Dichantium aristatum. It was concluded that M. maximus and Urochloa hybrid associated with C. brasiliensis are relevant forage options for agroecologically similar regions to the Colombian dry tropics.