Evaluation of dry matter accumulation and competition indices of grass-legume mixtures in the semi-arid Kano Nigeria

Abstract

An experiment was conducted from April to September 2018 at Bayero University Kano, to determine the nature of competition between Sorghum almum (Columbus grass) and three forage legumes namely Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea), Lablab purpureus (lablab) and Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean) on the basis of dry matter accumulation and competition indices. The treatments were (Sorghum almum sole, three legumes sole and mixtures of grass with legumes at 50:50 replicated in four blocks in randomized complete block design. Seeds of grass and legumes were sown in 3.5m *2m plots. The results showed that sole lablab produced higher (ρ <0.05) cumulative total dry matter (42.07 t ha^-1) than sole grass, monoculture of other legumes and mixtures. The cumulative total plant biomass and mean relative yield total of mixtures were not significantly different. Sorghum-Mucuna mixture with mean relative yield total value (1.11) appeared to be more advantageous in terms of efficient resource sharing than other mixtures. Sorghum-Mucuna mixture was recommended as the most compatible combination.