A comparison of irrigated grass-clover and nitrogen-fertilized grass pastures for beef production.

Abstract

An area of irrigated sandveld was planted in December 1971 with Panicum coloratum and fenced into eight paddocks, four of which were later seeded with Trifolium semipilosum. The P. coloratum grew poorly and the pastures were later interplanted with Cynodon aethiopicus, which also did not thrive, and with Pennisetum clandestinum, which did. The grass-clover pastures were initially clover-dominant but had attained a reasonable grass: clover balance by the end of the trial.The pure grass pastures were fertilized with 450 kg N/ha in 1973/74 and 500 kg N/ha in 1974/75 and 1975/76.Grazing started in February 1973 with a policy aimed at producing fatstock for the high-priced Christmas period. Three groups of steers have been slaughtered off the trial. The carrying capacity and productivity of the two pasture types have been very similar. As the N applied to the pure grass pasture currently costs R$ 166/ha/annum, the reduction in costs from the use of clover has been considerable. Problems have, however, been experienced with scouring and bloat on the grass-clover pastures.

Keywords: beef production; carrying capacity; clover; cynodon aethiopicus; grass; grasses; panicum coloratum; pastures; pennisetum clandestinum; productivity; sandveld; trifolium semipilosum; zimbabwe