Effects of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium on biomass production of Stylosanthes hamata (L.) Taub., Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Sw., Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf) and Brachiaria ruziziensis< Germ. & C.M. Evrard in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Legumes and grasses play an important role in livestock production and sustainable agriculture. In semi-arid regions like Burkina Faso,  most of the natural rangelands are degraded with the low quantity and quality of forage. Thus, it is imperative to explore the strategies  that could improve the biomass production of palatable legumes and grasses. In this study, the effects of nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium  and magnesium on the quality and quantity of biomass of Stylosanthes hamata, Stylosanthes guianensis, Brachiaria brizantha and Brachiaria ruziziensis was evaluated in the experimental designs. The results showed that the best biomass production of B. brizantha  and B. ruziziensis was: 2.3 t DM/ha for a dose of P0D0N50 and 0.9 t DM/ha for a dose of P50D0N0 in June; 2.6 t DM/ha for the dose of  P0D400N50 and 1.734 t DM/ha for a dose of P0D0N0 in July; 3.9 t DM/ha for a dose of P100D400N50 and 2.4 t DM/ha for a dose of  P0D400N0 in August. The highest biomass values of S. hamata and S. guianensis were: 1.9 t DM/ha for a D0P50 dose and 2.2 t DM/ ha for  the D0P100 dose in June; 4.4 t DM/ha for the D400P100 dose and 5.4 t DM/ha for the D0P50 dose in July; 6.1 t DM/ha for the D0P100 dose  and 9.5 t DM/ha for the D0P50 dose in August. From the results it can be seen that, fertilizers improved the biomass production of forage  species, which is an advantage in meeting the feed needs of livestock.