Effects of Seed Proportion and Planting Pattern on Dry Matter Yield, Compatibility and Nutritive Value of Panicum coloratum and Stylosanthes guianensis Mixtures under Bako Condition, Western Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Panicum coloratum (PC) and Stylosanthes guianensis (SG) mixed pasture was established to assess the effect of seed proportion and planting pattern on Dry Matter Yield (DMY), compatibility and nutrient content of the mixed stand. Seeds of PC and SG were mixed as 50%PC+50% SG and 25% PC+75% SG and sown in same row, alternate row and broad casting  pattern. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used to layout the experiment. The 50%PC+50%SG proportion resulted in significantly (p<0.01) higher DMY for PC (p<0.0001) while the 75%  SG+25%PC mixture resulted in significantly higher DMY of SG (p<0.0001). For PC and SG, and total herbage yield, an alternate row planting pattern gave significantly highest (p<0.0001) yield, followed by broadcasting. Planting along the same row resulted in inferior values (p<0.0001) for all parameters, which perhaps is induced by the severity of competition between species. The RY (Relative Yield), LER (Land Equivalent Ratio),
and CR (Competitive Ratio) values also imply similar trends for DMY of the component species. The legume DMY steadily increased from first to third year for the 75% SG+25% PC proportion. It can thus be concluded that the 50%PC+50SG proportion sown in alternate pattern was favorable for DMY in PC whereas the 25%PC+ 75%SG proportion combined with alternate row
pattern was appropriate for the legume. Intercropping SG into PC sward at 25%PC+75%SG mixed proportions also improved the CP content, IVDMD and reduced NDF content.