Rodolfo G. Escalada and Guindolino R. Gerona
ABSTRACT
Paragrass [Brachiaria mutica (Forsk.) Stapt] and centrosema (Centrosema pubescens Benth.) were grown in combination under coconut and subjected to different fertilizer treatments. High dry matter yields were obtained during periods when soil moisture, nutrients, and solar radiation had been favorable for plant growth. Regrowth of both grass and legume was adversely affected by water stress coupled with high light intensity when pruning coincided with dry months. This condition depressed production and development of leaves and branches. Centrosema with a creeping growth habit was less affected by periodic pruning compared to paragrass which has an upright growth habit.
The mixed crops responded significantly to application of high amounts of N and K and less of P (400-75-150 and 400-75-300) as manifested by the vigorous and rapid growth of paragrass resulting in its dominance over the legume. At zero or low N level, centrosema dominated the grass. Whenever the former became predominant, the latter grew poorly and vice versa. The highest mean dry matter yield of 9.75 t/ha/year of the mixed crop was obtained in the 400-75-300 and 400-150-300 fertilizer treatments. No significant differences in the growth and dry matter yield of the 100-75-0 treatment and higher fertilizer levels were noted. The unfertilized control plot consistently produced the lowest dry matter yield during the 3-year period. The high dry matter yield obtained in the monocultured paragrass was attributed to the absence of competition with centrosema for light, nutrients, moisture, and space.
Keywords: Vinegar. Para-centro combination. Coconut. Pruning. Regrowth Fertilizer levels.
Annals of Tropical Research 8(4):(1986)
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