INTRODUCTION AND SELECTION OF GRASSES AND LEGUMINOUSES IN RAMBALA, BOCAS DEL TORO.

Abstract

The work was developed during two years in Rambala, Bocas del Toro, with the purpose of generating information about productivity, quality and invasion grade of Ratana native grass (Ischaemun ciliare) over the grasses and leguminouses in study. Creeping grasses were:  Brachiaria brizantha (CIAT 664, CIAT 6298, CIAT 6780, CIAT 26646); Brachiaria decumbens (CIAT 606, CIAT 6132), Brachiaria humidicola (CIAT 679), Brachiaria dictyoneura (CIAT 6133) and Cynodon nlemfuensis; cut grasses were: Pennisetum purpureum (Taiwan, Camerun and dwarf Mott) and the leguminouse Mani Forrajero, Arachis pintoi (CIAT 17434, CIAT 18744). Creeping and cut grasses were fertilized at sowing with 135 kg of 12-24-12 and one month later with 50 kg N/ha/yr. A pintoi was only fertilized whith 50 kg of P₂O₅ /ha/yr. It was carried out 14 cuts every 45 days. There was significant difference (P<0.05) among creeping grasses respect to dry matter yield (DM) being more productive B. humidicola and less productive C. nlemfuensis. Taiwan and Camerun were superior (P<0.05) to dwarf Mott; A. pintoi CIAT 18744 was superior (P<0.05) to A. pintoi CIAT 17434. Creeping grasses crude protein varied (P<0.05) from 7.6 to 9.0%, while in cut grasses, dwarf Mott was higher (P<0.05) than Taiwan and Camerun. In both leguminouses, the values of crude protein were similar (P>0.05); in vitro digestibility of DM (IVDDM) of cut grasses varied from 42.6 to 47.6% (P<0.05), while in creeping grasses varied from 57.0 to 60.0% (P<0.05). Phosphorous (P) in the creeping grasses was high, from 0.27 to 0.37% (P<0.05). Camerun and Mott showed more P (P<0.05) than Taiwan and in Arachis, the values varied from 0.31 to 0.33% (P>0.05). Calcium (Ca) in creeping grasses varied from 0.56 to 0.21% (P<0.01); Taiwan and Mott presented more Ca (0.35%, P<0.05) than in Camerun, 0.43%; and Arachis showed higher Ca values being superior (P<0.05) A. pintoi CIAT 18744 with 2.11% compared with A. pintoi CIAT 17434 with 1.88%. Ratana invasion varied from 16.7 to 98.0% (P<0.05) in the creeping grasses; Pennisetum had high Ratana invasion (98%), and A. pintoi CIAT 18744 showed (P<0.05) being more competitive than A. pintoi CIAT 17434. It was concluded that most of the grasses showed superior yields to 2,000 kg DM/ha/cut, but considering DM yield and Ratana invasion capacity, the best grasses to the area were B. humidicola CIAT 679, B. brizantha CIAT 6780 and B. dictyoneura CIAT 6133 and between leguminouses, A. pintoi CIAT 18744.