Regional experience with Brachiaria: Sub-Saharan Africa

In tropical Africa, the most common and most extensively evaluated Brachiaria species as cultivated pastures are B. brizantha, B. ruziziensis, B. decumbens, and B. mutica. In recent years, B. dictyoneura cv. Llanero, B. humidicola, and B. platynota have also received increased attention. The first f...

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Main Authors: Ndikumana, J., Leeuw, P.N. de
Format: Book Chapter
Language:Inglés
Published: International Center for Tropical Agriculture 1996
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/82038
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author Ndikumana, J.
Leeuw, P.N. de
author_browse Leeuw, P.N. de
Ndikumana, J.
author_facet Ndikumana, J.
Leeuw, P.N. de
author_sort Ndikumana, J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In tropical Africa, the most common and most extensively evaluated Brachiaria species as cultivated pastures are B. brizantha, B. ruziziensis, B. decumbens, and B. mutica. In recent years, B. dictyoneura cv. Llanero, B. humidicola, and B. platynota have also received increased attention. The first four species produce high yields, show excellent response to fertilizer, are persistent, and remain green long into the dry season. Although, in Africa, data on nutritive value are incomplete and scattered, they indicate that forage from Brachiaria is highly palatable to stock, leading to high intake, whether fed fresh or grazed in situ. These species have also shown broad adaptation to different ecological zones. Although some may be drought-resistant, they perform best in the subhumid and humid zones where rainfall exceeds 800 mm and the growing season is more than 6 months. Low temperature depresses growth; therefore, Brachiaria in general, performs poorly at altitudes above 1,800 m. Further research is needed to place selected ecotypes of Brachiaria and other perennial forage species in the context of farming systems and develop integrated crop-livestock production systems for sub-Saharan Africa.
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spelling CGSpace820382025-11-05T17:04:50Z Regional experience with Brachiaria: Sub-Saharan Africa Ndikumana, J. Leeuw, P.N. de brachiaria germplasm agronomic characters drought resistance fertilizer application crop management crop yield companion crops legumes nutritive value digestibility germoplasma características agronómicas resistencia a la sequia aplicación de abonos manejo del cultivo rendimiento de cultivos cultivos asociados leguminosas valor nutritivo digestibilidad In tropical Africa, the most common and most extensively evaluated Brachiaria species as cultivated pastures are B. brizantha, B. ruziziensis, B. decumbens, and B. mutica. In recent years, B. dictyoneura cv. Llanero, B. humidicola, and B. platynota have also received increased attention. The first four species produce high yields, show excellent response to fertilizer, are persistent, and remain green long into the dry season. Although, in Africa, data on nutritive value are incomplete and scattered, they indicate that forage from Brachiaria is highly palatable to stock, leading to high intake, whether fed fresh or grazed in situ. These species have also shown broad adaptation to different ecological zones. Although some may be drought-resistant, they perform best in the subhumid and humid zones where rainfall exceeds 800 mm and the growing season is more than 6 months. Low temperature depresses growth; therefore, Brachiaria in general, performs poorly at altitudes above 1,800 m. Further research is needed to place selected ecotypes of Brachiaria and other perennial forage species in the context of farming systems and develop integrated crop-livestock production systems for sub-Saharan Africa. 1996 2017-06-20T09:00:38Z 2017-06-20T09:00:38Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/82038 en Open Access application/pdf International Center for Tropical Agriculture Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte (CNPGC) Ndikumana, J.; Leeuw, P.N. de. 1996. Regional experience with Brachiaria: Sub-Saharan Africa . In: Miles, John W; Maass, Brigitte L; Valle, Cacilda Borges do; Kumble, Vrinda (eds.). Brachiaria: Biology, agronomy, and improvement . Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT); Campo Grande, BR : Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria (EMBRAPA), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte (CNPGC), Cali, CO. p. 247-257. (CIAT publication no. 259)
spellingShingle brachiaria
germplasm
agronomic characters
drought resistance
fertilizer application
crop management
crop yield
companion crops
legumes
nutritive value
digestibility
germoplasma
características agronómicas
resistencia a la sequia
aplicación de abonos
manejo del cultivo
rendimiento de cultivos
cultivos asociados
leguminosas
valor nutritivo
digestibilidad
Ndikumana, J.
Leeuw, P.N. de
Regional experience with Brachiaria: Sub-Saharan Africa
title Regional experience with Brachiaria: Sub-Saharan Africa
title_full Regional experience with Brachiaria: Sub-Saharan Africa
title_fullStr Regional experience with Brachiaria: Sub-Saharan Africa
title_full_unstemmed Regional experience with Brachiaria: Sub-Saharan Africa
title_short Regional experience with Brachiaria: Sub-Saharan Africa
title_sort regional experience with brachiaria sub saharan africa
topic brachiaria
germplasm
agronomic characters
drought resistance
fertilizer application
crop management
crop yield
companion crops
legumes
nutritive value
digestibility
germoplasma
características agronómicas
resistencia a la sequia
aplicación de abonos
manejo del cultivo
rendimiento de cultivos
cultivos asociados
leguminosas
valor nutritivo
digestibilidad
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/82038
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