1983 Volume 29 Issue 1 Pages 44-54
Tropical pasture legume Siratro (M. atropurpureum cv. Siratro), which has shown greater potential in dry matter production in South-Western Islands of Japan, was grown in pure stands and in mixed stands with Rhodesgrass (C. gayana cv. Pioneer) and were compared with Rhodesgrass grown in pure stands applied with four levels of nitrogen regarding in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of plant top, digestibile dry matter (DDM) yield, nitrogen concentration in plant top, and nitrogen yield. IVDMD which was higher in Siratro than in Rhodesgrass was decreased in both species during the periods of higher temperature and fewer rain fall. Annual yields of DDM amounted to 660-790kg/10a in pure stands of Siratro and 550〜670kg/10a in mixed stands of Siratro and Rhodesgrass in the second year, being equivalent to the yields in pure stands of rhodesgrass applicated with 24〜34kg N/10a in the pure stands. Nitrogen concentration in plant tops was also higher in Siratro than in Rhodesgrass showing lower values during the periods of higher temperature. Annual yields of N amounted to 38〜42kg/10a in pure stands of Siratro and 24〜31kg/10a in mixed stands of Siratro and Rhodesgrass in the second year, being equivalent to the yields in pure Rhodesgrass applicated with 45〜78kg N/10a in the pure stands. With these results above, Siratro appeared as a promised legume for growing in South-Western Islands of Japan.
