Palatability Trials on Merker grass (Pennisetum purpureum), Venezuela grass (Paspalum fasciculatum)) and Plantain Pseudostalks (Musa paradisiaca)

Abstract

Venezuela grass (Paspalum fassiculatum) was introduced to Puerto Rico some years ago from Venezuela, South America. Poor palatability was observed as well as its aggressiveness on the low wet lands in the Experiment Station Farm. Several thousand acres are planted to bananas and plantains (Musa paradisiaca) in the Island. The pseudostalks are known to be eaten by cattle, but almost all of them are thrown away after the banana bunches are harvested. Merker grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is the standard soilage grass used and it is very palatable. Three palatability trials were run to test Venezuela grass, plantain pseudostalks, and Merker grass as a check. Taking the consumption of Merker grass as 100 percent, wet basis, the consumption of Venezuela grass was 39 and that of plantain pseudostalks 149 percent. The differences were statistically significant on both the wet and dry bases. Plantain pseudostalks contain very little dry matter and should be used only in emergencies. In the Island we have pasture grasses with recognized good palatability like Pangola, Guinea, Para, Molasses, and others. In any pasture-improvement program on the farm any one of these is preferable to Venezuela grass.