COMPARISON OF GUINEA GRASS-TROPICAL KUDZU, PARA GRASS, PANGOLA GRASS, AND ST. AUGUSTINE GRASS AS PASTURE CROPS IN THE YABUCOA VALLEY IN EASTERN PUERTO RICO

Abstract

A grazing trial was carried out at Yabucoa, on the eastern coast of Puerto Rico to determine the usefulness for this purpose of several grasses and a grass-legume mixture. It followed the same pattern and procedure as those which had been performed previously at the Main Station Farm located in the northern humid section of the Island. In the trial, which lasted for 2 years, Pangola grass, Pará grass, St. Augustine grass, and a Guinea grass-tropical kudzu combination were compared as to carrying capacity and other characters to determine their pasture values. The carrying capacities of these grasses were as follows: Pangola, 1.12; Guinea-tropical kudzu, 1.42; St, Augustine, 1.23; and Para grass, 0.87 head per acre. The gross returns per acre for the first year were, $118, $137, $97, and $87, respectively. For the second year they were: $159, $179, $124, and $68, respectively. Besides the information obtained on the carrying capacity of the pastures, the results show that well-managed pastures are at least as profitable as many of the cash crops actually grown in the Island. This does not take into consideration additional soil- and water-conservation benefits which accrue from having the soil covered by a sod. Pangola and St. Augustine grasses are good pasture crops that can be used in the eastern coastal region satisfactorily. The Guinea-tropical kudzu mixture, however, is better than these grasses by themselves. The superiority of the legume-grass combination was again demonstrated by the results of this experiment. Pará grass was not well adapted for grazing in the light soil in which the experiment was planted.