Effects of Seeding Rates and Methods on the Establishment and Yield of Common Guinea Grass

Abstract

The effects of three seeding rates (3.36, 6.72, and 10.08 kg of clean seeds per ha) and two planting methods (row and broadcast), with and without seedbed firming, on the establishment and yield (green forage, dry forage, and crude protein), of common Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) were evaluated for 370 days in an Ultisol. Seeding rates influenced significantly the dry forage and crude protein yields of Guinea grass during the first 3 months of growth. The high rate (10.08 kg/ha) significantly increased dry forage yields by 22 and 49% over the medium (6.72 kg/ha) and low (3.36 kg/ha) seeding rates, respectively. The medium rate significantly increased dry forage and crude protein yields by 23 and 26% over the low seeding rate. Row planting was significantly better than broadcast planting only during the first 3 months of growth, increasing dry forage yields by 23% and crude protein yields by 17%. Seedbed firming after planting did not affect yields either during the first 3 months of growth or over the entire period of study (9 cuttings). During 370 days (9 cuttings) the high and medium seeding rates did not differ significantly with respect to yields; however, both outyielded significantly the low seeding rate. The highest yields were obtained with treatments that combined high seeding rate with row planting. The number of tufts varied among treatments from 4 to 6 per m². Mean crude protein, P, K, Ca, and Mg contents in the harvested forage were 11.21, .28, 3.13, .75 and .19%, respectively. It was concluded that, a good stand of Guinea grass can be obtained in 3 months when sown in August with 6.72 kgjha of processed seeds or 33.6 kg/ha of unprocessed seeds.