Grassland improvement in subtropical Guangdong Province, China, 2. Evaluation of pasture grasses
1994
Michalk, D.L. (New South Wales Agriculture, Orange (Australia). Agricultural Research and Veterinary Centre) | Huang, Z.-K. (Lechang Model Livestock Farm, Guangdong Province (China))
During 1986-1989, 3 experiments were conducted : spring-and autumn-sown tropical and temperate grasses; spring-sown tropical grasses on limed and unlimed Hapludult soils; and response of 2 temperate grasses (perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot) to rates of lime in pots. The tropical grasses were more tolerant of acid soils than temperate species, but only low-quality grasses (e.g. molasses, plicatulum) grew well when fertilised only with superphosphate (300 kg per ha). Applying PK or NPK fertiliser at sowing increased the range of grass species which established successfully and doubled the yield of those grasses which established with P fertiliser only. Molasses grass, setaria, signal grass and guinea grass all produced more than 4800 kg per ha with moderate NPK inputs. Liming (4 t per ha) also increased yield of 9 tropical-subtropical grasses (including rhodes, buffel, signal, guinea grasses (including rhodes, buffel, signal, guinea and green panic) and perennial ryegrass, but significantly reduced yield of molasses and carpet grasses. Pioneer grasses may be of value for initial soil improvement, but spring- and autumn-sown setaria is recommended as the base grass for improved pastures with and without lime in subtropical Guangdong Province with moderate application of PK fertiliser. Lime application with high fertiliser inputs is essential for the production of temperate grasses and winter forage crops
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