Effects of Fertilizers and Management on Three Promising Tropical Grasses in Jamaica

Summary

Yields are presented for a 54-week cutting experiment (1962–3) in which coastal bermuda (Cynodon dactylon sp.), pangola (Digitaria decumbens) and guinea (Panicum maximum) grasses were subjected to three cutting heights (1, 3 and 6 inches), four cutting intervals (1, 3, 6 and 9-weeks) and four nitrogen fertilizer regimes (0, 8, 16 and 32 cwt sulphate of ammonia per acre per annum). The results indicate that coastal bermuda and pangola grasses will tolerate severe cutting but not guinea grass. The highest dry matter yields were obtained from guinea grass, at 16½ tons/acre. Whereas the highest yields of coastal bermuda and pangola were 12½ and 12 tons/acre respecitvely. In the absence of measures of nutritive value it is impossible to say which is the best management system to adopt, but the facts presented may help to determine management practices.