Abstract 528

Holmes,-JHG; Lemerle,-C; Schottler,-JH

School of Agric. and Forestry, Melbourne Univ., Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.

Papua-New-Guinea-Agricultural-Journal. 1980, 31: 1/4, 51-62; 7 ref.

Herbage from Imperata cylindrica pasture cut every 4 wk. contained 1.5% N, but productivity rapidly declined. A grazing trial over 3 yr showed higher production by fully improved pastures and a small decrease in Stylosanthes guianensis + I. cylindrica pasture compared with unimproved I. cylindrica. In digestibility trials, I. cylindrica was two thirds as digestible as Cenchrus ciliaris, Setaria sphacelata or Pennisetum purpureum, indicating that for adequate beef production, it was necessary either to replace part of the I. cylindrica by legumes or all of it by improved species. Breeding rates on farms with I. cylindrica-dominant pastures were 75-100%, from which it was concluded that I. cylindrica pastures could support a viable extensive beef production system utilizing pasture improved by broadcast sown legumes adapted to the environment.