Research note: Production and nutritive value of grasses cultivated in thecoastal area of Benin

Six grasses (Panicum maximum cvv. C1, T58, 673 and a native accession. Brac hiaria ruziziensis and Andropogon gayanus) were evaluated in small plots in 1997 and 1998 for production and nutritive value in south Benin. The exper iment was carried out on a typical gently sloping plateau with poor sandy s oils. Rainfall in the first year equalled the annual average for the region (1300 mm). while the second year was particularly dry (775 mm). Highest production in the first year was recorded with Panicum maximum cv. C1 (10.8 t/ha DM). The native Panicum maximum and cvv. T58 and 673 of the s ame species produced 7.0. 6.3 and 6.5 t/ha DM, respectively. Andropogon gay anus yielded 3 t/ha DM. Brachiaria ruziziensis yielded 4 t/ha DM during the rainy season, but died at the beginning of the 1997-98 dry season. With the drought during the second year, only Panicum maximus cv. C1 and An dropogon gayanus survived. Their production (6.3 and 2.6 t/ha DM, respectiv ely) was below that recorded in the first year. The highest nutritive values were recorded for the native accession of Pani cum maximum and cv. T58, which contained digestible crude protein concentra tions ranging between 11.3-13.3% (DM basis). Compared with the other specie s, Brachiaria ruziziensis and andropogon gayanus had low concentrations of digestible crude protein. Panicum maximum cv. C1 and Andropogon gayanus are recommended for further t esting as perennial fodder crops, because of their production capacity on t he poor soils and their adaptation to the variable rainfall of the region.