A comparative study of the productivity of Brachiaria Hybrid Cv. Mulato Ii and native pasture species in Semi-arid Rangelands of Kenya

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the relative productivity and nutritional quality of Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato II grass species, Cenchrus ciliaris, Enteropogon macrostachyus, Chloris roxburghiana and Eragrostis superba in semi-arid rangelands of southern Kenya. Experimental trials were set at KARI-Kiboko Research Station in Makueni County. Comparisons of the five grass species were done with reference to plant growth parameters that included plant height, tillers,cover and density; aboveground biomass production, seed yield, seed viability and nutritional quality. Out of the five grass species in this study, Brachiaria hybrid (Mulato II), although a late seeder, emerged superior in dry matter (DM) yield (c. 17t/ha). The species also had the highest nutritional quality, exhibiting the lowest fibriosity (c. 29%) and the highest proportion of digestible dry matter (DDM) (65%). Of the local species, C.ciliaris was the best in DM yield (c. 10t/ha), while E. macrostachyus had the highest seed viability (100% germination within 48 hours). Eragrostis superba had the highest seed production (803.2Kg/ha) as C. roxburghiana was the overall inferior species in terms of productivity. These results show that Mulato II has a potential in the semiarid southern rangelands of Kenya, as a reliable and nutritious source of forage. However, further research on its performance on varied soils and moisture conditions is crucial to inform its adoption. On-farm trials beyond the field experiment undertaken in this study are also necessary to determine its adaptability under real field conditions across multiple temporal and spatial scales