In Search of Species Suitable For Temperate Pasture Mixtures in Bhutan

AUTHOR: Wangchuk K, Roder W, Gyeltshen

ABSTRACT

Farmers in temperate areas were recommended to use mixtures containing white clover, Italian ryegrass, tall fescue and cocksfoot. Strong dominance of white clover in fields seeded with these mixtures induced the search for alternative species or establishment methods. Two experiments were conducted across a range of temperate environments from 1996-2002 to evaluate grass-legume mixtures for species composition and dry matter yield and the effect of seed rates on contribution of species to the total species composition. Except for Khangkhu the dry matter yield was not affected by the mixture components and the seed rates of tall fescue, cocksfoot and Italian ryegrass. The dry matter yield of lotus mixture was comparatively lower than white clover and lucerne mixtures. Lucerne mixture yielded higher at Khangkhu. Seed rates of grass species did not affect the frequencies of individual species. Cocksfoot frequency increased consistently over 6 years and cocksfoot affected the frequency of tall fescue. The frequency of lucerne, Prairie grass and Dallis grass increased at Khangkhu while the persistence of these species was poor in grass-legume mixtures at Bathpalathang.

The current extension recommendations need to be revised taking into consideration the strong competition by cocksfoot and variations in dry matter yield and species composition of mixtures between locations. It is proposed that specific mixtures should be identified for specific locations.

KEYWORDS:

Mixture, dry matter yield, frequency, seed rate, cocksfoot, tall fescue, white clover.

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