Abstract:
Enteropogon macrostachyus
(Bush rye)
, Cenchrus ciliaris
L. (African foxtail grass)
and
Eragrostis
superba
Peyr (Maasai love grass) are important perennial r
angeland grasses in Kenya. They provide an
important source of forage for domestic livestock a
nd wild ungulates. These grasses have been used
extensively to rehabilitate denuded patches in semi
-arid environment of Kenya. This study investigated
the dry matter yields and hydrological properties o
f the three grasses under simulated rainfall at thr
ee
phenological stages; early growth, elongation and r
eproduction. Laboratory seed viability tests were
also done. Hydrological properties of the three gra
sses were estimated using a Kamphorst rainfall
simulator. Results showed that there was a signific
ant difference (p > 0.05) in dry matter yields and
soil
hydrological properties at the different grass phen
ological stages. Generally, all the three grasses
improved the soil hydrological properties with an i
ncrease in grass stubble height.
C. ciliaris
gave the
best soil hydrological properties followed by
E. macrostachyus
and
E. superba
,
respectively.
E.
macrostachyus
recorded the highest seed viability percentage.
C. ciliaris
and
E. superba
were ranked
second and third, respectively.
C. ciliaris
yielded the highest biomass production at the repro
ductive
stage followed by
E. superba
and
E. macrostachyus
,
respectively.
