Dry matter yields and hydrological properties of three perennial grasses of a semi-arid environment in east Africa

Show simple item record

dc.contributor.author Mganga, Kevin Z.
dc.contributor.author Musimba, Nashon K. R.
dc.contributor.author Nyariki, Dickson M.
dc.contributor.author Nyangito, Moses M.
dc.contributor.author Mwang’ombe, Agnes W.
dc.contributor.author Ekaya, Wellington N.
dc.contributor.author Clavel, Daniele
dc.contributor.author Francis, Judith
dc.contributor.author von Kaufmann, Ralph
dc.contributor.author Verhagen, Jan
dc.date.accessioned 2014-12-03T06:28:15Z
dc.date.available 2014-12-03T06:28:15Z
dc.date.issued 2010-05
dc.identifier.citation African Journal of Plant Science Vol. 4(5), pp. 138 -144, May 2010 en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://publications.cirad.fr/download.php?dk=558880&doc=35305
dc.identifier.uri 1996-0824
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/293
dc.description.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. en_US
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher Academic Journals en_US
dc.subject Cenchrus ciliaris en_US
dc.subject Enteropogon macrostachyus en_US
dc.subject Eragrostis superba en_US
dc.subject rangeland en_US
dc.title Dry matter yields and hydrological properties of three perennial grasses of a semi-arid environment in east Africa en_US
dc.type Article en_US


Files in this item

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record

Search Dspace


Browse

My Account