Get reliable science

In Mexico, only small quantities of grass seed are produced. This low seed production has been the main cause of the high costs and low demand to use in rehabilitation programs. The objective was to evaluate different treatments of fertilization and their effect on seed and forage production of two grasses under irrigation. The research was conducted at the Experimental Site Aldama-INIFAP, located in the municipality of Aldama, Chihuahua, Mexico. The species studied were buffel grass (Pennisetum ciliare) and willman lovegrass (Eragrostis superba). The variables evaluated were seed production and forage production. The experimental units consisted of 12 m2 plots and the experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. By applying 80 to 120 kg ha-1 of N, seed production was increased 50% compared to the control in buffel grass, with seed production yields from 215 to 324 kg ha-1. In addition, an increase of 46% on forage production was obtained with a dose of 120-60-00 with forage production yields from 9344 to 14556 Kg h-1 of dry matter (DM). In willman lovegrass the treatments 120-60-00 and 60-30-00 + mycorrhiza showed the highest seed production (P > 0.05). The highest forage production (9192 Kg ha-1 of DM) was obtained by the application of the treatment 120-60-00 (P >0.05). By applying 120-60-00 kg ha-1, seed production was increased 37% compared to the control, with seed production yields from 217 to 312 kg ha-1. Moreover, an increase of 26% on forage production was obtained with a dose of 120-60-00 with forage production yields from 7130 to 9192 Kg h-1.