Seed production capacity and viability of pasture legumes under the influence of phosphorus management

Seed production of a forage legume in the natural pastures reflects its ability to reseed and enrich the pasture. This study aimed at improving the productivity and nutritional value of pastures through enhancement the ability of leguminous species to restore pastures under phosphorus management. A field study was conducted at the research station of Farako-Bâ, Burkina Faso. Treatments included two legumes (Aeschynomene histrix and Stylosanthes hamata) and two levels of phosphorus application (Po = 0 and P1 = 100 kg P ha¹). The experimental design was a split-plot arrangement with legumes as the main treatment and Phospohorus application as the sub-treatment. Results showed that the phosphorus application had a significant effect on the seed production of the two legumes, whereby A. histrix seed production of was significantly higher than that of S. hamata with or without phosphorus application (P < 0.05). Seed production was 566.92 kg/ha and 299.08 kg/ha for A. histrix, S. hamata, respectively. The fertility of A. histrix seeds (92.49 %) is very significantly higher than those of S. hamata (62.07 %) (P < 0.01). Phosphorus only improved seed weight of S. hamata (P < 0.05), unlike A. histrix, where this improvement was not statistically significant. In view of these results, A. histrix and S. hamata can be strongly recommended for the enrichment of Sudanian natural pastures.