Abstract

RODRIGUEZ, Iraida; FLORES, Adalberto  and  SCHULTZE-KRAFT, Rainer. Agronomic potential of Centrosema pubescens in well drained savannas of Anzoátegui state, Venezuela.. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2003, vol.21, n.2, pp.197-217. ISSN 0798-7269.

Centrosema pubescens is a widespread distributed forage legume in tropical America. It is considered intolerant to acid soils; however some accessions or similar species like Centrosema acutifolium can be tolerant. The purpose of this study was to evaluate both the adaptability and productivity of 23 accessions of C. pubescens to well drained savanna conditions, with acid and low natural fertility soils, of Venezuela. The experiment was conducted at the experimental station located in El Tigre, Anzoátegui State (8° 51’ N, 64° 12’W, and 265 masl. The accessions used in the experiment were collected in Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Dominican Republic, and Venezuela, obtaining the seeds from the International Center of Tropical Agriculture, CIAT, Colombia. A standardization cut was made 15 weeks after planting. Forage dry-matter production, rooting capacity, and stolon length were evaluated every 12 weeks, during two years. A randomized complete block design was used, using 27 treatments (accessions) and three replications. Twenty three accessions of C. pubescens selected for good performance in an infertile acid soil were tested along with two control lines consisting on two accessions of C. pubescens and C. acutifolium. Means were compared using the Duncan test (P<0,05). Flowering onset and seed production were evaluated in an additional plot and the data were analyzed using confidence interval. The results showed that two accessions of C. pubescens collected in Venezuela were outstanding among the others: CIAT 15160 for its high forage and seed production and CIAT 5169 for high seed production and rooting at the stolon nodes. It is highly recommended to do further studies with these accessions considering legume production and persistence under grazing when mixed with grasses.

Keywords : forage legumes; Centrosema pubescens; C. acutifolium; dry matter yield; seed yield; flowering.