Grazing under Coconuts in the Morobe District.

Abstract

In the Morobe District near Lae about 2,300 head of cattle are being grazed under coconuts on native pastures dominated by Paspalum conjugatum and Calopogonium mucunoides. On all properties some pasture improvement has been carried out. Grasses tried include Brachiaria mutica, B. Ruziziensis, Pennisetum purpureum, Panicum maximum, Panicum maximum var. trichoglume. Legumes planted were Centrosema pubescens, Dolichos lablab, Leucaena leucocephala, Phaseolus atropurpureus, and Pueraria phaseoloides. In general fertilizer has not been applied to pastures. Carrying capacity on most properties was in the vicinity of one beast per acre. Cattle carried in nearly all cases were Brahman crosses with about 50 per cent. Brahman blood. Cost of fencing varied from $500 per mile to $217 per mile depending on materials used.