Comparison of Stylo Stylosanthes guianensis var. guianensis Cultivars in the Markham Valley of Papua New Guinea.

Abstract

Two new cultivars of the pasture legume, Stylosanthes guianensis var. guianensis, Cook and Endeavour were compared with the cultivar Schofield in pure and mixed sward with grass under low (1,250 mm) and high (2,800 mm) rainfall conditions in the Markham Valley of Papua New Guinea. Performances of the three cultivars were similar and the differences between their dry matter yields were not significant. They combined well with the companion grasses and the mean percentage of legume in the dry matter was 48, 54 and 52 for Cook, Endeavour and Schofield respectively. All the three cultivars responded to the application of phosphorus and sulphur.