Performance of some local nigerian turfgrasses in sole and mixed stands

Abstract

The study a ssessed the performance of Axonopus compressus , Chysopogon aciculatus , Sporobolus pyramidalis,Eleusine indica and Dactyloctenium aegyptium in turf establishment. The five grass species planted in sole andmixed stands were varied with the legume - Desmodium triflorum. Ground cover differed significantly amonggrass species and their mixtures from 4 - 11 weeks after planting (WAP) but ground cover in the legume andno legume subplots were not significantly different from 46 WAP.Eleusine , Axonopus and Dactylocteniumand their mixtures had higher ground cover than those of Sporobolus and Chrysopogon. There were significantdifferences in ground cover among g rasses and mixtures at 3 and 6 weeks after clipping (WAC) , and grass -legume subplots and subplots w ithout the legume were different at 3 and 4 WAC. Recovery weeks aftertrampling was faster in sole stands and mixtures with Axonopus and Eleusine , indicating they are betteradapted to trampling.