Effects of Stocking Density and Grazing Period on Herbage and Seed Production of Paraggio Medic

Abstract

Three stocking densities (20, 40, and 60 sheep/ha) were applied in four stocking periods (0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks) on a Medicago truncatula cv. Paraggio pasture. Treatments were arranged in a split plot system and compared through a completely randomised block design with four replications.Grazing period had a significant effect (P<0.001) on availability of both medic and other species separately. Total available forage (medic and other species) was significantly affected by both stocking density (P<0.05) and grazing period (P<0.001) and there was a significant interaction between stocking density and grazing period (P<0.001). Grazing period was the only factor affecting the cumulative forage production of medic and other species. Stocking density and grazing period both had significant effects on total cumulative pasture production. Pod production significantly decreased as grazing period increased. More seeds per pod were observed at low stocking density as compared with other densities. There was a dramatic reduction in seed production as grazing period increased (P<0.05).