Department of Botany-Journal Articles

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Nutrient Content and Performance of the Herbaceous Legume Tephrosia Bracteolata in Relation to the Grass Andropogon Tectorum in both Natural Habitat and Pot Culture in Southwestern Nigeria.
(International Society for Tropical Ecology, 1990) Isichei, Augustine O.; Awodoyin, Rasheed Olufemi
Tephrosia bracteoluta, an annual herbaceous legume (sub-family Papilioniodeae), occurs extensively in the savanna zone of West Africa. It is palatable to livestock. Its accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium over a growing season (in natural habitat in Southwestern Nigeria) was measured and compared with that of Andropogon tectorum, another palatable grass in the same habitat. Crude protein concentration in Tephrosia throughout the growing season is enough to meet the recommended livestock requirements, whereas the concentration in Andropogon meets this requirement only when the grass is young. Tephrosia and Andropogon were positively associated in natural habitat Competition between Tephrosia and Andropogon in pot culture was investigated. Both species showed a decrease in yield with increasing density, a pattern also shown for number of tillers of Andropogon and girths and heights of both plants at maturity. In the mixture the yield port plant of Andropogon was higher than in its monoculture.