Evaluation of Improved and Selected Brachiaria Grass Cultivars in DRC

Food security has become a major concern in DRC. Animal production decreases dramatically due to wars while still managed in an extensive system. Productivity is low due especially to low diseases control, lack of animal feed and low extension services. Meanwhile, the DRC has a huge agricultural potential characterized by sufficient rainfall, a major river system, a high diversity of soils and broad sunshine. To contribute to face this malnutrion, three Brachiaria varieties: B. decumbens CV. Basilisk, B. brizantha (CVs. Xaraes, Piatã) and two controls: Pennisetum purpureum and Brachiaria ruziziensis were evaluated in the multi-location trials in Nioka and Mulungu in Randomized Complete Block Design with 4 replications. Space between replication was 1m. Basal manure was applied at 8 t/ha in both sites. After land preparation, each hole received one plantlet of forages evaluated. Parameters observed every 4 weeks in the plot randomly placed over the 2 central rows during one year were: pests and diseases attacks; number of tillers; plant height. To assess the dry matter yield, cutting was randomly placed over the 2 central rows of the herbage every 8 weeks. Harvested fresh material was weighed and sub-sample (400 g) collected and dried at 105°C for 48 hours for dry weight determination. Data were analyzed by Statistix 0.8 software. Results showed that pests and diseases attacks were not significantly important for all the forage species and cultivars. Brachiaria Cultivars’ evaluation showed successively that the two best forages based on a number of tillers were B. decumbens CV. Basilisk 78.4 and B. ruziziensis 54.5, on the height there were P. purpureum 279.7 cm and B. brizantha CV. Piata, 100.9 cm and on weight biomass B. decumbens CV. Basilisk 3320.3 Kg DM ha^-1 and P. purpureum 3175.5 Kg DM ha^-1. The two other Brachiaria Cultivars introduced can be also recommended to the farmers according to their good yield.