Forage grasses in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Abstract

Native and exotic warm-season grasses, including corn and sorghum, were evaluated in field trials as crops for fresh forage and silage. The evaluation includes an estimate of mode of spread and ease of establishment, reproductive capacity, rapidity of ground cover and recovery rate, regrowth capacity, competitive ability, stand maintenance, yield, and drought and pest tolerance.

The results of these trials indicate that the principal forages for the Virgin Islands are Panicum maximum, Pennisetum purpureum, Saccharum sinense, Sorghum sudanense, and Tripsacum laxum. Forages of secondary importance include Sorghum bicolor and Zea mays.