[Artisanal Seed Production of Toledo Grass (Brachiaria brizantha) CIAT 26110] CIAT's Tropical Forage Project, together with several national research institutions, development projects and Non Governmental Organizations in Costa Rica and Colombia, is promoting Toledo grass (Brachiaria brizantha CIAT 26110). The good acceptance of Toledo in the region has translated into a high demand for seed. This handbook describes the experiences of technicians and of small- and medium-scale producers in Central America, and indicates the minimum management conditions necessary for artisanal seed production. The publication was developed under the project "Farmer Participatory Research in Action: Selection and Strategic Use of Multipurpose Forage Germplasm by Smallholders in Production Systems in Hillsides of Central America", financed by BMZ/GTZ.  

Keywords: Brachiaria brizantha; Feed grasses; Varieties; Seed production; Harvesting; Postharvest technology; Stacking; Threshing; Drying; Seed cleaning; Quality; Dormancy; Seed storage; Bundling; Production costs; Central America; Caribbean

ISBN:958-694-050-0

[Artisanal Seed Production of Cratylia (Cratylia argentea) accessions CIAT 18516 and 18668] Recent studies carried out by CIAT's Tropical Forages Project, together with national research institutions in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, have demonstrated the high potential of the shrub legume Cratylia (Cratylia argentea) in animal production systems. This handbook describes practices for the artisanal seed production of Cratylia to promote its use by small- and medium-scale livestock producers in those areas where drought is a limiting factor. The publication was developed under the project " Farmer Participatory Research in Action: Selection and Strategic Use of Multipurpose Forage Germplasm by Smallholders in Production Systems in Hillsides of Central America", financed by BMZ/GTZ.  

Keywords: Cratylia argentea; Seed production; Feed legumes; Agronomic characters; Plant establishment; Flowering; Harvesting; Crop yield; Postharvest technology; Dormancy; Quality controls; Production costs; Forage; Costa Rica; Honduras; Nicaragua

ISBN:958-694-049-7

[Maquenque: Desmodium Heterocarpon (L.) Dc. Subsp. Ovalifolium (Prain.) Ohashi (Ciat Accession 13651): Multipurpose Legume For Use In Agricultural Production Systems In Colombia] Cultivar Maquenque is a low-cost legume that can be used to recover degraded pastures and as soil cover in perennial plantation crops, such as rubber and palm. It adapts well to a broad range of sites located between 0 and 1300 masl, has high biomass production, and grows well in association with improved grasses. Toledo's excellent biomass production, Veranera?s high protein content, resistance to long periods of drought, and potential use as supplement, and Maquenque?s potential to improve soil quality, control erosion, and suppress weeds are all agronomic characteristics that will hopefully improve the performance and profitability of agricultural and livestock production systems in Colombia.  

Keywords: Desmodium ovalifolium; Desmodium heterocarpon; Varieties; Taxonomy; Provenance; Adaptation; Sowing; Weed control; Plant establishment; Feed legumes; Crop yield; Seed production; Fertilizer application; Soil amendments; Plant diseases; Pests of plants; Soil reclamation plants; Cover plants; Green manures; Forage; Colombia

[Cultivar Veranera (Cratylia argentea (Desvaux) O. Kuntze): A multi-purpose shrub legume for areas with prolonged periods of drought in Colombia] Cultivar Veranera, Cratylia argentea CIAT 18516, is a shrub legume with great potential to improve animal production systems, especially in the subhumid tropics. Its forage yield is higher than that of herbaceous legumes and it offers good quality forage at sites with prolonged droughts, making it possible to replace energy and protein sources used to manufacture feed concentrates, such as maize and soybean, that are usually beyond the producers' reach.  

Keywords: Cratylia argentea; Feed legumes; Browse plants; Taxonomy; Provenance; Geographical distribution; Plant habit; Plant propagation; Silage; Acid soils; Soil fertility; Dry matter content; Seed production; Nutritive value; Multiple use; Economic analysis; Forage; Colombia

Toledo is a new forage alternative directly derived from Brachiaria brizantha accession CIAT 26110. In Colombia, this grass adapts well to sites with soils of intermediate-to-high fertility and annual precipitation above 1600 mm. Its annual forage yields are high during both dry and rainy seasons, allowing stocking rates above 2.5 AU/hectare and milk yields of up to 8.5 kg/cow per day, with Holstein x Zebu cows.  

Keywords: Brachiaria brizantha; Feed grasses; Varieties; Seed production; Harvesting; Postharvest technology; Stacking; Threshing; Drying; Seed cleaning; Quality; Dormancy; Seed storage; Bundling; Production costs; Central America; Caribbean

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