Growth dynamics of Panicum maximum cv Likoni and Cynodon cv 67 associations in Cuba .1. Performance during the dry season

The performance of 5 treatments was studied in a split plot design with three replications. The treatments were distributed as follows: Guinea cv. Likoni and bermuda grass cv. 67 as the control sown alone, three combinations of the number of furrows of each of the species previously mentioned (1 x 1, 2 x 2 and 3 x 3)with 5 cutting intervals (15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 days). The measurements were height (rm) and yield (t DM/ha) of each of the species blosoming from it visual viewpoint. In the combinations 1 x 1 weeds disappeared at 30 days of age and later in guinea grass (control treatment) at 45 days of age, with a considerable increase in the bermuda grass (control treatment) (1.40 t DM/ha) at 60 days of age, representing almost the total area of the bermuda grass control treatment (151 t DM/ha). All the species attained their maximum growth at 60 days of age when the guinea grass control treatment excelled 3.73 t DM/ha without differing from the guinea grass 3 x 3 treatment with 3.48 t DM/ha). However, a significant difference (P < 0.001) was found between those treatments and the 1 x 1 and 2 x 2 treatments in this order, which also differed. The bermuda grass control treatment differed (P < 0.001) from the remaining treatments of this species. On analysing total yield per area the best result was found at 60 days of age with the 3 x 3 treatment (4.99 t DM/ha) which differed (P < 0.001) from the remaining ones. The rest of the treatments were better than the bermuda grass control treatment. It is concluded that the optimum harvesting time for these species is at 60 days of age and the best treatment, in general, was the 3 x 3 treatment.