Influence of seed bed preparation on morphometric characteristics of Eragrostis superba, Cenchrus ciliaris and Enteropogon macrostachyus in southeastern drylands of Kenya

Abstract

This study compared over a 6-month period effects of tractorploughing and hand-clearing seedbed preparation on morphometric characteristics of three arid and semi-arid grass species, namely; Eragrostis superba Peyr, Cenchrus ciliaris L and Enteropogon macrostachyus (Hochst ex A Rich) Monro ex Benth. Seedling mortality was significantly higher under handclearing than tractor-ploughing. Tractor - ploughing also gave better growth, and biomass yield.