| Abstract: | Seven potential alternatives to rice (Oryza sativa) as planted forage for pond production of crawfish in southwest Louisiana were evaluated. Browntop (Panicum ramosum L.), Japanese Echinochloa crusgulli var. frumentacea (Roxb.) Wight], proso (Panicum miliaceum L.), and pearl Pennisetum typhoides (Burn.) Stapf & C.E. Hubb] millets were compared with volunteer weeds (primarily Cyperus spp.), grain sorghum Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] and a sorghum sudangrass hybrid S. bicolor (L.) Moench]. Early maturation and rapid senescence and decomposition characterized all except the two sorghums and pearl millet. The sorghum sudangrass was superior in biomass production and exhibited slow senescence. Grain sorghum and pearl millet also exhibited characteristics which might be desirable for use in some crawfish production ponds. |
