Sowing Date and Agronomic Performance of Panicum maximum cv. C1 under a Transitional Climate: Forage Biomass, Carrying Capacity and Seed Yield in Bouaké (Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

Aims: To identify the sowing window that jointly optimizes forage biomass and seed quality of Panicum maximum cv. C1 at Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire. Study Design: Randomized complete block design with three replicates. Place and Duration of Study: Livestock Production Research Station (SRPEL), National Agricultural Research Centre (CNRA), Gbêkê region, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, from April 2025 to January 2026. Methodology: Ten sowing dates from 15 May to 30 September were compared. Plant height, tillering, fresh and dry biomass, carrying capacity, crude and cleaned seed yields and germination rate were recorded. Results: Sowing date had a highly significant effect on all traits (P < .05). Sowing on 15 September produced the highest dry biomass (8,409.9 kg DM/ha/semester; 78.01% dry matter) and the highest carrying capacity. Late June and mid-July sowings promoted tillering (77.89 to 82.66 tillers). Seed production occurred only for May to July sowings: the best cleaned-seed yields were obtained on 30 May (198.9 kg/ha) and 15 June (151.1 kg/ha), with germination rates reaching 46.3%. August and September sowings produced no usable seed. Conclusion: Two practical windows emerge: mid-May to mid-June for quality seed production, and mid-September to maximize biomass and animal load. These calendar benchmarks provide a simple lever for forage intensification under a transitional climate.