ExplAgric. (1995), volume 31, pp. 227-239 Printed in Great Britain ON FARM GRASS-LEGUME PASTURE PERFORMANCE IN THE PERUVIAN RAINFOREST By K. REATEGUIf, R. R. VERA+, W. L. LOKER§ and M. VASQUEZU \Centro International de Agricultura Tropica (CIAT), Cali, Colombia, § Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, United States, and I VITA, Pucallpa, Peru (Accepted 2 September 1994) SUMMARY The possible use of tropical forage legumes in pastures based on Brachiaria decumbens and Andropogon gayanus pastures was tested on farms in the humid tropics region of Pucallpa, Peru. The pastures were established by farmers using manual labour. They were associated with maize in some cases and were normally grown without fertilizers. The pastures were established in areas where fallow regrowth was felled and burnt. These pastures, with grass-alone controls, were incorporated by farmers into their normal paddock rotation and were grazed by dual- purpose cows. Despite the variable terrain and soil conditions, all the pastures established and persisted well. Over a four year period under grazing, the legume contribution to the forage averaged 21 % and ranged between 1 and 66%. Desmodium ovalifolium was the dominant legume in paddocks that were not burnt, whereas in pastures regularly burnt to control weeds it tended to disappear and Stylosanthesguianensis was the main legume present. It is concluded that where farmers ensure the maintenance of adequate levels of forage, grass-legume mixtures are a viable and persistent option even if the pasture is occasionally burnt. Actuation de los eriales de cesped-legumbres en granjas en la selva tropical Peruana RESUMEN El posible uso de legumbres forrajeras tropicales en los eriales basados en Brachiaria decumbens y Andropogon gayanus se puso a prueba en las explotaciones agncolas de la humeda region tropical de Pucallpa, Peru. Los agricultores establecieron los eriales utilizando la mano de obra manual. Los eriales estaban asociados con el mafz el algunos casos y se cultivaron normalmente sin fertilizantes. Los eriales se establecieron en zonas en que la resiembra en barbecho se talaba y se quemaba. Los agricultores incorporaron estos eriales, con controles de cesped solamente, a su rotation normal de potreros y las vacas de finalidad doble pastaban en ellos. A pesar de las variables condiciones del terreno y el suelo, todos los eriales se establecieron y persistieron bien. En un plazo de cuatro afios de pasto, la contribution de la legumbre al forraje era de una media de un 21% y vario entre un 1 y un 66%. La legumbre dominante en los potreros que no se quemaron fue el Desomdium ovalifolium, mientras que en los eriales que se quemaban con regularidad para controlar las malas hierbas tendi'a a desaparecer, y la Stylosanthes guianensis fue la principal legumbre presente. Se concluyo que en los lugares donde los agricultores garantizan el mantenimiento de niveles adecuados de forraje, las mezclas de legumbre-cesped son una option viable y persistente aun cuando se queme ocasionalmente el erial. INTRODUCTION The Amazon basin in Peru constitutes a large (756000 km 2 ) portion of the country, and is increasingly important in terms of agricultural food production JAuthor to whom correspondence should be addressed.