Grass covering
Soil preparation
Sowing
The grass is planted during the rainy season. The SMSE is based on its experience for several years now to achieve its mix of grasses and legumes. Thus it mainly uses the following association:
- 1/3 grasses (Brachiaria Decumbens)
- 2/3 legumes (Stylosanthes Campo Grande)
The seeding was carried out until 2018 using a manual spreader, with the increase of the surfaces to be treated, the SMSE invested in a rotary spreader carried by the agricultural tractor.
The seeding density remains at 10 kg/ha, but the seeding process is greatly accelerated.
The plots were originally fertilized by manual application using a N17 P17 K17 fertilizer at a dose of 400 kg/ha.
With the progress of the entire project and the emergence of new objectives to reduce the use of chemical and imported inputs, the chemical fertilizer N17 P17 K17 was gradually replaced by hen manure from agricultural cooperatives in Guyana. The droppings are applied with a dose of 1 t/ha.
In addition, the acquisition of the rotary spreader for herbaceous seeding is also used for the fertilization of the plots by allowing the spreading of hen manure faster on the plots.
Fertilization will ensure a better start and cover of the vegetation as quickly as possible, which will quickly stem erosion on the grass surfaces, stabilizing the land to allow the reforestation phase to start under optimal conditions.
In order to promote contact between the seeds and the soil, and thus increase the germination and survival rate of the seeds, a small harrow passed over the plot to bury the seeds and fertilizer under about 1-2 cm of soil.
During handling, the passages are kept to a minimum to avoid too much settlement of the parcel.