scholarly journals Proximate Nutrient Composition of 10 Tropical Forage Grasses

1969 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-311
Author(s):  
J. Coward-Lord ◽  
J. A. Arroyo-Aguilú ◽  
O. García-Molinari

Ten tropical forage grasses (Pangola, Digitaria decumbens; Congo, Brachiaria ruziziensis; Signal, Brachiaria brizantha; Buffel, Cenchrus ciliaris; Guinea, Panicum maximum; Jaragua, Hyparrhenia rufa Giant Pangola, Digitaria valida; African Crab, Digitaria swazilandensis; Venezuelan Elephant, Pennisetum setosum; and Lampo, Hemarthria altissima), lightly fertilized with NH4NO3 at the rate of 350 kg/ha, were harvested by hand (machete) every 30 days during 180 days, beginning on August 20, 1970, at the College of Agricultural Sciences grass collection, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Total dry matter (TDM) content was calculated. Forages studied were evaluated chemically for crude protein (N X 6.25) (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE) and ash (A). NFE was calculated as the difference between 100 and the sum of CP, CF, EE and A. Statistical analyses of variance were conducted. All fractions differed in a highly significant way with respect to species and plant age. Highly significant differences in CP, EE and A at decreasing rates and in TDM, CF and NFE at increasing rates were obtained, as the grasses advanced in maturity. The largest changes in forage quality occurred between 30 and 60 days of age.

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 2517
Author(s):  
Armindo Neivo Kichel ◽  
Luis Carlos Ferreira de Souza ◽  
Roberto Giolo de Almeida ◽  
José Alexandre Agiova da Costa

This study aimed to assess productivity and nutritional value of the tropical grasses Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatã, Xaraés, and Marandu, Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça, and B. ruziziensis cv. Kennedy in the interseason of an integrated crop-livestock (ICL) system since alternatives are needed for forage production for animal grazing in Autumn and Winter. The experimental design was a randomized block design in a split-split plot scheme with four replications. The treatments of plots consisted of five grasses, subplots consisted of three cropping systems (monoculture, intercropping with corn and unsuppressed grass, and intercropped with corn and suppressed grass), and sub-subplots consisted of four cutting intervals of grasses (50, 90, 125, and 195 days after emergence - DAE). The experiment was carried out from February to September 2014. Dry matter (DM) productivity, obtained at 195 DAE for the three cropping systems (monoculture grass, unsuppressed and suppressed grass in intercropping), were 18.45, 7.15, and 3.05 t ha?1, respectively, and average crude protein contents of leaf blades of grasses decreased linearly between the cutting intervals of 50 to 195 DAE from 19.95 to 9.70%, respectively. Under integrated systems, the studied grasses showed better yields and nutritional quality when compared to traditional grazing systems. Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça and Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés and Piatã had the highest leaf and crude protein yields when compared to Brachiaria ruziziensis cv. Kennedy and Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. In terms of nutritional value, Brachiaria ruziziensis cv. Kennedy was superior to Mombaça and Xaraés grasses but had lower total dry matter yield. Finally, Xaraés, Piatã and Mombaça grasses are recommended choices ICL systems when fodder grass production is the goal.


1969 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-69
Author(s):  
J. Velez-Santiago ◽  
J. A. Arroyo-Aguilu

Five tropical forage grasses: Star (Cynodon nlemfuensis), Transvala digit (Digitaria decumbens), Pangola (Digitaria decumbens) and two Limpos (Hemarthria altissima, Bigalta and Greenalta), were cultivated without irrigation for 1.5 years at the Corozal Agricultural Experiment Substation to study the effects of 3 N fertilization levels and 3 harvest intervals (30, 45, and 60 days) on the green forage (GF), dry forage (DF), and crude protein (CP) yields and on the dry matter (DM), CP, P, and K contents. The soil is a Corozal clay (Uitisol). N levels, as (NH4)2SO4, applied after each harvest, included low, 224; medium, 448; and high, 896 kg/ha/yr. P and K were applied at rates of 112 and 336 kg/ha/yr, respectively. DM content and DF and CP yields increased significantly with longer harvest intervals. The medium N level resulted in the highest CP yields, except in the case of Star grass, in which high N fertilization gave greater CP yield. Bigalta, Star, and Transvala digit cultivars exhibited the highest GF, DF, and CP yields. DF yields (means across the 3 harvest intervals and the 3 N levels) for Bigalta, Greenalta, Transvala, Star, and Pangola grasses were 35,421; 29,209; 31 ,699; 32,383; and 24,461 kg/ha/yr, respectively.


1969 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-304
Author(s):  
J. Coward-Lord ◽  
J. A. Arroyo-Aguilú ◽  
O. García-Molinari

Ten tropical forage grasses (Pangola, Digitaria decumbens; Congo, Brachiaria ruziziensis; Signal, Brachiaria brizantha; Buffel, Cenchrus ciliaris; Guinea, Panicum maximum; Jaragua, Hyparrhenia rufa; Giant Pangola, Digitaria valida; African Crab, Digitaria swazilandensis; Venezuelan Elephant, Pennisetum setosum; and Limpo, Hemarthria altissima) lightly fertilized with NH4NO3 at the rate of 350 kg/ha, were harvested by hand (machete) every 30 days up to 180 days of age, beginning August 20, 1970, at the College of Agricultural Sciences grass collection, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. They were evaluated chemically for cell-wall constituents or neutraldetergent fiber (NDF), acid-detergent fiber (ADF), permanganate lignin (L), cellulose (C) and silica (Si), as outlined by Goering and Van Soest and for in vitro true digestibility (IVTD), utilizing the Goering and Van Soest modification of the Tilley and Terry procedure. Hemicellulose (H) was determined as the difference between NDF and ADF. Statistical analyses of variance were conducted. Highly significant differences in NDF, ADF, H, L, L/ADF, C, and Si contents were observed between species. IVTD and in vitro apparent digestibility (IVAD) also revealed highly significant differences between species. Guinea and Buffel grasses exhibited the highest mean values in NDF and ADF contents but the lowest in IVTD and IVAD, suggesting that, as total fiber and lignocellulose contents increase, digestibility decreases. Similar trends were observed in other species. Highest mean values were obtained in Guinea grass for C, in Jaragua grass for Si and in Limpo grass for L and H. As the grasses advanced in maturity from 30 to 180 days, NDF, ADF, L, L/ADF, C and Si revealed highly significant increases while IVTD and IVAD revealed highly significant decreases with HC remaining almost constant throughout. The largest increase in NDF, ADF, L and C contents and the largest decrease in IVTD and IVAD evaluations occurred between the 30- and 60-day intervals, probably due to the high environmental temperature and high transpiration causing early onset of lignification and silicification in tropical climates. Pangola grass underwent little change in nutritive value as compared to other species. Evidence is presented that fibrous fractions and IVTD evaluations of all species compared favorably among themselves and that all fibrous fractions (except H) and IVTD differed significantly with plant age.


1969 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-185
Author(s):  
A. Sotomayor Ríos ◽  
A. Acosta Matienzo ◽  
J. Vélez Fortuño

Seven forage grasses, i.e., Tanner (Brachiaria cf. mutica), a bermuda grass selection (Cynodon dactylon var. coursii), glabrous Signal (Brachiaria brizantha), Signal (Brachiaria brizantha), Congo (Brachiaria ruziziensis), Star (Cynodon nlemfuensis var. nlemfuensis) and Pangola (Digitaria decumbens) were cut at a 60-day harvest interval and at the optimum stage for harvest during a 2-year period at the Gurabo Substation. It was considered that plants had reached the optimum stage for harvest when flowering and yellowing of leaves at the basal parts of the plant began to appear and the grasses had attained a reasonable forage volume as compared to adjacent plots harvested every 60 days. At the 60-day harvest interval, the top yielder was the glabrous Signal; this grass produced 72.78, 19.85 and 1.40 tons of total green, dry forage, and crude protein per acre per year, respectively. Signalgrass was second best with 69.93,16.87 and 1.20 tons of green, dry forage and crude protein per acre per year, respectively. At the optimum stage for harvest, the top yielder in terms of total green forage per acre per year was Congograss with 70.40 tons. The best dry forage and crude protein yielder was glabrous Signal with 18.84 and 1.54 tons per acre per year, respectively. Pangolagrass was second best in terms of total green and dry forage per acre per year with 69.90 and 17.30 tons, respectively. The green forage yields of the grasses studied, except Tannergrass, were similar when cut at the 60-day harvest interval as compared to the optimum stage for harvest. The annual dry forage yield also was similar at the two cutting stages, except Tannergrass and C. dactylon var. coursii. Significantly higher protein yields were obtained at the optimum stage for harvest in all forages with the exception of Signalgrass. Glabrous Signal (Brachiaria brizantha), USDA PI 255346, was the top dry forage yielder of the seven grasses studied. This grass produced about 20 tons of dry forage (73 tons of green forage) containing 7.1 percent of protein and about 19 tons of dry forage (69 tons of green forage) containing 8.2 percent of protein, at the 60-day harvest interval and at the optimum stage for harvest, respectively.


Irriga ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Débora Pantojo de Souza ◽  
Arthur Carniato Sanches ◽  
Fernando Campos Mendonça ◽  
Rodolfo Guertas Maffei ◽  
Pedro José Catto

CARACTERÍSTICAS PRODUTIVAS DE TRÊS ESPÉCIES FORRAGEIRAS IRRIGADAS  DÉBORA PANTOJO DE SOUZA1; ARTHUR CARNIATO SANCHES2; FERNANDO CAMPOS MENDONÇA3; RODOLFO GUERTAS MAFFEI4 E PEDRO JOSÉ CATTO4 1 Engenheira Agrônoma, Mestranda em Engenharia de Sistemas Agrícolas, ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba,SP. CEP:13418900, e-mail:[email protected] Engenheiro Agrônomo, Doutorando em Engenharia de Sistemas Agrícolas, ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba,SP. CEP:13418900, e-mail: [email protected] Prof. Dr. Dep. Engenharia de Biossistemas, ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba,SP. CEP:13418900, e-mail: [email protected] Acadêmicos de Engenharia Agronômica, ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba,SP. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected].  1 RESUMO Este trabalho teve por objetivo a caracterização de parâmetros produtivos para três forrageiras tropicais irrigadas ao longo de três ciclos de cultivo. O experimento foi realizado na ESALQ/USP, em delineamento estatístico de blocos casualizados com parcelas subdivididas, com área total de 864 m². Foram estudadas as forrageiras Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, Cynodon ssp. cv. Tifton 85 e Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça, no período compreendido entre 11 de fevereiro a maio de 2016. Consideraram-se os seguintes parâmetros produtivos de massa seca de forragem: produtividade total de forragem (PTF), produtividade de folhas (PF), produtividade de colmos (PC), produtividade de material morto (PMM), as porcentagens de massa de folhas (%MF), massa de colmos (%MC) e material morto (%MM) e a razão folha colmo-1 (RFC). A análise estatística de comparações múltiplas foi feita com o auxílio do software ASSISTAT 7.7, verificando-se que o capim Mombaça teve maior PTF (5.285,07 kg ha-1) em relação às demais espécies (nível α=0,01 de significância). Na média das três forrageiras, o 2º ciclo foi o mais produtivo (PTF = 3.883,69 kg ha-1). Também foi constatada a interação entre forrageiras e ciclos de crescimento para as variáveis PF e PC. O capim Mombaça apresentou a maior PF nos três ciclos, e PC maior em relação às demais forrageiras apenas no 1ociclo. A RFC não diferiu significativamente entre as forrageiras. Conclui-se que, dentre as três forrageiras estudadas, o capim Mombaça teve maior diminuição da produtividade ao longo dos três ciclos. Palavras-chave: Irrigação de pastagens, forrageiras tropicais, produtividade total de forragem.  SOUZA, D. P. de; SANCHES, A. C.; MENDONÇA, F. C.; MAFFEI, R. G.; CATTO, P. J.PRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THREE IRRIGATED SPECIES OF FORRAGEIRAS    2 ABSTRACT This work aimed to characterize the productive parameters for three tropical forage grasses during three cropping cycles. The experiment was carried out at the Luiz de Queiroz Agriculture College, under random blocks, in the split-plot statistical design, in a total area of 864 m². The forage grasses studied were Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, Cynodon ssp. cv. Tifton 85,and Panicum maximum cv. Mombasa, from February 11th to May 6th, 2016 (3 growing cycles).The irrigation was made by a sprinkler system installed with a 12 x 12 m spacing, with sprinklers running at an average pressure of 300 kPa, whose distribution uniformity was previously checked (CUC = 87%). The following parameters were considered: total of forage yield (PTF), leaf yield(PF), culm yield (PC), dead material yield(PMM), leaf mass percentage (% MSF), stems percentage (% MSC), dead material percentage (% MSMM), and leaf culm-1 ratio (RFC). The multivariate statistical analysis was performed with the software ASSISTAT 7.7, and the results showed that the Mombaça grass had the highest forage yield (PTF = 5285.07 kg ha-1, significance level α = 0.01 ). Considering the culm yield and the average for the three forage grasses, the 2nd growing cycle presented the highest forage yield (3883.69 kg ha-1). The interaction between forage species and growing cycles was also verified, for the PF and PC parameters. The Mombasa grass had the highest PF values in the three growing cycles. For the PC parameter, the Mombasa grass was higher than the others only in the 1st cycle. Considering the RFC parameter, Tifton 85 had lower values than the others (1.24), but did not significantly differ from the other grasses. Among the three forage grasses studied, the Mombasa grass had the highest sensitivity to climate changes along the three growing cycles.         Keywords: Pasture irrigation, tropical forage grasses, total of forage yield.


1969 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 448-455
Author(s):  
A. Sotomayor-Ríos ◽  
F. J. Juliá ◽  
J. A. Arroyo-Aguilú

The effect of three harvest intervals (30, 45 and 60 days) on the yield, crude protein (CP), digestible protein (DP), and mineral (calcium, Ca; phosphorus, P; potassium, K; and magnesium, Mg) composition of 10 forage grasses was determined during a 1-year period at the Isabela Substation. The species studied included three Brachiarias, five Digitarias and two Cynodons. As the 30-day harvest interval, the dry matter yield (DMY) ranged from 25,859 to 19,041 pounds per acre per year. The highest DMY was obtained by Transvala digitgrass (Digitaria decumbens, PRPI. 6439) Stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis PRPI. 2341) had the highest CP and DP contents. The highest DMY at the 45-day interval was obtained by Transvala digitgrass, being significantly different (P < .05) from other grasses. The DMY ranged from 29,532 to 20,962 pounds per acre per year. Digitaria eriantha had the highest CP and DP contents. Stargrass had the highest DMY and CP at the 60-day harvest interval. The DMY ranged from 37,504 to 30,269 pounds per acre per year. Mean Ca and Mg contents in the grasses increased at the 45-day interval, with no Ca increase but a Mg decrease at 60 days. Mean P and K contents decreased as the harvest intervals increased. The yielding ability of the grasses was encouraging, especially in the Transvala digitgrass and Stargrass species. The CP and DP contents tended to vary as plants matured, suggesting that studies of mineral absorption and/or utilization of forage grasses by niminants should be undertaken.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Henrique De Tonissi e Buschinelli ◽  
Rita De Cássia Menchon Tramontini ◽  
Sérgio Tosi Cardim ◽  
Gabriel Daltoé de Almeida ◽  
Juliane Ribeiro ◽  
...  

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a degradabilidade ruminal da matéria seca e proteína bruta por meio da técnica in situ dos capins Brachiaria brizantha e Panicum maximum cortados aos 60 dias de idade, das silagens de milho, sorgo e milheto, dos fenos de coast cross, guandu e soja perene e do farelo de soja. Foram utilizados três novilhos com peso médio de 300 kg, fistulados e providos de cânulas ruminais. Os volumosos foram incubados em ordem decrescente de 72, 48, 24, 18, 12, 6, 3 e 0h, e o farelo de soja incubado nos tempos 48, 24, 18, 12, 6, 3 e 0h. Os resíduos dos sacos foram analisados quanto aos teores de matéria seca e proteína bruta. O farelo de soja apresentou alta degradabilidade efetiva para MS em função das frações solúveis (32,85%) e fração potencialmente degradável (65,75%). A silagem de sorgo apresentou elevada fração solúvel e potencialmente degradável se comparada às demais silagens. O feno de soja perene apresentou a maior degradabilidade de MS (80,42%), entre os volumosos avaliados. Para a proteína, destacam-se a baixa degradabilidade apresentada pelo feno de guandu (36,91%) e os demais volumosos apresentaram degradabilidade variando entre 64,50 a 74,56%.


1969 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-398
Author(s):  
R. Gutiérrez-Vargas ◽  
J. A. Arroyo-Aguilú ◽  
A. Ramírez-Ortiz

Pangolagrass (Digitaria decumbens) and stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis) harvested at 30, 45, and 60 days and made in to hay, were fed to four castrated male ruminants (goats and steers) in individual digestion stalls. The grasses were fertilized at the rate of 4,480 kg/ha/yr with 15-5-10, harvested, sun-dried for 2 days and cut in 3- to 6-cm pieces. Each experimental period lasted 21 days, divided into a 14-day preliminary feed ing period and a 7-day collection period. Each hay was offered at a level of 90% intake, as determined in the preliminary period. Hays, offered and refused, and feces were weighed and sampled daily. Representative samples were analyzed for dry matter, crude protein, neutral-detergent fiber, acid-detergent fiber, cellulose, lignin, and silica. Hemicellulose was determined as the difference between neutral-detergent fiber and acid-detergent fiber. Apparent digestion coefficients for each fraction were calculated on all hays and all ruminants. Pangolagrass dry-matter intake was significantly (P < .01) greater than that of stargrass hay by both goats and steers. No significant differences in dry-matter intake were obtained between hay ages of 30, 45, and 60 days. Goats had a higher dry-matter intake (P < .01) than steers. Significant differences were obtained between hays in neutral-detergent fiber (P < .01), hemicellulose (P < .01), and cellulose (P < .05) contents and between hay ages in crude protein (P < .05), cellulose (P < .01), lignin (P < .05), and silica (P < .01) contents. For digestibilities, significant differences were obtained between hays in dry matter (P < .05), neutral-detergent fiber (P < 05), and cellulose (P < .01); between hay ages in lignin (P < .01) and silica (P < .01); and between ruminants in dry matter (P < .01), neutral-detergent fiber (P < .01), acid-detergent fiber (P < .01), hemicellulose (P < .01), and cellulose (P < .01). Goats may not necessarily substitute for steers in digestion trials; and lignin, but not silica, tends to be a valid marker for determining digestibility.


Author(s):  
Laísa S. Antoniel ◽  
Giuliani do Prado ◽  
Adriano C. Tinos ◽  
Gabriel A. Beltrame ◽  
João V. C. de Almeida ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the production of two pasture species, Brachiaria brizantha cv. BRS Piatã and Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça, under different irrigation depths. The experiment was carried out from May to December 2014, at the State University of Maringá, in the municipality of Cidade Gaúcha-PR, Brazil. The experiment was set out in a strip-plot design, with four replicates, six irrigation depths in the plot and two pasture species in the subplot. Irrigation depths were represented by a percentage of reference evapotranspiration (ET0), which was estimated by the Penman-Monteith equation. Four pasture cuts were performed during the studied period and there were no differences between the yields of both evaluated pasture species; however, irrigation depths caused a quadratic response on pasture yield. The maximum values of dry matter yield of the pastures under irrigated conditions were 52.1, 41.6, 26.2 and 25.1% higher than under non-irrigated conditions, for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th cuts, respectively. Irrigation depths that applied water volumes close to ET0 promoted considerable increases in pasture yield.


1969 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-150
Author(s):  
L. Rivera Brenes ◽  
J. A. Arroyo ◽  
H. Cestero ◽  
A. Sierra

Signal grass (Brachiaria brizantha) and Giant Pangola (Digitaria valida Stent) were introduced into Puerto Rico by the Agricultural Experiment Station in 1957, from Ceylon and Cuba, respectively. Field observations and unpublished data on yields indicate good forage possibilities for these grasses for the Island. Both were submitted to a palatability test and compared with Napier grass, (Pennisetum purpureum), which is one of our most palatable forage grasses, using a 3 x 3 Latin-square design. The two grasses are as palatable as and contain more dry matter per pound of green forage than Napier grass. Both grasses are under grazing trials and must be submitted to more field observations before final recommendations are given to the farmers.


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