Nutritional quality, nutrient uptake and biomass production of Pennisetum purpureum cv. King grass

The research was conducted to determine the effects of cutting interval and fertilization on the nutritional quality, nutrient uptake, and biomass production of King grass. The experimental design was a randomized complete block, using 4 blocks and 8 treatments per block; treatments consisted of 4 ages of cutting (30, 45, 60, and 90 days), with fertilization and without fertilization. The results showed increases of up to 72,000 kg ha−1 year−1 of dry matter (DM) when fertilization was implemented. There was a significant reduction in with an increase in the cutting days (12.70–6.53% protein). Fiber increased (48.79–72.99% NDF) when fertilization treatments were included and cutting days increased. The elements that were included in fertilization (N, P, K) showed a higher foliar content and also presented a reduction in foliar content with growth of the plant. Treatments with fertilization showed a nutrient uptake increase for all the elements up to 60 days, where a reduction in uptake capacity was observed. King grass is a plant with a high nutrient uptake capacity and, therefore, with high biomass and nutrient production. This is an advantage since it can be used in multiple applications, such as animal feed, biofuel production, and as a substrate for biodigestion, among others.

Evaluation of Yield Production and Chemical Composition of Three Types of Forage Legumes at Different Cutting Intervals and Cutting Times to Assess Their Benefits as Ruminant Animal Feed

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of yield production and chemical composition response to cutting intervals of three forage legumes over a 5 month period of the dry season in Sa Kaeo province for use as an alternative forage for farmers. The experiment was conducted in a factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design. The first factor was the types of forage legumes, including alfalfa, hamata and stylo ‘Tha pra’ and the second factor was the cutting intervals at 30, 45, 60 and 75 days. The results for stylo ‘Tha pra’ showed that the average height, total weight per area, fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW) per plant were the highest (P <0.001). The cutting interval at 75 days provided the highest average height, FW and DW in all legume forage types. The FW and DW increased with increases in the cutting times (number of cuts) at all cutting intervals for all three forage legume types. The three different types of forage legumes and the different cutting intervals resulted in different chemical compositions (P <0.001) except for dry matter (DM) for which there was only a difference from the cutting interval. Each chemical composition showed an unequal response to the increase in cutting times. Keywords: Chemical composition, Cutting intervals, Cutting times, Forage legumes, Ruminant feed, Yield production

Biomass yield and nutritive quality of four varieties of Pennisetum purpureum as influenced by three cutting intervals in the humid zone of Nigeria

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of cutting intervals on the dry matter (DM) yield, yield components and nutrient contents of four varieties of Pennisetum purpureum. Varieties experimented include: Local green, Local purple, S13 and S15. These were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. All the four varieties of P. purpureum were cut at intervals of 4, 8 and 12 weeks after cutback (WAC) to represent first, second and third cutting intervals respectively. Results showed that the dry matter yield of the P. purpureum grasses significantly decreased from first to third cutting intervals. Variety S15 recorded a higher (P < 0.05) dry matter yield (13.26 t ha-1) at the first cutting interval. Variety S13 had higher leaf proportion (89) at first cutting interval and tiller density (137.00 tiller-1 m2) at third cutting interval (than the other varieties). Cutting intervals had significant effect (P < 0.05) on the crude protein (CP) content of the grasses which was higher at second cutting interval for S15. In contrast, the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) increased from first to third cutting intervals for all the varieties. The CP and fibre contents of the Pennisetum varieties at different cutting intervals were within the levels recommended for optimum animal performance.

Taxonomical identification, biomass production and nutrient composition of Moringa sp. as a fodder crop

The study was conducted to identify the moringa species and to determine biomass production of Moringa sp. as a fodder crop. An experimental plot (2100 cm x 300 cm) was divided into three equal subplots (900 cm x 300 cm). Chemical fertilizer was applied (100-90-30, NPK), one-fifth of the total fertilizer after each harvest and the recommended amount of cow dung. Weeds were controlled in the experimental plot as they appeared. In a harvesting day, one unit of land containing 54 plants was cut into 3 different sections considering different cutting heights 1.5, 2 and 2.5 feet and cutting intervals after planting were 40, 50 and 60 days, respectively. The experimental design was 3 x 3 factorial design in this study. All plants were randomly selected from each harvested plot and separated manually into their different botanical fractions such as stem, twigs and leaves. The different fractions weight were recorded using an electric balance and freshly harvested biomass were sun dried. To identify the moringa plant taxonomically, the herbarium sheets were prepared with the samples from 6 different locations of Bangladesh. The herbarium sheets were matched with the control moringa herarium sheet at the library of Bangladesh National Herbarium Center, Mirpur Dhaka. As per result, the biomass yield of moringa at 40 days from sowing was significantly highest (p<0.01) in 1.5 feet (278 kg/hec) to 2 feet (264 kg/hec) cutting from the ground compared to 2.5 feet (207 kg/hec). Similar trends were observed in 60 days. Interaction effect between cutting height and cutting interval was found significant. Moringa leaves contained crude protein (CP) 28.21% whereas stem and twigs contained 11.13% and 13.49% CP respectively in this study. Considering all the results it can be concluded that M. olifera may be cultivated as fodder crop and harvested with optimum cutting height of 1.5 feet at the age of 60 days. Bang. J. Livs. Res. Vol. 26 (1&2), 2019: P. 61-72

Effect of cultivar, timing of establishment and cutting interval on yield and seed set of arrowleaf clover

Arrowleaf clover is an erect hard-seeded annual clover with potential to improve the typically low legume content of dryland hill country. A number of small plot experiments were undertaken to better understand arrowleaf management. Cultivar maturity impacted on single-cut yields, with later maturing cultivars (‘Arrotas’ and ‘Zulu 11’) having significantly higher yields than an early maturing cultivar (‘Cefalu’). When autumn oversowing was practised, the slow growth of arrowleaf during winter caused weed issues. Delaying sowing of arrowleaf clover from April to winter (July) did not affect dry matter yield, seed set or seed viability and avoided the need for a weed spray as the vigorous spring growth of arrowleaf out-competed weed species. Arrowleaf oversown on hill country and allowed to set seed to build a large bank of hard seed resulted in a bulk of fibrous trash that was difficult to clean-up with grazing stock. Four mowings to simulate grazing encouraged weed invasion and reduced legume yields (and trash). Whilst two mowings were optimal for seed yield, up to three mowings provided a compromise between setting seed, utilising feed for grazing and reducing trash after flowering.

PRODUKTIVITAS Indigofera zollingeriana PADA BERBAGAI INTERVAL PEMOTONGAN

THE PRODUCTIVITY OF Indigofera zollingeriana ON INTERVAL CUTTING.This research aims to know the effect of interval cutting on productivity of Indigofera zollingeriana underneath coconut plantation. The study was done based on completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments in this study were : 1) I1 (cutting interval 30 days), 2) I2 (cutting interval 40 days), 3) I3 (cutting interval 50 days) and 4) I4 (cutting interval 60 days). The results showed that the effect of cutting interval significantly (P < 0.01) affect fresh and dry weight leaf and stem, and leaf/stem ratio Indigofera zollingeriana. Cutting interval 60 days have significantly (P<0,01) fresh and dry weight stem of Indigofera zollingeriana than cutting interval 30, 40 days but, there was no significant difference (P>0,05) from the 50 days cutting interval. Cutting interval 60 days have significantly (P<0,01) fresh and dry weight leaf of Indigofera zollingeriana than cutting interval 30 and 40 days but, there was no significant difference (P>0,05) from the 50 days cutting interval.Cutting interval 50 days have significantly (P<0,01) leaf-stem ratio of Indigofera zollingeriana than cutting interval 30 and 40 days but, there was no significant difference (P>0,05) from the 60 days cutting interval. It can be concluded that cutting interval 50 days have highly productivity. Key word : Indigofera zollingeriana, cutting interval, productivity

Evaluation of silages of hybrids of napier grass and sorghum in the low country wet zone of Sri Lanka

SummarySilages of hybrids of napier grass (CO-3 or CO-4) and sorghum and their combinations (50% napier grass hybrid + 50% of sorghum) were tested under three cutting intervals (4, 6 and 8 weeks). Sorghum silage had a leafy and soft texture with a fruity smell, which proved its desirable character with normal lactic acid fermentation. As such, it was with its comparatively higher dry matter content at the 6 or 8 weeks cutting interval, more suitable for ensiling. The crude protein concentration was not modified by the ensiling process, which was proved by the low ammoniacal nitrogen content. Sorghum silage had lower pH values at all three cutting intervals. On the basis of the NH3-N/TN content (<10%), all silages could be considered as of good quality. Sorghum silage could be considered as the best among tested silages as compared with hybrid napier var. CO-3 or CO-4. The optimum quality of the sorghum silage with the highest soluble carbohydrates concentration and lactic acid >3% could be obtained at the 6-week cutting interval.

Structural and Productive Characteristics of Urochloa Cultivars Submitted to Different Defoliation Frequencies in Semiarid Region

This study assessed the effect of three cutting intervals (30, 45 and 60 days) on structural and production features of five different cultivars (Urochloa Brizantha: Marandu, Piatã and Xaraés; Urochloa decumbens: Basilisk; Urochloa hybrid: Mulato I). The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design. The interaction between the defoliation frequency and the cultivars not significant to the length and width of the leaf blade, the diameter of the stem, and the number of living leaves. There was no effect of the cutting intervals on the width of the leaf blade, and the number or living leaves. The length and width of the leaf blade were highest in the Xaraés grass. The diameter of the stem, the height canopy and the forage mass grew as a function of the cutting interval. Cv. Xaraés displayed the highest heights and was the most productive. Stems and leaves masses, and the accumulation rates grew with the increase of the cutting intervals. The ratio leaf blade stem decreased as increasing the cutting intervals. Urochloa pastures should be handled with defoliation frequencies up to 45 days. Cv. Xaraés displays a high dry matter production and we suggest its use in intensive production systems.