Feeding Systems with Legumes to Intensify Dairy Farms - cgiar

Average DM yields/plant at 60 days regrowth fell within the range cited
by Argel and Valerio (1996): 110-190 g/plant in cuttings performed between
weeks 8 and 14 at sites with 5- to 6-month dry seasons. Yields obtained at
90 days regrowth averaged 352 g/plant, being higher than those cited by the
same researcher.
The average forage production at 90 days regrowth is over 4 t/ha more
than that obtained at 60 days. In addition, average forage production during
the dry season accounts for approximately 43% and 30% of total production
at the two ages of regrowth (60 and 90 days, respectively).
Figure 1 shows average DM production for the treatments. Within a
single cutting height, significant differences occurred between the two ages
of regrowth, the yield always being higher at 90 days regrowth. Table 2
shows the effect of age of regrowth and cutting height on nutritive quality of
C. argentea during 1998-2000. Forage quality at the three cutting heights
showed that the CP content tended to increase with increasing cutting
height from 30 to 90 days, as well as NDF and lignin contents. The CP
content of plants harvested at 30 cm height did not differ significantly at
both ages of regrowth. On the contrary, plants harvested at 60 and 90 cm
height differed significantly (P = 0.08) in CP because of the effect of age of
regrowth.
DM (t/ha)
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
60 days regrowth
90 days regrowth
30 60 90
Cutting height (cm)
Figure 1. Average dry matter yield (t/ha) of Cratylia argentea at two ages of
regrowth and three cutting heights during 1999-2000 (Esparza,
Costa Rica).
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