Dwarf elephantgrass under grazing. I.Forage yield
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab1985.v20.16076Keywords:
pennisetum purpureum, grazing pressure, grazing cycle, available dry matter, growth rate, and leaf/stem ratioAbstract
Dwarf elephantgrass was evaluated in a grazing trial conducted at University of Florida, Gainesville (U.S.A.), in 1982. Grazing pressure (GP) and grazing cycle (GC) were imposed at five levels: CP-500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 and 2,500 kg of residual leaf dry matter ha-1 after grazing and GC-0 continuous grazing for 14, 28, 42 and 56 days. Each grazing cycle included a 2-day grazing period plus a specific rest period for each one of the levels. A non-rotatable central composite design with 13 treatment combinations in two replications was used. A complete 2nd order polynomial model was used to analyze the data. Available leaf, total grass, and total biomass dry matter per grazing or cycle as well as leaf and whole grass growth rates, and leaf/stem ratio were affected by GP and GC. As far as yield is concerned dwarf elephantgrass should be grazed at lighter GPs (2,000- 2,500 kg residual leaf dry matter ha-1) and longer GCs (42 -56 days).
