Nutrients seasonal variability and nutritive value in the tropical forage plants
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab1995.v30.4323Keywords:
hay, digestibility, dry matter, grasses, legumesAbstract
Nine forage plant species were evaluated as to determine their nutrition values and their respective seasonal variabilities. The plants were established in 4 x 8 m-plots, each subdivided into 32 of 1 m2 squares. Samples were taken from the central twelve squares. Among the grasses, Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth. cv. Masaba) produced the highest yield (12,029 kg of dry matter/ha/year), followed by Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) cvs. Molopo and Biloela (ca. 6,455 kg of dry matter/ha/year). Similar results were obtained in relation to yield of hay of the same species. 'Corrente grass' (Urochloa mosambicensis) had the highest in vitro dry matter digestion rate (55,41%) and also the highest nutrient contems, except for nitrogen. The legumes had a seasonal behavior. Among those, Macroptilium sp. CPATSA 80218 was outstanding for its high yield (6,200 kg of dry matter/ha/year) and persistence in the field.