Effect of defoliation frequency and cutting height on growth, dry‐matter yield and nutritive value of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum (L.) Schumach)

Abstract

Growth characteristics, dry-matter (DM) yield, chemical components and in vitro dry-matter digestibility (IVDMD) of Napier grass were studied in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Haramaya University, Ethiopia. The treatments were three defoliation frequencies (60, 90 and 120 d after Napier grass establishment) and five cutting heights (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 cm above ground level). Except for leaf-to-stem ratio, all growth characteristics increased with decreasing frequency of defoliation. Similarly, DM yield of Napier grass increased as the frequency of defoliation decreased. Total ash, crude protein (CP), hemicellulose and IVDMD contents of Napier grass increased with increasing frequency of defoliation, whereas DM, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin and cellulose contents increased with a decrease in defoliation frequency. In contrast, cutting heights had no significant effect on most chemical components and IVDMD contents, although total ash and CP decreased as the height of cutting increased. The CP yield per cut and per day was highest at an intermediate defoliation frequency. The results of this study indicated that Napier grass could be categorized under medium-to high-quality herbage if defoliated at 90 d after establishment in the mid and highlands of Ethiopia.

Effect of Autumn Cutting Date on Regrowth, Turning Green, Yield and Quality of <i>Leymus chinensis</i> Grassland in Songnen Plain, Northeast China

“…The value of stem/leaf was an important index of forage quality, intake, and diet selection [27], usually the value was smaller and the nutrition was higher, because leaf contains more nutrition and is more palatable than stem [28] [29].…”

Avaliação do desenvolvimento de 73 genótipos de capim-elefante em Campos dos Goytacazes - RJ

“…Entretanto, DAHER, et al (2004) verificaram correlação inversa entre as características diâ-metro do colmo e produção de matéria seca. Além disto, a relação colmo/folha afeta os teores de fibra, influenciando tanto na digestibilidade quanto no poder calorífico (TESSEMA et al, 2010;XIA et al, 2010;QUEIROZ FILHO et al, 2000). No presente estudo, os genótipos foram separados de acordo com Skott Knott (P<0,05) em dois grandes grupos na primeira, segunda e quarta avaliações, enquanto na terceira e quinta três grupos foram formados.…”

“…De modo geral, com o aumento do intervalo entre os cortes os teores de proteína, hemicelulose e a digestibilidade da biomassa decrescem, enquanto os de fibra, lignina e celulose, bem como a produtividade aumentam. Portanto, intervalos maiores entre cortes devem ser adotados para uso na produção de energia e intervalos menores para uso na alimentação animal (FLORES et al, 2012;KANNIKA et al, 2011;TESSEMA et al, 2010). Independente da forma de utilização pretendida a elevada produtividade de biomassa é desejada, e algumas características morfológicas do capim-elefante são altamente correlacionadas com a produção de biomassa (XIA, 2010;DAHER et al, 2004).…”

Biomass production and forage quality of head-smut disease resistant Napier grass accessions

“…Other studies using ILRI accessions (Ansar et al, 2010;Tessema et al, 2010) showed that their biomass production is influenced by the environment and management, in addition to other traits inherent in the accessions.…”