Forage production in mixed grazing systems of elephant grass with arrowleaf clover or forage peanut

Abstract

Most dairy production systems are pasture-based, usually consisting of sole grass species. This system facilitates pasture management, but results in high production costs, mainly because of nitrogen fertilizers. An alternative to making forage systems more sustainable is to introduce legumes into the pasture. Mixed pastures allow better forage distribution over time and reduce fertilization costs. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate, throughout the year, three forage systems (FS): FS1 (control) - elephant grass (EG), ryegrass (RG), and spontaneous species (SS); FS2 - EG + RG + SS + arrowleaf clover; and FS3 - EG + RG + SS + forage peanut. Elephant grass was planted in rows spaced 4 m apart. Ryegrass was sown between the EG lines, in the winter. Arrowleaf clover was sown according to the respective treatments and forage peanut was preserved. Evaluation was carried out using Holstein cows. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design, with three treatments (FS), and three repetitions (paddocks) with repeated measurements (grazing cycles). Forage mass achieved 3.46, 3.80, and 3.91 t ha-1 for the treatments FS1, FS2 and FS3, respectively. The forage systems intercropped with legumes produced the best results.

Forage mass and nutritional value of elephant grass intercropped with forage legumes1

“…In relation to the participation of spontaneous growth species, the differences found (capital letters) indicate a greater presence of these species in the non-legume system. This result shows that the presence of legumes in the intercropping systems contributes to decrease the participation of the spontaneous growth species in the pasture composition (Seibt et al, 2018), which was confirmed by correlation analysis (r = -0.40, P = 0.0006). There was no interaction or effect of forage system for the participation of ryegrass.…”

“…The stocking rate was calculated by the ratio of the forage mass difference before and after grazing by the number of days in the grazing cycle and per 450 kg for the calculation of the animal unit (AU). The DM accumulation rate and pasture production were evaluated in a concomitant experiment in the same area (Seibt et al, 2018).…”

Agronomic responses and herbage nutritive value of elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus) genotypes grown as monocrops and mixed with butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea)

“…Forage legumes included in tropical grass crop systems may improve the herbage nutritive value because of their potential to transfer part of the fixed N to the companion grass and their contribution to the herbage mass, generally presenting higher crude protein (CP) content than C 4 grasses (Schultze-Kraft et al 2018;Seibt et al 2018). Forage legumes may also contribute to reducing enteric methane emissions by ruminants through the modulation of ruminal fermentation by condensed tannins (Boddey et al 2020).…”

“…Despite the possible advantages of grass-legume intercrops, plant size and resource competition may affect plant growth, often leading to grass predominance and legume suppression over time (Seibt et al 2018). In these systems, legume maintenance will depend on the species' compatibility.…”

“…Forage legumes included in tropical grass crop systems may improve the herbage nutritive value because of their potential to transfer part of the fixed N to the companion grass and their contribution to the herbage mass, generally presenting higher crude protein (CP) content than C 4 grasses (Schultze-Kraft et al . 2018; Seibt et al . 2018).…”