Productive performance of three tropical legumes for protein banks in the dry tropics of Colima, Mexico

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the productive performance of mucuna (Mucuna pruriens), lablab (Lablab purpureus) and clitoria (Clitoria ternatea) for protein banks in Colima, Mexico, with irrigation used prior to the rainy season. Fifteen plots were allocated in a complete randomized block design with 5 replicates. Dry matter production, crude protein, calcium and phosphorus concentrations and leaf:steam ratio were evaluated. The highest dry matter production was recorded for clitoria and lablab (9.80 and 8.93 t/ha, respectively, over 240-260 days), while mucuna produced 5.5 t DM/ha in 120 days. Leaf production in clitoria (4.73 t/ha) exceeded that in lablab (3.23 t/ha) and mucuna (2.69 t/ha), while leaf:stem ratio was 0.94 for clitoria, 1.0 for mucuna and 0.58 for lablab. Crude protein concentrations in all species were high (21.7-27.8%) as were concentrations of Ca (1.17-1.64%) and P (0.38-0.67%). Use of the 3 forages is discussed. Studies in the absence of irrigation in a range of seasons would determine how relevant these findings are in those situations. Feeding studies with animals would provide additional information on which to decide the appropriate species to plant in different situations. ResumenEl objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el desempeño productivo de las leguminosas frijol terciopelo (Mucuna pruriens), lablab (Lablab purpureus) y clitoria (Clitoria ternatea) cuando se utilizan como bancos de proteína con aplicación de riego controlado después de la época de lluvias en Colima, México. Las leguminosas fueron establecidas en un diseño experimental de bloques completos al azar con cinco repeticiones para un total de 15 parcelas. Se midieron la producción de materia seca (MS), los contenidos (%) de proteína cruda (PC), calcio (Ca) y fósforo (P), y la relación hoja:tallo. Clitoria, 240 días después de la siembra (dds), y lablab, 260 dds, mostraron las mayores producciones de MS (9.80 y 8.93 t/ha, respectivamente); mientras que mucuna, 120 dds, produjo 5.5 t/ha de MS. La producción de hoja de clitoria (4.73 t/ha) superó a la de lablab (3.23 t/ha) y a la de mucuna (2.69 t/ha). La relación hoja:tallo fue 0.94 en clitoria, 1.0 en mucuna y 0.58 en lablab. Las especies mostraron un alto contenido de PC entre 21.7 y 27.8%, Ca (1.17 y 1.64%) y P (0.38 y 0.67%). Se discute el uso de las 3 especies y se sugieren estudios adicionales sin aplicación de riego.

Evaluation of four pasture legumes species as forages and cover crops in oil palm plantation

“…Crude protein (CP) obtained ranged from 13.85 to 17.84% the highest (P<0.05) CP content was in C. ternatea (17.84%). CP content in C. ternatea in this study is comparable to the report by Gomez & Kamani (2003) between 14-20%, but was higher than previous studies reported by Macedo et al (2015) which was in range 21.3-22.01%. The fiber content was relatively moderate, NDF content was between 43.17 to 46.30% was not significantly different (P>0.05) among legumes studied.…”

“…This ratio was moderate, and almost comparable with Indigofera sp cutting at 60 days was 1.70 reported by Tarigan et al (2010). Although S. guianensis had the lowest ratio (1.19) but still higher than the mulberry plants which was 0.73 (Ginting et al 2014) Similarly, the lower leaf/stem ratio was also reported on Clitoria (0.94), mucuna (1.0) and lablab (0.58) (Macedo et al 2015). The high leaf ratio in this study is likely influenced by the shade from oil palm, the shade caused widened the leaves and try to find and accommodate the sunlight, the expansion of leaf area is one of the mechanisms of tolerance on shade to obtain a higher light or the optimization of light reception by the plant.…”