The effect of stage of regrowth on the physical composition and nutritive value of the various vertical strata of kikuyu (<i>Cenchrus clandestinus</i>) pastures

Authors

  • Marcelo A. Benvenutti Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Gatton Campus, Lawes, QLD, Australia.
  • Craig Findsen Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Gatton Campus, Lawes, QLD, Australia.
  • Jean V. Savian Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Treinta y Tres, Uruguay. Grupo de Pesquisa Ecologia do Pastejo, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
  • David G. Mayer Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Gatton Campus, Lawes, QLD, Australia.
  • David G. Barber Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Gatton Campus, Lawes, QLD, Australia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(8)141-146

Abstract

A plot study was conducted at the Gatton Research Dairy, Queensland, Australia, to quantify the effects of 5 regrowth periods (9, 11, 14, 16 and 18 days) and 4 vertical strata on the composition and nutritive value of kikuyu (Cenchrus clandestinus) pastures using a block factorial design with 4 replicates. Pasture samples were analyzed for crude protein (CP), ethanol-soluble carbohydrates (ESC), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (aNDFom), in vitro indigestible neutral detergent fibre (iNDF240) and minerals. Metabolizable energy (ME) was then calculated from the concentrations of other nutrients. Regardless of the stage of regrowth, stems were located mainly in the bottom 1 or 2 strata, while leaves were present mainly in the top 2 or 3 strata. CP, ESC and ME declined, but aNDFom, ADF and iNDF240 increased with stage of regrowth and from top to bottom of the swards (P<0.05). While herbage quality variables were affected by both factors, vertical stratum had a much larger impact on quality than stage of regrowth. These results indicate that grazing management of kikuyu pastures should be based not only on stage of regrowth but also on level of defoliation, as both have strong impacts on the nutritive value of the consumed forage.

Author Biography

Marcelo A. Benvenutti, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Gatton Campus, Lawes, QLD, Australia.

Investigador en manejo del pastoreo

How to Cite

Benvenutti, M. A., Findsen, C., Savian, J. V., Mayer, D. G., & Barber, D. G. (2020). The effect of stage of regrowth on the physical composition and nutritive value of the various vertical strata of kikuyu (<i>Cenchrus clandestinus</i>) pastures. Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales, 8(2), 141–146. https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(8)141-146

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2020-05-30

Issue

Section

Short Communications