Production of grazed tropical grasses in different agroecosystems in Puerto Rico: I. Humid mountain

1969 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-108
Author(s):  
Luis E. Tergas ◽  
Jaime Vélez-Santiago ◽  
Doralisa Vera de Saldaña
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
First Year ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Crude Protein Content ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Tropical Grasses ◽  
Grazing Period ◽  
Second Year

A field experiment was conducted at the Corozal Experiment Substation in the humid mountain region of Puerto Rico to evaluate the production and persistence of tropical grasses, Brachiaria humidicula, Cynodon dactylon cv. Bermuda, C. nlemfuensis var. nlemfuensis cv. Star, Digitaria pentzii cv. Slenderstem, D. decumbens cv. Transvala, C. plectostachyus cv. Star and Panicum maximum cv. Makueni in small plots grazed at 5- to 7-week intervals for 2 years. P. maximum cv. Makueni was the most productive grass the first year, with a mean of 1.71 ton/ha dry forage per grazing period, but it was not statistically different (P = 0.05) from B. humidicola and C. dactylon cv. Bermuda. D. pentzii was the least productive. Production of all grasses, except P. maximum cv. Makueni, decreased during the short cool days in December and January. B. humidicola was the most productive grass the second year, with a mean of 1.73 ton/ha of dry forage, followed very closely by P. maximum cv. Makueni. Again D. pentzii cv. Slenderstem was one of the least productive, and C. nlemfuensis did not persist. Mean production of all grasses decreased during the drier periods; however, the crude protein content was higher. Total annual forage production was similar in both years, with means of 15.8 and 15.1 ton/ha dry forage, but much lower than the reported yields of these cultivars under cutting management in Puerto Rico.

scholarly journals Production of grazed tropical grasses in different agroecosystems in Puerto Rico. III. Semiarid

1969 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-219
Author(s):  
Luis E. Tergas ◽  
Jaime Vélez-Santiago ◽  
Angel V. Méndez-cruz
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
First Year ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Tropical Grasses ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Cynodon Nlemfuensis

A field experiment was conducted at the Lajas Experiment Substation in the semiarid region of Puerto Rico to evaluate the production and persistence of 8 tropical grasses, Cynodon nlemfuensis Star, C. dactylon Coastcross-1, C. plectostachyus Star, Panicum maximum USDA Pl291047, Makueni, Guinea and P. maximum USDA PI 259553, and the naturalized pasture Dichanthium annulatus pajon. Small plots were grazed at 3- to 5-week intervals for 2 years. P. maximum USDA PI 259553 and Makueni were highly productive in the semiarid,.region, as well as in previous experiments in humid regions in Puerto Rico. They are highly recommended for grazing trials. P. maximum Makueni and USDA PI 291047 were the most productive during the first year, although they were not significantly different (P=0.05) from P. maximum USDA PI 259553 and Common Guinea, and Cynodon plectyostachyus Star. The production of C. nlemluensis Star was similar to that of Dichanthium annulatus but higher than that of C. dactylon Coastcross-1 (P=0.05). The average production for all grasses declined at the beginning of the year, during the cool short days in February and March, 1983, without any significant difference (P=0.05) among species and cultivars. Production increased at the beginning of the rainy season, but it was low at the peak of the rainy season because of trampling in poorly aerated and compact soils. C. plectostachyus Star was the most productive grass during the second year of experiment, although it was not significantly different (P=0.05) from P. maximum USDA PI 291017 and 259553 and cultivar Makueni. The production of Common Guinea and that of D. annulatus were. similar and higher than that of C. nlemfuensis Star and C. dactylon Coastcross-1 (P=0.05), which did not persist at the end of the experiment. Forage production during the second year was lower than in the first year because of less rainfall in 1983. The mean CP content of all grasses varied from 11.29 to 14.05, except that of D. annulatus, which was only 9.73%. CP content was lower during the periods of maximum forage production.

scholarly journals Production of grazed tropical grasses in different agroecosystems in Puerto Rico. II. humid northern coastal plains

1969 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-210
Author(s):  
Luis E. Tergas ◽  
Jaime Vélez-Santiago ◽  
Doralissa Vera de Saldaña
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Relative Difference ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Coastal Plains ◽  
Crude Protein Content ◽  
Rainfall Distribution ◽  
Tropical Grasses ◽  
Average Production ◽  
Humid Region

A field experiment was conducted near Barceloneta in the humid northern coastal plains of Puerto Rico to evaluate the production and persistence of 10 tropical grasses: Cynodon sp. local, Digitaria pentzii Slenderstem, C. nlemfuensis Star, C. plectostachyus Star, C. dactylon Coastcross-1, D. milanjiana Pangola Soto, Panicum maximum Guinea, P. maximum Guinea USDA PI 259553, P. maximum Makueni and D. decumbens Transvala grazed at 3- to 5-week intervals for one and a half year. P. maximum USDA PI 259553 was the most productive grass, but during the 13 grazings in 1981-1982, it was not significantly different (P=0.05) from C. plectostachyus Star; Cynodon sp. Local, D. pentzii Slenderstem, C. nlemfuensis Star, P. maximum Makueni, and D. decumbens Transvala. Guinea and D. milanjiana Pangola Soto were the least productive (P=0.05). Results for 7 grazings from January to June 1983 again showed P. maximum USDA PI 259553 to be the most productive grass, although not significantly different (P=0.05) from D. decumbens Transvala, C. dactylon Coastcross-1 and D. pentzii. The production of P. maximum Makueni and C. plectostachyus Star was intermediate; C. nlemfuensis Star and Guinea were the least productive, and D. milanjiana Pangola Soto did not persist under intensive grazing (P=0.05). The total mean production of all grasses of 0.92 and 1.00 ton/ha/grazing, respectively, were related to rainfall distribution. The general mean in crude protein content of forage was higher during the drier months. Average production of all grasses in this experiment was lower than in a similar experiment at Corozal in the humid region of Puerto Rico, the relative difference varied among cultivars.

Production of grazed tropical grasses at Toa Baja in the humid northern coastal plains of Puerto Rico

1969 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-98
Author(s):  
Luis E. Tergas ◽  
Jaime Vélez-Santiago ◽  
Doralisa Vera de Saldaña
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Coastal Plains ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Tropical Grasses ◽  
Digitaria Decumbens ◽  
Average Production ◽  
Grazing Period ◽  
Cynodon Nlemfuensis

A field experiment was conducted on a private farm near Toa Baja in the humid northern coastal plains of Puerto Rico to evaluate the production and persistence of 12 tropical grasses, Cynodon nlemfuensis var. nlemfuensis Star, C. dactylon Coastcross-1, Brachiaria brizantha Signal, B. ruzuziensis Congo PR PI 5366 and 11716, C. dactylon Toño, Eriochloa polystachya Carib, C. plectostachyus Star, Digitaria decumbens Transvala, C. plectostachyus Star, B. radicans Tanner and Panicum maximum Makueni under grazing at 3- to 5-week intervals for 2 years. Average production per grazing period, 1.59 and 1.52 ton/ha, respectively, was not significantly different (P = 0.05) among species and cultivars in either year. Forage production in December and May was low compared to that of other periods. This difference might have been associated with low rainfall in December 1983 and April 1984. Lower production in October and early November, 1984, was due to unusually low rainfall that year. Differences in relative palatability of the large number of species and cultivars, and the low grazing pressure at which they were evaluated might explain the lack of significant differences in the performance of these grasses. These variables must be taken into consideration in the design of future experiments for better interpretation of the results.

The intensive production of herbage for crop-drying: Part I. A study of the productivity of two annual crops and two leys and of their responses in yield and chemical composition to applications of nitrogenous manure

1948 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
First Year ◽  
Crude Protein Content ◽  
Annual Crops ◽  
Intensive Production ◽  
Second Year

SUMMARY1. The importance of uniform production of herbage for crop-drying is emphasized.2. A replicated experiment is described which compared four crops, two annuals and two leys under four manurial treatments which included a control and three applications of fertilizer (3½ cwt. ‘nitrochalk’) distributed during the season in three ways.3. Vetches yielded 2500–3000 lb. dry matter per acre of 28–30% crude-protein content in two cuts.Barley yielded 2500–3000 lb. dry matter per acre of 18–21% crude protein in five to six cuts.Leys yielded 4000–5000 lb. dry matter per acre of 15–18% crude protein in four cuts in their first year, and 5000–6000 lb. dry matter per acre of 15–18% crude protein in five cuts in their second year.

scholarly journals Influence of Two Fertilizer Levels on Forage and Crude Protein Yields of Seven Tropical Grasses

1969 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 471-478
Author(s):  
Jaime Vélez-Santiago ◽  
J. A. Arroyo-Aguilu
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Commercial Fertilizer ◽  
Tropical Grasses ◽  
Calcium And Magnesium ◽  
Cynodon Nlemfuensis

Two levels of a commercial fertilizer, analysis 15-5-10, (intermediate-2240 and high-4,480 kg/ha/year) were evaluated for green forage (GF), dry forage (DF), and crude protein (CP) yields and dry matter (DM) content of slenderstem digit (Digitaria pentzii), common Guinea (Panicum maximum), Makueni (Panicum maximum) Coastcross-1 Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), Callie (Cynodon plectostachyus), Stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis var. nlemfuensis), and Carib (Eriochloa polystachya) grasses. Mean crude protein, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium contents at the intermediate and high levels, respectively, were 7.6, 8.7, 0.29, 0.25, 1.97, 2.02, 0.45, 0.49 and 0.23, 0.24. Grasses were cut 17 times at a 45-day interval for 765 consecutive days. Mean DF yield for the seven grasses increased 29% as a result of the higher fertilizer level. Significant differences in GF and CP yields occurred among grasses at the two fertilizer levels. At the intermediate fertilizer level, DF yields ranged from 22,364 to 34,717 kg/ha per year for Carib and Slender-stem digitgrass, respectively. At the high fertilizer level, the variation was from 31,188 to 43,126 kg/ha per year for Carib and Makueni grasses, respectively. During the short cool days from October 15, 1977 to February 27, 1978, Slenderstem digit and Makueni grasses significantly outyielded (P = .05) common Guinea, Star, and Carib grasses in total DF yields.

scholarly journals Chemical Composition and in Vitro Digestibility of Five Heavily Fertilized Tropical Grasses in Puerto Rico

1969 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 186-198
Author(s):  
J. A. Arroyo-Aguilú ◽  
S. Tessema ◽  
R. E. McDowell ◽  
P. J. Van Soest ◽  
A. Ramírez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Pennisetum Purpureum ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Tropical Grasses ◽  
Brachiaria Ruziziensis

Samples from five tropical grass species: Guinea (Panicum maximum), Pangola (Digitaria decumbens), Congo (Brachiaria ruziziensis), Merker (Pennisetum purpureum), and Star (Cynodon nlemfuensis), were harvested during nine weeks at ages from 7 to 63 days in southwestern Puerto Rico. The grasses were fertilized at the rate of 4480 kg/ha per year with a 15-5-10 fertilizer. The crude protein content of all grasses exceeded 10 percent up through 28 days of regrowth. Grasses declined in crude protein from a mean of 18.1 percent at 7 days to 5.6 percent at 63 days. A narrower range was observed between grasses from 42 to 63 days. The five tropical grasses possessed high contents of structural carbohydrates, principally cellulose and lignin, which increased with age, except in Pangola grass. Silica did not change uniformly with age in any of the grasses while hemicellulose was characterized by marked fluctuations. Digestibility values were lower at all stages of growth than in temperate forages of similar ages. Cellulose was negatively correlated with in vitro digestibility in all grasses except Pangola. Lignin appeared to be the predominant factor in determining digestibility. The relationship of silica to digestibility varied between species, being positive in some (Guinea and Congo) and negative in others (Star, Pangola, and Merker). The grasses may be ranked as follows with regard to their chemical composition and digestibility: Merker > Congo > Star > Guinea > Pangola. Pangola grass, though lowest in in vitro digestibility, declined least with advancing age, thus maintaining a more constant quality for a longer period of time.

scholarly journals Yield and nutritive value of hay from five tropical grasses at three harvesting intervals

1969 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-118
Author(s):  
Angel V. Méndez-Cruz ◽  
Víctor Siberio-Torres ◽  
John Fernández-Van Cleve ◽  
Eleanor Fontanet ◽  
Gumersindo Ramírez-Oliveras
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Tropical Grasses ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Cynodon Nlemfuensis ◽  
Harvesting Intervals ◽  
Relative Nutritive Value

Five tropical grasses, Cynodon dactylon (coastcross), Cynodon nlemfuensis (star grass), Cynodon plectostachyus (callie), Digitaria pentzii (slenderstem), and Panicum maximum (guinea) PRPI 12917, were plan fed for hay production on a Vertisol soil with irrigation in the Lajas valley. On the basis of all factors studied, guinea, star grass and slenderstem, harvested at 45-day intervals (DI), are the best for hay production under adequate irrigation and fertilizer use in Vertisol soils in the southern coast of Puerto Rico. The forages were harvested at 35-, 45- and 55 DI. The highest yields of hay were obtained from guinea at 35- and 45 (2069 and 2901 kg/ha, respectively), and from slenderstem at the 55-DI (3397 Icg/ha). The highest crude protein content was obtained with star grass at the 35-DI (18.6%) and with callie at 45- and 55-DI (14.0% and 11.5%, respectively). Crude protein yield at 35-DI was highest for star grass (356 kg/ha). At 45- and 55-DI slenderstem was higher (363 and 384 kg/ha, respectively). The highest digestion coefficients (DC) at the 45- and 55-DI were obtained with guinea (63.0 and 59.0, respectively), although not significantly different (P>0.05) from those of slenderstem and coastcross. At a 35-DI, coastcross averaged the highest DC (64.3%). The highest voluntary intake at the 35-DI was observed with coastcross (2.8% of body weight daily), but not more (P>0.05) than with slenderstem or star grass. At the 45- and 55-DI, the highest voluntary intake was observed with star grass and guinea (2.4% and 2.3% of body weight daily, respectively). The highest relative nutritive value (digestibility X voluntary intake) was obtained with coastcross (181) at the 35-DI and with guinea at the 45- and 55-DI (1.51 and 1.36, respectively).

scholarly journals Production and Bromatological Composition of Black Oat Cultivated with Vetch When Submitted to Nitrogen Fertilization in Above Sowing in the Pasture of Tifton 85

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 328
Author(s):  
João Paulo Fonesi de Carvalho ◽  
Magno Daniel Porfirio ◽  
Claudia Anete Führ ◽  
Vitor Gustavo Kuhn ◽  
Tauane Santos Brito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fertilization ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
First Year ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Catholic University ◽  
Second Year

The objective of this research was to evaluate the forage production, the bromatological composition of black oat in consortium with vetch when submitted to nitrogen fertilization in above sowing system in the Tifton 85 pasture. The experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of the Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Campus Toledo-PR. The experimental design used was random blocks with four treatments and five repetitions and the treatments consisted of: only oat, oat consorted with vetch, oat with nitrogen fertilization and oat consorted with vetch and nitrogen fertilization. Were evaluated the bromatological composition (CP, NDF, ADF, LIG, EE DM, MM) and the forage yield in the consortium of oat with vetch and/or nitrogen fertilization. The results obtained to the bromatological composition indicate that the application of nitrogen on the surface of the forage increased production with an average of 3.922 kg ha-1 in the second year. The nitrogen fertilization also influenced in the medium contents of crude protein (CP) with 18.56% in the first year. The increase of nitrogen in the parcels showed meaningful results for the first year (P < 0.05) in the contents of dry matter with average value of 18.95%. The introduction of black oat consorted with vetch and with a nitrogen fertilization in above sowing in the crop of tifton 85 during the winter period provides an increase in the yield kg ha-1 and when the vetch was used it happened an increase in the contents of crude protein and dry matter in the bromatological composition of the forage.

scholarly journals COMPARISON OF GUINEA GRASS-TROPICAL KUDZU, PARA GRASS, PANGOLA GRASS, AND ST. AUGUSTINE GRASS AS PASTURE CROPS IN THE YABUCOA VALLEY IN EASTERN PUERTO RICO

1969 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-104
Author(s):  
L. Rivera-Brenes ◽  
J. I. Cabrera ◽  
L. F. Colón
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Eastern Coast ◽  
First Year ◽  
Guinea Grass ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Main Station ◽  
Better Than

A grazing trial was carried out at Yabucoa, on the eastern coast of Puerto Rico to determine the usefulness for this purpose of several grasses and a grass-legume mixture. It followed the same pattern and procedure as those which had been performed previously at the Main Station Farm located in the northern humid section of the Island. In the trial, which lasted for 2 years, Pangola grass, Pará grass, St. Augustine grass, and a Guinea grass-tropical kudzu combination were compared as to carrying capacity and other characters to determine their pasture values. The carrying capacities of these grasses were as follows: Pangola, 1.12; Guinea-tropical kudzu, 1.42; St, Augustine, 1.23; and Para grass, 0.87 head per acre. The gross returns per acre for the first year were, $118, $137, $97, and $87, respectively. For the second year they were: $159, $179, $124, and $68, respectively. Besides the information obtained on the carrying capacity of the pastures, the results show that well-managed pastures are at least as profitable as many of the cash crops actually grown in the Island. This does not take into consideration additional soil- and water-conservation benefits which accrue from having the soil covered by a sod. Pangola and St. Augustine grasses are good pasture crops that can be used in the eastern coastal region satisfactorily. The Guinea-tropical kudzu mixture, however, is better than these grasses by themselves. The superiority of the legume-grass combination was again demonstrated by the results of this experiment. Pará grass was not well adapted for grazing in the light soil in which the experiment was planted.

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