Abstract

BARRAGAN-HERNANDEZ, Wilson Andrés  and  CAJAS-GIRON PHD, Yasmín Socorro. Bromatological and structural changes in Megathyrsus maximus in four silvopastoral arrangement systems. Cienc. Tecnol. Agropecuaria [online]. 2019, vol.20, n.2, pp.231-258. ISSN 0122-8706.  https://doi.org/10.21930/rcta.vol20num2art:1458.

This study aimed to compare the bromatological and structural behavior of Megathyrsus maximus (Poaceae) in four silvopastoral arrangement systems and a treeless meadow. Exclusion cages were used to evaluate four regrowth ages: 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. In each stage, the following variables were assessed: crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and in situ dry matter digestibility (bromatological), as well as plant height, leaf: stem ratio and leaf width (structural). Crude protein in M. maximus was affected by the silvopastoral arrangement (p < 0.05). The crude protein in the Pasto and p-Arbust treatments were 2.42 % lower compared to the means of the treatments p-Arbor, p-Arbust-Arbor, and p-Arbust-Arbor-M. The neutral (65.16 %) and acid (37.30 %) detergent fiber contents were higher in the dry season (p < 0.05). Regarding the structural response, treatment affected (p < 0.05) plant height, leaf: stem ratio and leaf width, with the highest values shown by p-Arbor (80.26 cm), Pasto (51.75:1 g), and p-Arbust-Arbor (2.73 cm), respectively. Interaction among age, season and arrangement was recorded (p < 0.05) in leaf height and width. In the silvopastoral arrangement system with tree cover, leaf height and width were higher at 28 regrowth days in the dry season, compared with the systems without trees. In conclusion, the silvopastoral arrangement system influenced the adaptative response of M. maximus, with an increase in crude protein and better response in leaf height and width.

Keywords : Megathyrsus maximum; Mombasa; nutritive value; Panicum maximum; phenotypic plasticity; silvopastoral systems.

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