Availability of biomass and crude protein content in two cutting grass species, King grass and Camerun with and without Leucaena leucocephala cv Cunninghan

Abstract

One of the alternatives for bovine feeding that is important in the face of climate variability within forage planning is cut grass. From this context, the objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of two cutting frequencies (45 days and 65 days) in King Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and Cameroon (Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum typhoides), both with and without association with Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala – Lam de Wit) cultivar Cunningham, on the availability and crude protein content of biomass. The study was conducted at Santa María Farm of the Universidad Internacional Antonio de Valdivieso (UNIAV-Rivas) from May 2021 to September 2022. A completely randomized factorial design was used, with eight treatments and two replications. Within each experimental unit, six linear meter sampling sites were established, and a random plant was selected for variable measurements. An analysis of variance and comparison of means using Fisher’s Least Significant Difference at 95 % confidence level were performed. During the rainy season, King Grass + Leucaena at 65 days exhibited the highest total height, number of nodes, leaves, and leaf area. In the dry season, King Grass + Leucaena at 45 days showed greater total height, basal diameter, and length between the third and fourth nodes. Cameroon + Leucaena at 65 days in both seasons had a higher average dry matter yield (kg DM ha^-1). King Grass also showed similar results during the rainy season; in the dry season, its biomass availability was comparable with and without association. Regarding crude protein content, leaves and stems of the associated grasses were higher at 45 days. Leucaena showed similar growth in both grasses. In the rainy season, Leucaena at 65 days had greater total height and crown diameter. In the dry season, although total height prevailed at 65 days, other variables favored the 45-day treatments. The highest biomass availability in leaves occurred with King Grass at 45 days in both seasons, and in tender stems, King Grass at 65 days had the highest value. For tender leaves and stems, the 45-day treatments yielded better results.