Grazing suitability of normal and dwarf napiergrasses [Pennisetum purpureum] transplanted on a bahiagrass [Paspalum notatum] pasture
2004
Mukhtar, M. (Miyazaki Univ. (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture) | Ishii, Y. | Tudsri, S. | Idota, S. | Fukuyama, K. | Sonoda, T.
Synopsis Mukhtar, M., Y. Ishii, S. Tudsri, S. Idota, K. Fukuyama and T. Sonoda (2004) : Grazing suitability of norm41 and dwarf napiergrasses transplanted on a bahiagrass pasture. Grassland Sciente 50, 15-23. Grazing suitability of 3 napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) varieties (normal variety of Wruk wona (Wr) and dwarf varieties of early-headipg type (DE) and late-heading type (DL)) was evaluated, using a mixed cultivation on a bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Fluegge cv. Pensacola) pasture. During 2 grazing seasons (June-November) starting in the next year of establishment, the plants were grazed 4-5 times by a herd of 15-16 dairy cows and 2-3 beef cows. The percentage overwintered plants and regrown tiller number were highest for DL in May 2001 and 2002. Although plant height, herbage dry matter weight and mean tiller dry matter weight were highest in Wr throughout the experiment, tiller number and leaf area index were larger in DL than in DE and Wr, and percentage leaf blade and ratio of leaf blade to stem were higher in two dwarf varieties than in Wr both years. Herbage consumption was largest in DL followed by Wr and DE, while percentage utilization of heibage was highest in DL followed by DE and Wr, and lowest in bahiagrass. In both years, grazing time on bahiagrass was highest at the first grazing, while that on DL tended to increase, followed by Wr and DE as the grazing season progressed. The highest utilization and the highest overwintering ability in DL show the highest suitability of this variety for an intensive grazing system utilizing a napiergrass pasture in the southern Kyushu.
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