EFFECT OF DEFOLIATION AND FERTILIZATION WITH DIGESTATE ON THE YIELD COMPONENTS OF PERENNIAL RYEGRASS (Lolium perenne L.)

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the effect of the digestate concentration, frequency of defoliation and irrigation in the components of perennial ryegrass yield during summer and fall seasons under greenhouse conditions. Digestate concentrations of 20, 40 and 60 % were evaluated; defoliation frequencies of 4, 5, and 6 weeks; and irrigation frequencies of 15 and 30 days. The variables evaluated were: dry matter, plant height, leaf:stem relation, growth rate, and percentage of protein. A factorial design with 3x3x2 arrangement was used, and means comparisons were by Tukey (P<0.05), through the GLM procedure of the SAS software. The highest yield, rate of crop growth, and plant height were obtained in the treatment with 60 % digestate, frequency of harvest every five weeks in the summer and six weeks in the fall, and irrigation every 15 days (<P0.01). It is concluded that the digestate concentration, the cutting frequencies, and the interaction of both affect yield components.