PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF Urochloa brizantha [(Hochst. Ex A.Rich.) R.D.] CV. INSURGENTE, AT DIFFERENT CUTTING HEIGHT

Abstract

Objective: the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of cutting height on the forage yield of Urochloa brizantha cv. Insurgente.

Design/methodology/approach: the experiment was carried in the Universidad del Papaloapan, Loma Bonita, Oaxaca Mexico. Four cutting heights (5, 10, 15, and 20 cm) in the rainy, north winds, and dry seasons were evaluated. Treatments were distributed in a completely randomized block design with four replicates. Plant height (PH), fresh matter yield (FMY), dry matter yield (DMY), growth rate (GR), and morphological components: lamina, sheath, and stem were evaluated.

Results: the interaction of the cutting intensity and season on all variables evaluated were significant (P<0.01). The greater value of PH (42 cm) was found with the cutting at 20 cm, during the rainy season. The higher values FMY and DMY (2,484 and 606 kg ha^-1, respectively) were obtained at 15 cm, during the rainy season, values that are similar (P>0.05) to those obtained with 20 cm, with 2,410 and 582 kg ha^-1, respectively. The higher values of lamina, sheath and stem yield were obtained with cutting at 15 and 20 cm of height, during the rainy season. The highest value of GR (31 kg DM ha^-1 d^-1) was found during the rainy season regardless of the cutting height.

Findings/conclusions: the highest forage yield was achieved when harvesting at 15 and 20 cm, irrespective of the year season.