PRODUCTIVITY OF Cynodon plectostachyus K. (Schum) Pilger AND Dolichos lablab L. ALONE AND ASSOCIATED UNDER DIFFERENT CUTTING FREQUENCIES

Abstract

The production of biomass from Cynodon plectostachyus K. (Schum) Pilger and Dolichos lablab L., was evaluated as single crop and in association, at different frequencies of cutting, with the aim of presenting schemes for fodder and protein for livestock in the dry tropics. The treatments were the species alone and associated in combination with three frequencies of cutting, distributed as nine treatments in a design of plots divided into random blocks with four repetitions. Morphological and physiological variables of the yield were recorded in order to measure their productivity and response to the association. The data were analyzed statistically with SAS and a means comparison (Tukey p?0.05). The single-crop and associated plants modify their yield components in interaction with the cutting frequencies. The cutting intervals of the species alone or associated induced a higher production of aerial dry matter, as the evaluation period increased. As single crops, C. plectostachyus and D. lablab present low modification in the leaf/stem index as compared to the cutting intervals, except the legume which increased this relation when the cutting interval is more frequent. In association the pulse increased its leaf/stem relation by increasing the cutting time, and it decreased in the legume. The aerial biomass production increased with the association of C. plectostachyus plus D. lablab, and in this way both species expressed their ease in association. It is concluded that the association of both species is positive, although the different morphological and physiological attributes of the species and their contrasting effect in the study with cutting frequencies suggest a differential management that could lead to the persistence of the association.