Abstract

SANCHEZ GUTIERREZ, Ricardo Alonso et al. Forage characterization of ecotypes of buffel grass under temporary conditions in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2017, vol.8, n.1, pp.13-26. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v8i1.68.

The variability in forage yield and quality of 126 buffel grass ecotypes [Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link] was evaluated under temporal conditions in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. The average annual rainfall is 850 mm. The experimental unit was a 5 m long furrow with 0.4 m between plants. The variables evaluated were: forage production (PF), plant height (AP), leaf length and width (LH and AH), number of stalks (NT), crude protein (PC), acid and neutral detergent fiber (FDN y FDA) and in vivo digestibility of organic matter (DIVMO). The correlation analysis, main components, cluster analysis, discriminant analysis and multivariate analysis of variance (Manova) were performed. The maximum and minimum values that were observed were: FP of 1 302.37 to 7 442.7 kg MS ha-1, AP of 47.7 to 104.48 cm, LH and AH of 12.1 to 33.5 cm and 0.45 to 2.06 cm, respectively. The NT fluctuated from 30 to 125, FDN and FDA from 65.3 to 73.79% and 31.8 to 44.5%, respectively, and DIVMO from 67.9 to 80.67%. A direct linear correlation between PC and DIV was presented (rxy=0.75; p< 0.0001). The first three components explained more than 76% of the total variation described by the nine variables. It was found that eight ecotypes and one variety were those that presented greater production potential and forage quality for temporal conditions.

Keywords : diversity; forage grass; forage quality; phenotype.

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