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Biomass yield and nutrient content of a tropical mulberry forage bank: effects of season, harvest frequency and fertilization rate
Author(s) -
GonzálezGarcía E.,
Martín Martín G.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1111/gfs.12227
Subject(s) - forage , agronomy , human fertilization , yield (engineering) , nutrient , biomass (ecology) , biology , dry season , zoology , ecology , materials science , metallurgy
Effects of season ( SEAS ), organic fertilization with laying hen manure (N) and harvest frequency ( FREQ ) on forage yield and composition were evaluated in a high‐density mulberry forage bank, established under low‐input tropical farming conditions. The experiment, replicated over two consecutive years, was arranged in 18 treatments resulting from a 3 × 3×2 factorial design which combined three FREQ (60, 90 and 120 d), 3 N rates (100, 300 and 500 kg N ha −1 year −1 ) and the two seasons ( RAIN and DRY ). Forage yield, leaf‐to‐stem ratio, the edible fraction ( EDIB , %), nutrient content and the maturity indexes were monitored. Either forage yield or qualities by plant fraction were strongly affected by SEAS , FREQ , N rate and by their interactions. Effects of FREQ and N were modulated by SEAS . Increasing FREQ during RAIN negatively affected EDIB yield and quality after 90 d, while increasing ligneous fraction. During DRY , longer FREQ allowed higher total forage and EDIB yields. Leaves were more abundant in RAIN , and its yield was increased with fertilization but only during this season. Maturity indexes were higher in DRY than in RAIN . Under the conditions of this experiment, harvesting at 60 and 90 d in RAIN and DRY , respectively, with an N rate of 300 kg N ha −1 year −1 seems the best agronomic choice for an optimal compromise between forage yield and nutritive value.