Abstract

ALATORRE-HERNANDEZ, Antonio et al. Yield performance, physicochemical characteristics and in vitro digestibility of forage legumes in the dry tropic of Mexico. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2018, vol.9, n.2, pp.296-315. ISSN 2448-6698.  https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v9i2.4361.

Three herbaceous legumes: Macroptilium atropurpureum, Macroptilium lathyroides and Phaseolus acutifolius were sown in 12 experimental units of plots of 28 m2 each under a randomized complete block design with four replications. The objective was to evaluate the characteristics of dry matter (DM) production, leaf-stem ratio and coverage, as well as the concentration of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin (LDA), tannins, phenols and in vitro digestibility of DM (IVDDMS) throughout the biological cycle of the species. The average DM production (kg ha-1) differed (P<0.05) among species, being higher for M. lathyroides (4,655), intermediate for M. atropurpureum (3,920) and lower (2,170) for P. acutifolius. The difference in DM production between M. lathyroides and M. atropurpureum was mainly a reflection of differences in plant height rather than differences in the leaf-stem ratio or coverage. M. lathyroides and M. atropurpureum were not different (P>0.05) in CP concentration, NDF, ADF and IVDDMS. The species P. acutifolius showed the lowest concentration of all the fractions including DIVMS. The concentration of tannins (g kg-1 MS) was high (P<0.05) for M. lathyroides (3.93), intermediate for M. atropurpureum (3.14) and low (1.82) for P. acutifolius. In phenols, the species were not different, having an average of 20.3 g kg-1 DM. It is concluded that M. lathyroides and M. atropurpureum were the species with the best yield performance and nutritional quality in the total experimental phase.

Keywords : Macroptilium atropurpureum; Macroptilium lathyroides; Phaseolus acutifolius; Dry matter yield; Nutritional quality.

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