YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF HUIZACHILLO (Desmanthus virgatus L. var. depressus Willd) FORAGE IN CULTIVATION

Abstract

Beef and goat production is an important economic activity in the arid regions in Nuevo León, México. However, this activity is limited by insufficient forage production, because of adverse environmental conditions. A potential alternative is to incorporate into the cropping system native species with forage value. A study, in Marín, Nuevo León, was performed in 1995 to evaluate the forage production of
Desmanthus virgatus L. var. depressus Willd. This plant is native from the dry areas of northern México. The effects of different population densities and cutting systems on forage yields were evaluated. In addition, the effect of population density on forage chemical composition. A factorial 4 x 4 completely randomized design with four replications was used. Treatments fours densities were (3, 4, 6, and 8 plants/m²) four consecutive cuts; in each cut, dry matter yield was determined. A chemical proximal analysis and calcium and phosphorus contents of the forage obtained from the third cut was the also performed. Population density and cutting interaction was significative, since forage yield increased in the highect first and fourth cuts proportionally to population density (P ≤ 0.05); however, in the second and third cuts forage yield was at 6 plants/m². The cumulated forage yield was higlier at the densities of 6 and 8 plants/m². The chemical composition of the forage in the third cut, was similar among the four population densities.