Effects of autumn and winter cuttings on productive performance of elephantgrass cv. Cameroon

Abstract

At Estação de Pesquisa e Produção de Rio Grande, in Domingos Petroline, Secretaria de Ciências e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), the effects of autumn/winter cuttings on spring/summer of elephantgrass cv. Cameroon were evaluated. Treatments consisted of four cutting dates (May 06, June 17, July 29 and September 09) and four residual cutting heights (0, 25, 50 and 75 cm), in a split-plot complete block design, with four replications. During spring/summer of 1998/99 two cuttings were done (December, 30, and February, 24). Total dry matter production at Spring-Summer after autumn/winter treatment varied from 4.7 to 6.6 t ha^-1 of dry matter. There was no interaction between seasons and cutting heights. However, higher plant residues remaining from the cuttings resulted in a greater total dry matter yield in spring/summer. Total dry matter yield in spring/summer increased with increasing cutting dates made in autumn/winter. Crude protein content in dry matter was not influenced by treatments of cuttings made in autumn/winter being near to 8%. The latter the autumn/winter cutting and the higher the residue height the greater the dry matter yield.