Presenter Information

T Clavero, Universidad del Zulia

Publication Date

1997

Description

A field study was conducted at the Animal Production Research Center of the University of Zulia, Venezuela. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the tiller dynamic of dwarf elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott) under three cutting frequencies (CF) 28, 42 and 56 days and three cutting heights (CH) 10, 20 and 40 cm in order to estimate basal (BT), aerial (AT) and dead tillers (DT). The experiment was laid out as a split-plot trial with three replications. The number of basal tillers increased as CF was shortened and CH was increased. The intensity of defoliation independent of CF affected the number of aerial tillers. Cut at 10 cm produced 86% less aerial tillers than clipping at 40 cm. The number of dead tillers per plants increased with continuous heavy defoliation. The maximum number of dead tiller was 63 (28-day frequency at 10 cm stubble height).

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Tiller Dynamic of Dwarf Elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott) Under Defoliation

A field study was conducted at the Animal Production Research Center of the University of Zulia, Venezuela. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the tiller dynamic of dwarf elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott) under three cutting frequencies (CF) 28, 42 and 56 days and three cutting heights (CH) 10, 20 and 40 cm in order to estimate basal (BT), aerial (AT) and dead tillers (DT). The experiment was laid out as a split-plot trial with three replications. The number of basal tillers increased as CF was shortened and CH was increased. The intensity of defoliation independent of CF affected the number of aerial tillers. Cut at 10 cm produced 86% less aerial tillers than clipping at 40 cm. The number of dead tillers per plants increased with continuous heavy defoliation. The maximum number of dead tiller was 63 (28-day frequency at 10 cm stubble height).