Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of herbage allowance (HA) on herbage production and utilization in stargrass (Cynodon plectostachyus) clitoria (Clitoria ternatea) mixture. Four treatments (3.0, 4.5, 6.0 and 7.5 kg de DM 100 kg-1 PV d-¹) were allocated in a randomized block design with five repetitions. The experimental unit was a paddock of 250 m2. Treatments were rotationally grazed every 30 d. Herbage mass on offer, botanical and morphological composition, leaf:non-leaf ratio and pasture utilization percentage were measured. The highest herbage mass on offer (5077 kg DM ha-1), herbage yield (2588), and leaf (826), stem (1210) and dead matter quantity (666) was observed in stargrass with HA of 6.0 and 7.5. For clitoria, treatments with HA of 4.5 and 6.0 (P£0.05) presented the highest herbage mass on offer (1240 kg DM ha-1), leaf (558) and stem quantity (649). The leaf:non-leaf ratio (0.58) and pasture utilization percentage (53 %) increased as HA decreased (P£0.05). Overall, as HA increased herbage production of the mixture and in stargrass component increased, whiles percentage of utilization decreased. Herbage allowances treatments had a negative effect on herbage production of clitoria.
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