Abstract
Forage-legume systems are a sustainable and competitive alternative for improving pasture yield and quality because of the symbiotic nitrogen fixation capacity and high nutritional value of legumes. This study aimed to evaluate the forage mass, nutritional value, and nutrient export rate in three forage systems (FS): FS1, with elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) (EG), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) (AR), and spontaneous growth species (SGS); FS2, with EG + AR + SGS + arrowleaf clover (Trifolum vesiculosum); and FS3, with EG + AR + SGS + forage peanut (Arachis pintoi ). The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design, with three replicates, and repeated measures over time. Results of pre-grazing forage mass were 3.5, 3.8, and 3.9 t/ha, and crude protein export were 1.4, 2.1, and 2.3 t/ha, for the treatments FS1, FS2 and FS3, respectively. Highest crude protein, in situ dry matter digestibility and total digestible nutrients, and lowest neutral detergent fiber were found in the intercropping system with forage peanut, especially in winter. Nutritional values were also better in legume-systems than the non-legume system.
Highlights
Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) is a perennial grass native to Africa
Eight grazing cycles were performed in each forage system, two in each season of the year
There were significant differences among the forage systems for pregrazing forage mass (Table 2), with the intercropping with forage peanut being superior to the non-legume system and not differing from the intercropping with arrowleaf clover
Summary
Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) is a perennial grass native to Africa. The high yield, palatability, and persistence of this grass make it an important alternative forage to native species for livestock in different tropical and subtropical regions (Oliveira et al, 2011). The cultivation of elephant grass with a wider between-row distance and its clump growth habit may favor the development of legume species if they are established between rows (Olivo et al, 2017) Among these species, forage peanut (Arachis pintoi) and those of the genus Trifolium stand out due to their high nutritional value (Barcellos et al, 2008; Tambara et al, 2017) and, to improving quality and forage supply over the year when intercropped with other species (Azevedo Junior et al, 2012; Olivo et al, 2017)
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