Growth, forage yield and quality of Morus alba L. and Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. in mixed and pure fodder bank systems in Yucatan, México

Abstract

The main constraints in the ruminant production systems in the tropics are low availability and quality of forage during the dry season. An alternative that could mitigate the lack of food during periods of scarcity is the use of trees/shrubs in fodder banks. However, the growth and production response of these plants may be influenced by several factors. The aim of the study was to evaluate the total height of plants, forage yield and crude protein (CP) concentration of Morus alba and Gliricidia sepium in mixed and pure fodder bank systems with three planting densities (i.e., 10,000, 13,333 and 20,000 plants ha−1). A completely randomized design with a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement was used, with four replicates per treatment. The total height of plants was similar among fodder banks. However, G. sepium and mixed fodder banks had a greater forage yield (5.48 and 5.50 t DM ha−1, respectively) and more CP concentration (20.07 and 20.41%, respectively) than M. alba fodder banks. There was no significant effect of planting densities on total height of plants, forage yield and CP concentration, in fodder bank systems. There was no significant effect of interaction between fodder banks and planting densities on total height of plants and forage yield. However, the CP concentration was greater in the M. alba and mixed fodder banks in three planting densities, together with G. sepium fodder bank in a density of 10,000 plants ha−1, compared to G. sepium fodder banks at planting densities of 13,333 and 20,000 plants ha−1. We conclude that the mixed fodder bank of M. alba and G. sepium can increase the production and forage quality of the system.