Defoliation Management Effects on Tropical Grass-Legume Yield, Quality and Persistence I. Low Rainfall Site
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The effect ofmob-grazing interval (35. 70, 105 and 140 d) on forage dry matter yield, crude protein concentration, in vitro organic matter disappearance (lVOMD) and persistence ofgrass-legume mixtures was studied on a private ranch located on a leeward site (<900 mm annual rainfall) on St. Croix. Seasonal forage dry matter (DM) yield (7.6 Mg ha") was not affected (P>0.05) by grazing interval because of drought towards the end of the season. Crude protein (CF') concentration in both legume (145-240) and grass (50-124) declined quadratically with increasing grazing interval. Although NOMD of forage also generally declined (P<0.05) with increasing grazing interval, differences in varietal response were observed.. The decline in IVOMD with forage maturity for desmanthus (Desmanthus virgatus) and glycine (Neonotonia wightii] occurred in a quadratic manner whereas the decline for leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) and teramnus (Teramnus labialts) was linear. 'Bisset' creeping bluegrass (Bothriochloa pertusa) retained a higher NOMD with increasing grazing interval than the guinea grass (Panicum maximum). 'Bambatsi' panicum (Panicum coloratum var, Makarikariense) and leucaena were more persistent at the 70-105 grazing interval than the other forages at this dry site.