Produção e composição químico-bromatológica de quatro leguminosas em diferentes alturas de corte

Abstract

Legumes are widely used as green manure, with the aim of improving soil fertility, but still few are used in animal feed, mainly on their chemical composition. The objective of this work was to evaluate the productivity and the chemical composition of the species Guayu Dwarf (Cajanus cajan), Crotalaria ochroleuca, Crotalaria juncea and Crotalaria spectabilis at different cutting heights. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with subdivided plots. The plots were composed of legume species. The subplots were composed of the cutting heights used, being the following 5,15, 25, 35, 45 and 55 cm of height in relation to the ground. The cut was done after 125 days of sowing. The levels of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), fiber proportions (NDF and FDA) and macro and micronutrients were evaluated. The results were submitted to analysis of variance, considering as fixed effect legume species and cutting heights. The averages were compared by the Tukey test, at the 5% level of significance. The cutting height 35 cm resulted in the highest MS content, produced by C. juncea. And the leaf, was the fraction that presented the best levels of macro and micronutrients.