Evaluation of endemic leguminous forage shrubs from the Canary Islands.: 1 -: Germplasm characterisation and forage production

Four species of leguminous shrubs endemic to the Canary Islands (Spain)-Chamaecytisus palmensis (tagasaste), Teline canariensis, Teline osyrioides sericea and Teline osyrioides osyrioides-were evaluated from 1999 to 2000 as a source of animal forage. Two experiments were undertaken. Experiment I involved wild populations in the natural habitat on the island of Tenerife including germplasm collection and a study of their phenology. Experiment 2 involved the same species, this time in cultivation with a density of 5142 shrubs/ ha on an experimental plot (La Laguna, Tenerife) situated at 549 m a.s.l. and with annual rainfall of between 338 and 562 mm. Experiment 2 evaluated plant survival, edible green matter/inedible matter fraction (EGM/IM) and production of edible dry matter (EDM) at three cutting heights (30, 50, 70 cm above ground level). Samples were taken at the end of each season during 2 consecutive years. Production of Chamaecytisus palmensis was significantly higher (P < 0.05) at all three heights than that of the three species of Teline, which had similar productions to each other. However, cutting height did not affect EDM production.