OPTIMIZATION TIFTON-85 GRASS CUTTING FOR PRODUCTIVITY AND NUTRIENT VALUE

The objective of this work was to determine the impact of cutting Tifton-85 grass at 14, 28, 42, 46, 70, and 80 days of regrowth on its production and nutritional characteristics during the rainy season. The study area of 238 m2 was divided into four sub-area, with 6 plots of 2 x 2 m spaced 1 m between plots and 2 m between sub-area. Random block design was used. The statistical analyses were performed following a randomized block design. Results were obtained as means from evaluations conducted in two consecutive years. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) increased as the cutting age increased. However, crude protein, NDF nitrogen, ADF nitrogen and leaves/stem relationship decreased as the cutting age increased. The production of digestible dry matter increased linearly as the cutting age increased. Similarly, grass height, green matter and dry matter production (DMP) increased as the cutting age increased. The different cutting age did not influence the nitrogen A, B1 + B2, and B3 fractions of the grass. However, the C fraction increased as the cutting age increased. Longer intervals between cuts increased the grass productivity per cut, but compromised its nutritional composition and leaves/stem relationship. For Tifton -85, the regrowth age of 28 days allows greater production of dry matter and greater accumulated production of crude protein and digestive dry matter in the rainy season or over time.

Automated summary

The study aimed to investigate the impact of cutting Tifton-85 grass at different regrowth periods during the rainy season on its production and nutritional characteristics. Results showed that with increasing cutting age, the NDF and ADF contents increased while crude protein, NDF nitrogen, ADF nitrogen, and leaves/stem ratio decreased. The digestible dry matter production and grass growth characteristics increased linearly with cutting age.