ISSN 2756-3669
International Journal of Bacteriology and Mycology ISSN 2756-3669 Vol. 12 (2), pp. 001-010, February, 2024. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Comparative analysis of ‘Tifton 85’ hay production under varied nitrogen fertilization rates and dehydration techniques
Loreno Egidio Taffarel1*, Eduardo Eustáquio Mesquita1, Deise Dalazen Castagnara2, Patricia Barcellos Costa1 and Paulo Sérgio Rabello de Oliveira1
1Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Marechal Cândido Rondon, PR, Brazil.
2Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brasil.
Accepted 13 September, 2023
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate Cynodon species ‘Tifton 85’ at different hay production phases (harvest, baling, and storage) and different (N) rates. Dehydration of the first crop was carried out in the field, while the second crop was in the shed. Dry matter and protein content increased linearly with the N rates. Dehydration in the shed was not effective for hay production, since dry matter did not reach the desired level of 850 g kg-1. During the hay production period (harvest, baling, and storage), the content of acid detergent fiber of the first crop and the second crop increased by 25.32 and 7.38%, respectively, and that of lignin increased by 21.33 and 32.27%, respectively. Forage digestibility decreased by 4.55%, when dehydration occurred in the field, whereas it decreased by 14.68% when dehydration occurred in the shed, a difference higher than 300% due to the loss of soluble carbohydrates. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that forage dehydration for hay production needs to be carried out in the field under appropriate environmental conditions to prevent nutritional losses. Additionally, dry matter of Tifton 85 increased by 20.40% and protein content increased by 18.65%, which equals 514.27 kg of soybean meal at 100 kg ha-1 of N.
Key words: Fertilization rates, hay production, nutrient quality of forage, pasture.