Dehydratation rate and chemical composition of stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst) hay as a function of nitrogen fertilization

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the dehydratation rate of after-harvest forage in the field conditions and to evaluate the chemical composition as a function of nitrogen fertilization. It was used two fertilization levels (50 and 100 kg/N/ha) and forage was harvest with 28 days growth. During field wilting, one sample at harvest time and seven others after it were collected to determine the dehydratation rate of the whole plant and the leaf and stem fractions. A completely randomized experimental design with ten replications was used, and the chemical composition data were compared by F Test (5%). The water loss rate was higher for leaf when compared to stem fraction, showing the same pattern for both fertilization levels. In chemical composition evaluations, crude protein (CP) was different (P<0.05) for the two nitrogen levels, while the NDF, ADF, EE and MM concentrations did not show differences (P>0.05). In vitro dry matter digestibility (INDMD) and in vitro crude protein digestibility (INCPD) were not affected (P>0.05) by the levels of nitrogen fertilization. Nitrogen fertilization increased the CP concentration in Stargrass hay, but did not affect the fiber fraction, not increasing the nutritional quality of hay.