Classification of localities for regional studies in pasturel and grasses

Justo Gerardo Beruvides

ABSTRACT
Seventeen cultivars of pastureland grasses were evaluated in five localities (Guantánamo, Bayamo, Cascajal, Indio Hatuey and Jovellanos), in order to characterize them and determine the indicators of the environment with the highest influence on the four studied characteristics: DM yield, DM, leaf and CP percentages, as well as the predictive and discriminative value of each locality. For such purpose, a randomized block design with three replications was used. The evaluation was conducted during 2 years; no irrigation was applied and the fertilization consisted in the application of 200, 100 and 100 kg of N/ha, P2O5 and K2O, respectively, during the rainy season. For interpreting the results the most adequate mathematical analyses for these purposes were used. The most influential results were temperature (maximum, minimum and mean), rainfall, relative humidity and edaphic factors (assimmilable P). The localities formed three groups: Guantánamo (group I); Indio Hatuey and Jovellanos (group II); Bayamo and Cascajal (group III) and all of them showed good predictive and discriminative value. The selection is concluded to be effective in one or two localities when the effects of the season are taken into consideration to select varieties with wide adaptability. In addition, any of the studied localities can be used for the selection due to showing good predictive and discriminative value and it should be performed from the second year of evaluation through the mean of the 2 years.