Evaluation and selection of introduced grass accessions of interest to promote cattle feeding systems

Lisset Castañeda Pimienta
Estación Experimental de Pastos y Forrajes “Indio Hatuey” Central España Republicana 44280, Matanzas, Cuba

ABSTRACT
The objective was to determine the variation spectrum of collections of Brachiaria, Panicum and Pennisetum species, based on some quantitative indicators; identify the existence of individuals with potential of adaptation on this soil type and select the best individuals according to their general performance. For carrying out the measurements and estimations in the establishment stage, the Methodology proposed by the Pasture and Forage Research Station “Indio Hatuey” was used. The results were processed through the statistical pack SPSS version 11,5. When analyzing the results of the PCA, it could be observed that the total variability was moderately high (79,35 %) or high (100 %) in any of the periods established depending on the measured and/or estimated indicators; the most variable and at the same time coinciding indicators in any of the periods were height, leafiness, cover and yield. The low affectation by potentially-pest insects and diseases in some cases could allow to corroborate that the plants of these collections were capable of adapting to the studied conditions, without irrigation and fertilization. The evaluation of the Brachiaria, Panicum and Pennisetum collections, without irrigation and fertilization, showed the existence of accessions with outstanding adaptation capacity, which allowed their selection in the evaluation work. The accessions Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria brizantha CIAT-16322, Panicum maximum key 0081, 0031, 0042 and Panicum antidotale CIAT-6039 and Pennisetum sp. NH2 and MF-24, were selected as promising to be studied in the promotion of new areas. It is recommended to continue the evaluation of the best accessions, in replicated trials, under simulated grazing conditions, in order to select pre-commercial varieties to be included in the animal feeding systems; to include these collections under other contrasting edaphoclimatic conditions with the purpose of completing the available information and utilizing the methodological aspects considered in this work as a rule to be followed in future studies with a similar profile.