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Chemical composition of Marandu palisade grass implanted under high technological level and different cutting heights during the rainy-dry transition period

Sérgio Antonio Garcia Pereira Junior ; Lilian Chambó Rondena Pesqueira Silva ; Edimar Barbosa de Oliveira ; Silvio Márcio Vieira da Silva ; Thuanny Letícia Alves de Almeida ; Carlos Eduardo Avelino Cabral ; Rosemary Lais Galati
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Chemical composition of grasses is a good indicator of quality in ruminant nutrition. Fiber and crude protein analysis can predict the ruminal microflora ability in convert these components into animal protein. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of Marandu grass in different cutting heights (30, 45, 60 and 75 cm) in the rainy-dry season (from April to June 2015). The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Mato Grosso, and the design was completely randomized, with four treatments (cutting height) and six repetitions. Soil analysis was performed to the necessary corrections and implementation of grass with the use of 90 kg ha-1 superphosphate, 60 kg ha-1 potassium chloride and 100 kg ha-1 of nitrogen (ammonium sulfate). The implantation was in November 2014 and before assessments, in April 2015, it was made a standardization cutting without any fertilization. After standardization, canopy heights was weekly controlled up to established height and cuts performed using square 0.25 m?, leaving 15 cm residue. Samples were dried in a forced-air oven during 72 hours at 55?C, ground and analyzed for dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF). During rainy-dry season, was obtained two cuts for 30 cm and just one to the others. Data were submitted to variance analysis and regression considering a significance level up to 5% probability. DM were not affected (P > 0.05) by cutting heights (93.07%), while the OM was influenced (P < 0.05) at 75 cm (93.92%). Higher CP (P < 0.05) was observed at 30 cm (15.56%) corresponding to 12.98, 25.80 and 55.46% of superiority to 45, 60 and 75 cm, respectively. Lower (P < 0.05) NDF (62.33 and 62.43%) were obtained for 30 and 45 cm, respectively. At 30 cm, ADF showed the lowest (P < 0.05) content (31.98%), which was 20.64% below in relation to 75 cm. Higher (P < 0.05) iNDF was found at 75 cm (18.07%), which was 31.98% higher than 30 cm. It was concluded that to obtain lower indigestible fiber and high crude protein contents for Marandu grass at the rainy-dry season, cutting at 30 cm is the best management.