A study was conducted to identify the most productive cultivars and their cutting management to optimize nutrient productivity in semi-arid areas of Rwanda. Four cultivars of Brachiaria brizantha (Piatá, MG4, Marandú and Xaraes), two cultivars of Brachiaria humidicola (Llanero and Humidicola), two cultivars of Brachiaria hybrid (Mulato and Mulato II) and one cultivar of Brachiaria decumbens (Basilisk) were evaluated against Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) in an on-farm trial in a complete randomised block design with four replicates. Forage samples were collected at 60, 90 and 120 days after planting (DAP) and analysed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF). The nutritional values were also estimated using in vitro gas production (IVGP) and its kinetic parameters, in vitro apparent degradable dry matter (ivADDM), digestible organic matter (DOM), metabolisable energy (ME), partitioning factor (PF) and degradable efficiency factor (DEF). For all cultivars and species, the DM, CP, OM, ivADDM and DOM increased from 60 to 90 DAP and declined thereafter. The NDF contents increased with increase in plant age. Grasses cut at 90 DAP had the highest gas production. The ME differed among grasses and DAP where Piatá had the highest. Furthermore, degradability parameters (A, B, C) and half time (T1/2) differed among grasses and between cutting times. The PF and DEF were correlated with ME. The most promising cultivars were Basilisk, Marandú, Piatá and Mulato II because of their high in these nutritional characteristics.
Authors and Publishers
Mutimura, Mupenzi
Ebong, Cyprian
Rao, Idupulapati M.
Nsahlai, Ignatius V.
Mission
To reduce hunger and poverty, and improve human nutrition in the tropics through research aimed at increasing the eco-efficiency of agriculture.
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CIAT’s staff includes about 200 scientists. Supported by a wide array of donors, the Center collaborates with hundreds of partners to conduct high-quality research and translate the results into development impact. A Board of Trustees provides oversight of CIAT’s research and financial management.
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Who We Are
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is made up of 29 agencies and offices with nearly 100,000 employees who serve the American people at more than 4,500 locations across the country and abroad.
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We provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management.
Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB)
The Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) is an autonomous body established by LAW N°38/2010 OF 25/11/2010. The law specifies that: RAB has the general mission of championing the agriculture sector development into a knowledge based; technology driven and market oriented industry, using modern methods in crop, animal, fisheries, forestry and soil and water management in food, fibre and fuel wood production and processing.
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CGIAR (CGIAR)
CGIAR is the only worldwide partnership addressing agricultural research for development, whose work contributes to the global effort to tackle poverty, hunger and major nutrition imbalances, and environmental degradation.