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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2011, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (6): 186-194.

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Effect of cutting time on the biomass production and forage quality of Lolium multiflorum

DING Cheng-long, GU Hong-ru, XU Neng-xiang, CHENG Yun-hui   

  1. Institute of Animal Science, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
  • Received:2011-03-04 Online:2011-06-25 Published:2011-12-20

Abstract: In order to investigate the effect of cutting time on the yield and forage quality of Lolium multiflorum, seven varieties, one selected line and two cutting strategies were applied. The forage yield, the content of crude protein (CP), water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC), acid-detergent fiber (ADF), neutral-detergent fiber (NDF), and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were measured. Compared with cutting begun from April 1st, the dry matter yield of cutting begun from April 16 increased remarkable (P<0.01). Dry matter yield increased range from 16.0% to 50.2% with different varieties. Compared with different cutting strategies, the concentration of forage CP and WSC of the early cutting is higher than that of later cutting between the same cutting time (1st, 2nd, or 3rd), but the concentration of ADF and NDF of the later cutting is higher than the early cutting between the same cutting time. The CP yields per unit area changed between two cutting strategies depending on varieties. The IVDMD of different varieties followed the same trend: 1st cutting>2nd cutting>3rd cutting. Between different cutting strategies, the IVDMD of early cutting is higher than the later cutting between the same cutting time (1st, 2nd, or 3rd). Considered the forage yield and quality, delaying cutting time properly can remarkably increase forage yield and digestible dry matter yield per unit area.

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