Abstract

PEREZ, A; WENCOMO, Hilda B; ARMENGOL, Nayda  and  REYES, F. Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2013, vol.36, n.4, pp. 398-403. ISSN 0864-0394.

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud.), native species to Eastern Asia, produces the most ancient textile fiber cultivated in China or Japan. The Egyptians already imported it from the East, in the predynastic period (5 000 to 3 000 B.C.). The high protein content of its leaves led researchers from tropical and subtropical countries (Guatemala, Brazil and Southern United States) to study its forage capacity and to consider it a plant with high feeding potential, because of the production and quality of its forage. In different experiences with cattle, sheep, pigs, horses and poultry, this species proved to be feasible of being used as nutritional resource in the form of green forage and/or meal. In this review its uses, as well as a brief history and the agronomy of this crop, are commented.

Keywords : Boehmeria nivea; agronomic characteristics.

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