Background:

The utilization of forest-grazing systems is an alternative to implement sustainable agricultural productions. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr. inclusion on grass agroproductivity, based on the need to spread forest-grazing systems in the edaphoclimatic conditions of Sierra de Cubitas municipality, Camagüey, Cuba.

Methods:

The main graminaceae and leguminosae were identified, and their botanical composition, availability, and bromatological composition were determined. One-way analysis of variance was performed to compare the bromatological variables, and the t-test for availability was made. The Duncan’s multiple range test was used for comparison of means (P < 0.05 significance). StatGraphics Centurion XV, Version 15.2.06 was used in the analyses.

Results:

Exploration across the experimental areas showed the presence of 15 leguminous species, with high predominance of subfamily Faboideae. The forest-grazing system was better than the traditional system. The main contribution to availability was made by graminaceae. The leguminosae showed higher protein levels than the rest of the species, along with improved quality of tree-associated graminaceae (SSP) in relation to isolated graminaceae.

Conclusions:

The positive effect of forest-grazing systems was corroborated when compared to the traditional system, including higher availability of leguminosae due to their high protein levels and improved quality of tree-associated graminaceae (SSP) compared to the isolated graminaceae.