Abstract

CASTANEDA, Lisset; OLIVERA, Yuseika  and  WENCOMO, Hilda B. Selection of Pennisetum purpureum accessions for livestock feeding systems. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2015, vol.38, n.2, pp.170-175. ISSN 0864-0394.

The objective of the research was to determine the variations of four Pennisetum purpureum accessions (NH2, MF-24, NO2 and Híbrido-31), on a Ferralitic Red soil of medium fertility, during the initial phase of the selection process. The accessions were evaluated in both seasons of the year, following the estimations and measurements suggested in the methodology for the evaluation of species created by the Pastures and Forages Research Station of Indio Hatuey and approved by the National Subcommission of Pasture and Forage Varieties of Cuba . Neither irrigation nor fertilization was used. The plant height, leafiness, vigor and cover; the affectations by phytophagous and pathogen insects and by chlorosis, as well the biomass yield, were measured. The results of the principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that the total variability was moderately high (76,50 %) in the two seasons. The accession Híbrido-31 showed the best agronomic performance during the rainy season (3,40 t DM/ha and 105,15 cm of height) and NO2 exceeded the rest in the dry season (1,8 t and 100,1 cm). It was demonstrated that the accessions adapted in greater or lesser degree to the existing soil and management conditions, and that they were tolerant. It is recommended to continue the evaluation of the best accessions under simulated grazing and under other contrasting edaphoclimatic conditions, to select pre-commercial varieties.

Keywords : Evaluation; initial phase; Pennisetum purpureum; selection.

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