Objective

: To evaluate the concentration of soluble solids in three forage shrub species with different ages, in Pasto, Nariño, Colombia.

Materials and Methods

: Measurements were taken in Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) Gray, Sambucus nigra L. and Smallanthus pyramidalis (Triana) H. Rob., established in a silvopastoral system; a complete randomized block design was used, with 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, product of three species and three cutting ages (45, 60 and 75 days) for the variables nutritional quality (CP, NDF, digestibility, NSC and NLE, soluble solids and biomass production). The concentration of soluble solids was measured at three times (7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.), under a factorial arrangement (3 x 3 x 3). The data were analyzed through a variance analysis.

Results

: The age influenced significantly the concentration of soluble solids of T. diversifolia and S. nigra (6,8 and 13,7 % respectively). Interaction was observed between the time of day and the cutting age of S. nigra, with the highest values of soluble solids (15,6 %) after 45 days at 3:00 p.m. The highest quantity of biomass was found at 45 days in all the species. The cutting age did not affect significantly the nutritional content of the shrubs; at 45 days the species had the highest concentration of soluble solids. At 75 days the three species showed the highest biomass production.

Conclusions

: This study showed the nutritional potential of the three forage species, due to their concentration of soluble solids, for which they could be used as part of the diet of ruminants in productive systems of the Colombian high tropic.

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