Clones of Pennisetum purpureum for different ecosystems and productive purposes
Clones de Pennisetum purpureum para diferentes ecosistemas y propósitos productivos
R. S. Herrera,I
IInstituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba.
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ABSTRACT
This study reports the results of four experiments, with a minimum duration of two years, carried out in typical red ferrallitic soils and using random blocks design with five replications, in order to establish the influence of strategic fertilization with N on Pennisetum purpureum clones, tolerant to drought, and determine the differences among others that could be used forage production or grazing. Several drought tolerant clones showed their superiority during dry period (CT-601, CT-602, CT-604, CT-605, CT-608 and CT-609) regarding CT-115, when they were fertilized during rainy period. Other clones (14, 18, 19, 20 and 21) showed ability to produce forage during the dry season, while 41 and 43 showed characteristics for grazing. Basic and chemical composition studies are recommended, which will allow to explain the differences among clones, as well as experiments in grazing with promising clones. It is also suggested the introduction of the best clones, which are drought tolerant and strategically fertilized with N during rainy season, to social practices.
Key words: clones, Pennisetum, forage, grazing .
RESUMEN
Se informan los resultados de cuatro experimentos, con duración mínima de dos años, realizados en suelo ferralítico rojo típico, mediante diseños de bloques al azar con cinco réplicas, para establecer la influencia de la fertilización estratégica con N en los clones de Pennisetum purpureum tolerantes a la sequía y determinar las diferencias entre otros que pudieran ser empleados para la producción de forraje o el pastoreo. Varios clones tolerantes a la sequía mostraron su superioridad en el período poco lluvioso (CT-601, CT-602, CT-604, CT-605, CT-608 y CT-609) con respecto al CT-115, cuando se fertilizaron en el período lluvioso. Otros clones (14, 18, 19, 20 y 21) mostraron capacidad para producir forraje en la etapa poco lluviosa, mientras que el 41 y 43 manifestaron características para el pastoreo. Se sugiere llevar a cabo estudios básicos y de composición química, que permitan explicar las diferencias entre los clones, así como experimentos en pastoreo con los clones promisorios. Se propone además, comenzar la introducción en la práctica social de los clones destacados, tolerantes a la sequía que se fertilizan estratégicamente con N en el período lluvioso.
Palabras clave: clones, Pennisetum, forraje, pastoreo.
INTRODUCTION
]]> Pennisetum purpureum and its varieties have evidenced its ecological plasticity, expressed through its ability to transform light energy into biomass, adapt to several types of soil, have acceptable values of chemical composition (Herrera and Ramos 2006) and respond to mineral and organic fertilization (Crespo 2006).The Instituto de Ciencia Animal (ICA) developed a program for improvement this species, obtaining clones like Cuba CT-115 and Cuba CT-169 (Herrera and Martínez 2006), extended to commercial production areas from Cuba and other countries. These clones show characteristics for grazing and forage production, respectively. In order to continue this program, new clones were obtained, with tolerance to drought and salinity (Herrera et al. 2003), as well as characteristics that surpass their progenitor (Herrera 2010).
The objective of this paper is to offer information on the evaluation of these new clones
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Four experiments were performed at Estación de Pastos “Miguel Sistachs Naya” from the Instituto de Ciencia Animal, in a typical red ferrallitic soil (Hernández et al. 1998) and a minimum duration of two years. In every case, random block designs were used with five replications. Soil was conventionally prepared, using plant seeds of five months old. The same amount of buds was planted in each plot of 25 m2, after the rains were stable in June. At the end of the establishment period (150 d), the establishment cut was performed, with 98 % of population. Samplings were carried out every 90 and 60 d during the dry and rainy periods, respectively. Strategic fertilization with N (150 kg/ha in the rainy period) was only applied in one experiment. Irrigation was not used in any case during dry period. Analysis of variance was carried out according to the experimental design in each season. Mean values were compared through Duncan test (1955).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
There was variation (P<0.001) in the yield of clones. Number 14 and 18 surpassed the control (Cuba CT-115, progenitor) in the dry period and produced 35 and 36 % of total yield, respectively. Nevertheless, clones 19, 20 and 21, despite not differing from the control, produced two tons more than the control. Differences were less marked during the rainy period. Population (tiller/5m2) also differed among clones. CT-115 decreased its population at the end of the experimental stage, while clone 20 was the only one to increase its population (table 1).
Clones 41 and 43 showed, at first sight, certain qualities that made them suitable for their use in grazing. Therefore, their growth curves were studied (yield and leaf percentage), showing the best performance up to 76 d of regrowth regarding CT-115 (figure 1).
]]> Drought tolerant clones showed different performance in the Western region regarding the Eastern areas (Herrera 2013). Therefore, a research was performed in the western part of the country for three years, with the application of strategic fertilization with N during the rainy period.At the end of the second year, without the use of fertilizer and, specially, in the dry period, only CT-608 surpassed (P < 0.001) the control yield, although CT-600, CT-603 and CT-607, which had no differences with the control, obtained superior yields. This influenced on the annual yield, making it superior (10.75, 4.98, 4.49, 4.81 and 3.50 tDM/ha for CT-608, CT-600, CT-603, CT-607 and CT-115, respectively). However, using the fertilization, clones CT-601, CT-602, CT-604, CT-605, CT-608 and CT-609 had higher yield than the control CT-115 (4.7, 4.4, 4.5, 5.0, 5.6, 5.3 and 3.4 tDM/ha, respectively) in the dry period and in the annual total (table 2).
As it was evident, the clones obtained by in vitro tissue culture showed their biological individuality, expressed through the different performance among them and regarding their progenitor in both seasonal periods. However, it is important to focus on the results of dry season, because biomass production decreases in this period, which is mainly determined by low temperatures and precipitations. There is also less duration and intensity of light.
This performance of clones is closely related to climate characteristics in which they develop. Ramírez et al. (2011) found, in Pennisetum purpureum cv. Cuba CT-169, correlations between yield and temperatures, rains and rainy days. Similar results were found by Herrera et al. (2013) in six grass varieties. These researchers stated that each variety showed a specific correlation coefficient. Álvarez et al. (2013) found multiple linear equations between yield and temperatures, rains and rainy days, and these were specific for each studied clone of Pennisetum. These previous facts demonstrate that each grass is a biological entity that has a specific and individual response to climate factors.
Clones like 14, 18, 19, 20 and 21 showed their superiority compared to CT-115 (control). In addition, two of them (41 and 43) showed good qualities for grazing. After the clones CT-601, CT-602, CT-604, CT-605, CT-608 and CT-609 were fertilized during the rainy period, they expressed better tolerance to drought than their progenitor (CT-115), determined by the highest yield obtained during dry period.
The results evidenced the usefulness of an in vitro tissue culture as a tool for improving Pennisetum purpureum, to obtain clones that surpasses their progenitor. In addition, basic and chemical composition studies are recommended, which will allow to explain the differences among the studied clones, as well as experiments in grazing with promising clones (41 and 43). It is also suggested the introduction of the best clones, which are drought tolerant and strategically fertilized with N during rainy season, to social practices.
REFERENCES
Álvarez, A., Herrera, R. S., Díaz, L. & Noda, A. 2013. “Influence of rainfall and temperature on biomass production of Pennisetum purpureum clones”. Cuban Journal of Agricultural Science, 47 (4): 413.
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Duncan, D. B. 1955. “Multiple Range and Multiple F Tests”. Biometrics, 11 (1): 1–42, ISSN: 0006-341X, DOI: 10.2307/3001478.
Herrera, R. S. 2010. Nuevos clones de Pennisetum purpureum con mejores características agronómicas y de calidad. Project Final Report, Mayabeque, Cuba: CITMA-ICA.
Herrera, R. S. 2013. “Clones de Pennisetum purpureum tolerantes a la sequía y salinidad”. In: XXIII Reunión de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Producción Animal y IV Congreso Internacional de Producción Animal Tropical, La Habana, Cuba, p. 5.
Herrera, R. S., Chaple, Z., Cruz, A. M., Romero, A. & Garcia, M. 2003. “Obtainment of Pennisetum purpureum plantlets resistant to drought and salinity. Technical note”. Cuban Journal of Agricultural Science, 37 (2): 187–189.
Herrera, R. S., García, M., Cruz, A. M. & Romero, A. 2013. “Relación entre algunos factores climáticos y el rendimiento de seis variedades de pastos”. In: XXIII Reunión de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Producción Animal y IV Congreso Internacional de Producción Animal Tropical, La Habana, Cuba, p. 4.
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]]> Ramírez, J. L., Herrera, R. S., Leonard, I., Cisneros, M., Verdecia, D. & Álvarez, Y. 2011. “Relation between climatic factors, yield, and quality of Pennisetum purpureum cv. Cuba CT-169 in the Cauto Valley, Cuba”. Cuban Journal of Agricultural Science, 45: 293.
Received: November 26, 2015
Accepted: January 5, 2016
R. S. Herrera, Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba. Email: rherrera@ica.co.cu
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