Forage Yield and Quality of some Grasses grown in Winter-Spring Season in Ha Noi and Bac Ninh Provinces

Abstract

A study was conducted to select high yield and quality grasses for Winter-Spring season to help overcome green forage shortage for ruminants during this period of the year. Based on literature review and recent observations at the experimental garden at Hanoi University of Agriculture (HUA), 4 different grass species chosen to grow in Bac Ninh province and HUA in Winter-Spring season were setaria grass (Setaria sphacelata), Para grass (Brachiaria mutica), Thung grass and Say grasses (2 local species in Bac Ninh province). Soil was prepared for 30 m2of each bed (10m x 3m), 25cm of height. Distance between blocks was 50cm and the experiment was conducted in three replicates. The grasses were evaluated according to Wong (1991). Among the four species, Setaria proved to be the most productive species for both fresh biomass and dry matter yield (101.38 and 16.46 tons/ha/4 harvests at Tan Chi-Bac Ninh; 103.05 and 17.36 tons/ha/4 harvesting at HUA), followed by Thung and Para grasses. The lowest yield was found for Say grass. However, the highest protein content was found in Thung grass (2.11 tons/ha/4 harvests at Tan Chi-Bac Ninh and 2.28 tons/ha/4 harvesting at HUA), followed by Setaria, Para and Say grasses. Thung grass showed high nutritional values as well as a high organic matter digestibility under in-vitroconditions.