Herbage yield and quality of 12 Urochloa cultivars and lines in Northeast Thailand

Abstract

Forage accumulation yields and nutritive value of 12 Urochloa cultivars and pre-commercial lines (Mulato II, Cayman, Cobra, Marandu, Toledo, BRS Piatã, BRS Paiaguás, Ruzi, Humidicola, BRO4/3025, BRO4/3207 and BRO4/2515) were evaluated in a field trial in Northeast Thailand during 2015–2018. Total herbage yields for cultivars and lines over 3 years ranged from 15,800 kg DM/ha (Ruzi) to 33,800 kg DM/ha (Toledo). Toledo produced the highest total biomass across the 3 wet and dry seasons. BRS Piatã and BRS Paiaguás showed good performance, out-yielding Ruzi and Mulato II in total DM in both wet and dry seasons. The 6 hybrid Urochloa cultivars/lines (Mulato II, Cayman, Cobra, BRO4/3025, BRO4/3207 and BRO4/2515) all accumulated similar total DM yields over 3 years, outyielding Ruzi (P<0.05). Crude protein concentrations in forage were higher (P<0.05) in the dry season than wet season and in leaf than stem. In the second and third dry seasons, Ruzi had higher CP concentrations in both leaf and stem than all other cultivars and lines. ADF and NDF concentrations were lower in the dry season than the wet season. This trial has shown that BRS Piatá and BRS Paiaguãs would be ideal replacements for Mulato II and Ruzi in Northeast Thailand because of their superior dry season production for smallholder farmers for either cut-and-carry forage or grazing.