Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology (SJST) (Jul 2002)
Effect of leucaena row spacing and cutting height on yield and chemical compositions of three associated grasses intercropped with leucaena
Abstract
The experiment was conducted at Suwanvajokkasikit Research Station, Pakchong, to determine the yield and chemical compositions of ruzi (Brachiaria ruziziens), dwarf napier (Pennisetum purpureum), and Taiwan A25 (P. purpureum) intercropped with leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala cv. Ivory Coast) under irrigation. The design of the experiment was a randomized split-split plot with pasture species as the main plots, leucaena row spacings (1, 2, 4 m) as sub - plots and leucaena cutting height (10 and 25 cm above ground levels) as sub-sub-plots with three replications of 5 × 4 m sub-sub-plots. Dwarf napier produced the highest total dry matter yield, followed by Taiwan A25 and ruzi. Leucaena yield was highest in the ruzi plots and lowest in the dwarf napier plots. However, the total dry matter yield (grass + leucaena) was highest in the dwarf napier plot and lowest in the ruzi plots. Increasing the row spacing between rows of leucaena resulted in a poorer leucaena yield but the reverse was true for the grasses. The recommendation for row spacing of leucaena was 1 m under irrigation conditions. Cutting of leucaena at 10 cm above ground levels depressed yield of leucaena but did not affect the associated grasses. In terms of chemical compositions it was found that the crude protein of the dwarf napier and Taiwan A25 were higher than that of the ruzi grass. Leucaena gave higher levels of crude protein than the grasses. The phosphorus and potassium levels of the grasses were higher than leucaena. ADF levels were higher in the grasses than in the legumes. Nutrient contents of grasses and leucaena were not affected by leucaena row spacing and cutting height.
