Evaluation of growth and chemical composition of forage consortia of grasses with tree species
摘要
Integration systems offer benefits to agricultural production through product diversification, particularly when annual forage species with high yield potential are intercropped with perennial tree species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth performance, forage yield and chemical composition different grass–tree forage consortia. Six consortia were evaluated in a randomized block design with four replications: Gliricidia + Corn, Gliricidia + Sorghum, Pornunça + Sorghum, Pornunça + Corn, Sabiá + Sorghum, Sabiá + Corn. Consortia containing Gliricidia exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.01) leaf percentages and leaf-to-stem ratios, he Pornunça + Corn consortium had the largest stem diameter as well as the highest green and dry forage mass (p < 0.01). The Sabiá + Corn consortium showed the greatest dry matter content and ether extract percentage (p < 0.01), while the Sabiá + Sorghum consortium had the highest levels of acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber (p < 0.01). Moreover, the Sabiá + Sorghum consortium also demonstrated the tallest plant height and the highest forage biomass production (p < 0.01). These results suggest that specific combinations of forage grasses with tree species can enhance biomass production and improve chemical quality, offering promising strategies for sustainable forage systems. The consortia Pornunça + Corn and Sabiá + Sorghum demonstrated the highest forage production, highlighting their potential for improving biomass yield in integrated forage systems.