Effect of morphological stage and clipping intervals on quality and digestibility of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and Setaria (Setaria anceps Stapf.)

Abstract

Four varieties of tall fescue (Hima-1, Hima-4, Hima-5 and EC-178182) and three varieties of Setaria (PSS-1, S-20 and S-92) were analyzed for variation in chemical composition viz., dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), hemicellulose, oxalate content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) at different morpho-physiological stages and clipping intervals. In tall fescue the crude protein content (11.81%) and IVDMD (55.20%) were higher while NDF (63.65%), ADF (48.22%) and hemicellulose (15.46%) contents were low during early growth stages, however, the highest green fodder yield was observed during the month of July (73.23q/ha). In Setaria the crude protein content (10.92%) and IVDMD (62.34%) were high during early growth stages, but the same stages were also having high levels of oxalate (4.87%), which is one of the important anti-quality factor in Setaria associated with low milk production. With the advancing age there was decrease in the oxalate content in Setaria. The highest green forage yield in Setaria was observed during the month of August (100.51q/ha). The NDF, ADF and hemicellulose contents increased with the advancing stages. The results of the study revealed that to have balance among nutritive and anti-nutritive components Setaria should be harvested in the month of August and tall fescue in the month of March or April in mid hill Himalayan region.