Fertilizer rates and yield and quality of grass hays in southern Puerto Rico

Abstract

The mean dry matter yield (DMY), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), crude protein (CP) content, and mineral concentrations of hays from four tropical grasses, each receiving four fertilizer levels, were studied at the Agricultural Experiment Station at Juana Díaz in the semiarid southern region of Puerto Rico. Significant (P = 0.05) differences in the mean DMY were observed among the grasses receiving the four fertilizer levels during all periods studied. Total DMY of the Cynodon dactylon cultivar, PRP111504, was superior to that of the Digitaria eriantha and two Digitaria decumbens cultivars under evaluation. Fertilizer level had little effect on the levels of trace elements, phosphorus and magnesium content of hays, but hay CP, calcium, sodium and potassium content were significantly (P = 0.05) affected by the level of fertilization. An increase in the rate of fertilizer was always followed by a decrease in the iron content.