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Context: Introducing legumes into grass-based forage systems may increase herbage nutritive value while reducing the need for inorganic nitrogen fertilisation. Grass–legume intercrops may also enhance herbage yield stability. Aim: We evaluated agronomic and nutritional traits of elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus Schum.) genotypes grown as monocrops and mixed with butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.). Methods: Elephant grass genotypes, two tall (Elephant B and IRI-381) and two dwarf (Mott and Taiwan A-146 2.37), were grown as monocultures or intercropped with butterfly pea in a 2-year trial. Herbage accumulation, yield stability, botanical composition and chemical/bromatological variables were evaluated. Key results: Herbage accumulation was highest (P < 0.001) in Elephant B under monocropping (21.9 t/ha.year); however, this treatment revealed the lowest yield stability over harvest times (σ i2 5.59). All intercrops were more stable than grass monocrops (mean σ i2 0.66 vs 2.55). Higher (P < 0.001) concentrations of herbage crude protein were found in intercrops than monocrops (mean 113 vs 90 g/kg). Intercrop herbage lignin contents (mean 57 g/kg) and protein fraction C (mean 61 g/kg) were higher than those in monocrops. Dwarf Mott had higher (P = 0.001) digestible dry matter concentration than dwarf Taiwan (755 vs 745 g/kg). Conclusions: Dwarf Mott genotype has outstanding nutritive value because of its higher leaf:stem ratio. Butterfly pea legume added to elephant grass crop in cut-and-carry systems improves herbage yield stability by reducing seasonal effects. Implications: Intercropping butterfly pea in grass-based systems enhances yield stability, allowing herbage harvest with good nutritive value. This manuscript discusses herbage production and nutritive value of two tall and two dwarf genotypes of elephant grass grown as monocrops or mixed with butterfly pea legume. Herbage production showed less variation over harvest times in intercrops than in grass monocrops, and dwarf Mott displayed better nutritional value than dwarf Taiwan elephant grass. Adding butterfly pea to elephant grass-based systems reduces seasonal effects on herbage production over harvest times while providing good nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of legumes is an important strategy for animal feeding, especially during the dry season. The aim was to evaluate the effect of planting densities (40,000; 15,625 and 10,000 plants ha−1) and harvest heights (20 and 40 cm) on the morphology, accumulation and survival of Desmanthus (Desmanthus pernambucanus [L.] Thellung), cultivated in subhumid tropical region, as well as to estimate the repeatability of the evaluated characteristics and the optimal number of measurements. The treatments were randomized in blocks, with subdivided plots and four replicates. Planting densities were evaluated in the plots and the harvest heights in the subplots. Eight harvests were carried out with an interval of 84 days. Morphological and productive characteristics and survival were evaluated. Cultivation under density of 40,000 plants ha−1 produced taller plants, with higher leaf area index (LAI = 0.98), light interception (LI = 49%), individual accumulations (18.8 g DM plant−1) and by area (576.5 kg DM ha−1 harvest−1), although resulting in reduced plant stand (66%). Harvest heights do not affect accumulation and survival. It is possible to reduce the number of measurements for stem diameter, number of leaflets per leaf (R2 = 95%), plant height, canopy diameter, LAI, LI, leaf length and width, number of leaves per branch, branch diameter and LBR (R2 = 90%), optimizing resources for future research. Desmanthus has potential for use in protein banks, being harvested in the rainy season, conserved and supplied in addition to animals, but plant growth is minimal during the dry season under rainfed conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to study different adaptability and stability methodologies and verify that the joint use of these methodologies can provide greater reliability in the selection of Pennisetum sp. clones to the forage yield. It was evaluated eight Pennisetum spp. clones (Taiwan A-146 2.37, Taiwan A-146 2.27, Taiwan-146 2,114, Merker Mexico MX 6.31, Mott, HV-241, and 'Elephante B' and IRI-381). The methods used to study the adaptability and stability were Eberhart and Russell, Wricke and Lin and Binns. The HV-241 clone, despite its adaptability to favorable environments, showed the lowest yield stability. The best performing were Taiwan A-146 2.37 and 'Elefante B' genotype, however, the former is suitable for favorable environments and the latter to unfavorable environments. The evaluation of Pennisetum spp. clones through different adaptability and stability methodologies to the forage yield allowed for greater characterization of productive performance of the clones and can provide greater reliability to the selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]