Efecto del riego sobre la calidad, desarrollo y producción de biomasa a dos edades de corte en Cenchrus purpureus vc. CT-115, para la región central del estado de Veracruz.

In a randomized block design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, the quality, development and biomass accumulation of Cenchrus purpureus vc. CT-115 was studied. The treatments consisted of application of irrigation, or not, during the dry period, with a cut at 56 and 98 days. The length of the stem (cm), leaf length (cm), length and thickness of the second internode (cm) and the total yields, and leaves and stems (tMSha-1), as well as the percentages of CP, ADF, NDF and lignin in leaf were measured. No interactions between age and irrigation were found for any of the variables. The yield of leaves, stems and total were higher (P = 0.0001) when irrigation was applied and cut at 98 days. The long stem and leaf indicators, stem thickness and internode length were better when irrigation was applied. The leaf CP was higher (P = 0.0007) at 56 days with 11.45% and 8.30% at 98 days. The CP was higher (P = 0.0064) at 11.05% with irrigation and 8.70 % without irrigation. It is concluded that the increases in total DM production (tMSha-1) and the quality of the biomass indicate the possibility of shortening the resting times and increase the productive capacity of systems with biomass banks of Cuba CT-115 when irrigation is applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]