Moroccan Journal of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences

Vol. 12 No. 4 (2024): (December 2024)
Crop Production and Environment

Effects of different cutting frequencies on yield and quality of irrigated forage crop Maralfalfa (Pennisetum sp.) in N'Djamena, Chad

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  • H.A. DJEFIL,
  • D. HONORÉ,
  • M. ABBAS,
  • M.O. KOUSSOU,
  • M. CHAIBOU,
  • A.B. BÉCHIR
H.A. DJEFIL Institut de Recherche en Élevage pour le Développement, Ndjamena, Tchad
D. HONORÉ Institut de Recherche en Élevage pour le Développement, Ndjamena, Tchad
M. ABBAS Institut de Recherche en Élevage pour le Développement, Ndjamena, Tchad
M.O. KOUSSOU Institut de Recherche en Élevage pour le Développement, Ndjamena, Tchad
M. CHAIBOU Université Abdou Moumouni, Niamey, Niger
A.B. BÉCHIR Université de Sciences et de Technologies d’Ati, Tchad

Published 2024-12-08

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Abstract

Improving technical knowledge for the introduction of Maralfalfa (Pennisetum sp.) in Chad, a high-yielding irrigated forage crop from South American origin, is crucial for pastoral farming. A study conducted at the IRED experimental station (October 2021–June 2022) compared yield (fresh and dry matter) and quality of Maralfalfa harvested at five different intervals: 30, 36, 45, 60, and 73 days. Results showed that late cuts, with a longer growth period, provided higher dry matter yields while early cuts allow for a greater number of harvests per year. The 45-day cut produced the best yield (85.6 t DM/ha/year). Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) analyses revealed that younger forages (36 and 45 days) have better quality with higher nitrogen content, more energy, and better digestibility, whereas those harvested at 73 days, being more lignified, are of lower quality.

Keywords: Maralfalfa, cutting frequency, yield, quality, IRED, Ndjamena, Chad

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References