Productivity and Quality of CP-Pangola (Digitaria decumbens cv CP-1) under Different Management Conditions I. Effect of Frequency and Height of Cutting

Abstract

The response of CP-pangola to frequency and height of cutting were studied under field conditions at the farm of Charoen Pokphand Seeds company, Kamphaeng Phet. Plants were cut at 30 and 60 day intervals and to heights of 0, 5, 10 and 20 cm. Dry matter yields of leaf, dead leaf and stem were measured and the percentage of crude protein, phosphours, potassium, calcium, ADF (acid detergent fiber) and NDF (neutral detergent fiber) contents in the leaf, dead leaf and stem were determined. Yields of herbage were increased as cutting frequency increased. Close cutting (0-5 cm) gave a significant higher yields than lax cutting (10- 20 cm). Cutting frequency significantly increased the levels of crude protein, phosphorus and potassium but there was little effect on calcium, ADF and NDF contents. Crude protein, potassium and calcium contents were increased with higher cutting level while levels of phosphorus, NDF and ADF trended to reduce.