Study on Herbage Production from Deepwater Rice under Farmers Conditions

Abstract

Twenty three farmers' fields-seventeen in Ayutthaya, three in Ang-thong, and three fields in Prachinburi deepwater rice areas, Thailand, were sampled for rice herbage trials in 1991 wet season. At each location, two treatments (control and cut) were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 10 replications. In the cut plot, leaves were removed at the collar level of the last fully developed leaf once during vegetative phase. Dry hervage yield ranged from 102 to 306 kg/rai with an average of 178 kg/rai. Herbage from deepwater rice crop have high nutritive value indicating by high percentage of crude protein (13.6%). Herbage cutting did not decrease grain yield. It increased harvest index but decreased final plant height and biomass production.