BIOMASS PRODUCTION WITH ELEPHANT GRASS (PENNISETUM-PURPUREUM) AND SUGAR-CANE (SACCHARUM-OFFICINARUM) FOR TROPICAL LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION .1. YIELDS

Thirteen treatments corresponding to the elephant grass clones CUBA CT -169, Cuba CT-115 and king grass cut 2, 4 and 5 times per year, were c ompared to the sugar cane varieties Jaronu 60-5 and V-C21 cut once or twice yearly A random block design with 5 replications was used during 4.5 years of evaluation. Cumulative dry matter yield of the elephant grass clones decreased (P<0.001) on increasing the cutting frequency. The cumulative maximum values per cutting frequency were: 185.1; 95.8 and 72.4 MR DM.ha(-1) for the lung grass (2 cuttings) and Cuba CT-169 (4 and 5 cuttings), respectively. The 21 sugar cant clone (114 Mg Dm.h a(-1) surpassed (P<0.001) the Jaronu 60-5 (87.5 Mg DM.ha(-1)) cut once yearly. Yield of the elephant grass clones was higher (P<0.001) to th at of sugar cane when cut twice parry. While sugar canes (100%) which are cut in the dry season, had the highest yield, the second place in this period was for elephant grass (63-70%) cut 4 times per year The l owest height was obtained with the Cuba CT-115 in all cutting frequenc ies. With 2 cuttings per year it was of 154.1; 223.9 and 221.2 cm for Cuba CT-115, king grass and Cuba CT-169, respectively. The sugar canes Jaronu 60-5 and done 21 accumulated 209 and 283 cm, respectively with one cutting, also they showed the lowest leaf percentages (12-14%) an d the greatest cutting resistence. The high influence of the cutting f requency on biomass production of elephant grass, as well as the alter natives it offers to livestock production the characteristics of the c lones and their exploitation are discussed.