EFFECT OF CUTTING REGIMES ON SEASONAL TRE NDS IN THE CARBOHYDRATES RESERVES OF ALFALFA AND PASPALUM-GUENOARUM IN MIXTURE

An experiment was established at the Agriculture Experimental Station of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, to determine the effec ts of growth stage and stubble height (5 and 10 cm) on the seasonal ch anges of total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC) reserves of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and Paspalum guenoarum Arech. im mixture. In both species, TNC variations showed periods of depletion and accumulation. There was a significative (P < 0.05) seasonal of TNC contents. From A ugust to December, a gradual decrease of TNC contents was observed, fo llowed by reposition periods during Autumn and Spring. In all seasons, clipping at 5 cm stubble heigth, for both species, independently of g rowth stage, provided lower TNC contents. Cutting forage at flowering stage at 10 cm stubble height, during spring and winter for alfalfa an d, during Spring and Summer for P. guenoarum resulted in the highest T NC contents.