EFFECT OF THE HEIGHT AND PRUNING DATE ON FORAGE PRODUCTION OF GLIRICIDIA-SEPIUM

Arboreal Gliricidia sepium yield was studied carrying out prunings at different height and cutting time in the dry tropics of Mexico. The ex periment was carried out in Coquimatlan, Colina with 420 m above sea l evel, average temperature of 25 degrees C, the soil is sandy with a 7. 2 pH where the plantation was carried out with 1 m separation between trees and 2 m between rows. The statistical analysis was through rando m block design with 2 x 5 factorial arrangement with two pruning heigh ts (20 and 40 cm) and five pruning times (May, June, August, September and December). The variables evaluated were: production in kg FM/tree , cutting height, recovering time at the next cutting, number of branc hes, leaf:stem relationship; likewise, different climatic variables we re recorded such as: temperature, rainfall and total solar radiation. The results obtained show an accumulated production of 3.18 kg FM/tree /year. The height and pruning time effects were statistically signific ant (P<0.001) in the variables studied, except in the non-edible mater ial where pruning month was statistically significant (P<0.001). There was only a significant interaction in the sprout height (P < 0.05). I n both treatments tree survival was 100%. Sprout height seems to be th e most appropriate indicator for the plant use, more so than sprout ti me. The height and pruning time affected productive traits, being favo rable to forage production the 40 cm cutting high.