Effect of regrowth age on Brachiaria purpurascens cv. aguada in Cauto valley in Cuba

The effect of regrowth age (1 to 7 weeks) on dry matter (DM), yield, leaf p ercentage, crude protein (CP) and crude fibre (CF) of Brachiaria purpurasce ns cv. aguada was assessed in a random block design with 5 replications. Th e study was conducted in a vertisol with deficient drainage without irrigat ion or fertilization. In the rainy season (May-July and August-October), DM yield significantly (P<.001) increased until the fifth and sixth week of r egrowth (2.5 and 3.0 t/ha). However, in the dry season (November-January) D M yields at the sixth and seventh week were significantly higher (P < 0.001 ) than the remaining treatments (1.2 t/ha). Leaf percentage and CP signific antly decreased with age (P < 0.001). The highest average CP contents were obtained at the third week (10.1 and 10.4%) in the rainy and dry seasons, r espectively. The climatic conditions influenced the productive response. Th e use of Brachiaria purpurascens cv. aguada in the edaphoclimatic condition s of the Cauto valley should be between the fourth and filth week in the ra iny season and in the sixth week in the dry period.