FORAGE PERFORMANCE OF SEASONAL CULTURES IRRIGATED DURING THE DRY PERIOD

Using a random block design with 4 replications, the forage performanc e of maize (Zea mays), crotalaria (Crotalaria sp) and sunflower (Helia nthus annuus) local variety INRA and the Soviet hybrid BH 6540 were co mpared during the dry season with irrigation and fertilization prior t o the sowing of pastures in the rainy season. Crotalaria showed lower total yield (3.97 t/ha DM) than the Soviet sunflower (8.20 t/ha), the sunflower INRA (9.7 t/ha) and the maize (10.21 t/ha). The highest leaf yield was shown by the sunflower (2.21 t/ha DM for the INRA variety a nd 2.71 t/ha for the BH 6540 hybrid), which surpassed the maize (0.98 t/ha) and the crotalaria (0.6 t/ha). On the other hand, the greatest s tem yield was shown by the sunflower INRA variety (4.76 t/ha DM) and t he lowest value was for crotalaria (0.69 t/ha). The maize had the yiel d highest flower yield (5 t/ha DM). maize are recommended for forage p roduction in the dry season when there is irrigation and fertilization and crotalaria was discarded for this purpose.