Open Access

Effect of Different Cutting Heights on Forage Yield and Chemical Composition of Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

1 Ege Üniversitesi, Ziraat Fakültesi, Tarla Bitkileri Bölümü, İzmir

Abstract

A two-year field study, the effect of cutting heights on the forage yield and chemical composition of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) was conducted on Bornova experimental fields of Field Crops Department of Agriculture Faculty, Ege University, Turkey. Four treatments of cutting height at 5 (BY5), 10 (BY10), 15 (BY15) and 20 (BY20) cm above ground level in randomized complete block design with 3 replications were employed. Some characteristics were measured in the experiment such plant height, number of tiller, dry matter (DM) yield, crude protein (CP) concentration, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents. Two-year average results showed that switchgrass is quite well adapted to local conditions (totally 3 cuts per season), and, stubble heights (i.e. cutting heights) significantly affected all tested characteristics. Year effect was also significant on the yield and nutritional value of switchgrass, except CP concentration. The effect of deeper cuts tended to reduce digestibility of cell wall compounds. The total DM yield was significantly higher in BY10 than BY15 and BY20. Based on this research, cutting at 10 cm height above ground level could the optimal level for harvesting switchgrass in coastal part of Izmir.

Keywords

How to Cite

GEREN, H. (2024). Effect of Different Cutting Heights on Forage Yield and Chemical Composition of Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). MAS Journal of Applied Sciences, 9(Özel Sayı), 786–794. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13910836

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