Production of Crotalaria juncea L. at different sowing densities and cutting ages

Abstract

Mexico and most Latin American countries present poor management in forage production, as it is a determining factor in animal feeding. The objective was to evaluate the production of forage and crude protein of Crotalaria juncea L. sown at different sowing densities and harvested at different cutting times in the Costa Chica region of Guerrero, Mexico in 2021. The treatments were: three sowing densities at 400 000, 200 000 and 100 000 plants ha^-1. Growth was also analyzed at 30, 43, 50, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84, 91 and 98 days when considering that the pod was fully developed. The variables evaluated were: dry matter yield, leaf:stem ratio, morphological composition, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber. The average behavior of DMY, regardless of cutting age and according to the sowing densities, was as follows: 400 000 ˃ 200 000 ˃ 100 000 plants ha^-1, with 9 107, 7 750 and 5 874 kg DM ha^-1, respectively (p≤ 0.05). Regardless of plant densities, in the first days of cutting, from 30 to 43 days, crude protein was higher with an average of 15.58 to 10.7%, respectively, and in the 56-day cutting frequency, the lowest percentage was observed at 8.3% (p≤ 0.05). Crotalaria should be sown at a density of 400 000 plants ha^-1 and cut after 70 days of growth; it also anticipates the start of flowering.