Phenology of pasto llanero (andropogon gayanus kunt) uit different precuts dates

Abstract

Sosa REE, Zapata BG, Pérez RJD. Téc Pecu Méx 2001,39(2):163-169. The effect of dates of precutting on flowering synchronization and seed production in Andropogon gayanus Kunth was evaluated at the Experimental Station "Chetumal" of INIFAP, located at Quintana Roo, México (21°30'N, 89°24'W, 10 m above sea level, 1,300 mm of rainfall, 27.6 C°). The precuts were carried out on June 19, 30, July 17, 31, August 14, 28, September 25, October 9, 23, and included a Control group that received no precut. The number of floral stems/m2 was on the average, 43, and it did not vary between cutting periods. The height of the floral stems was different (P<0.05) between cutting periods, the August 14th precut considerably reduced the heigth of the floral stems. The highest yields of crude seed were obtained on the July 31th and August 14th cutts (115 and 105 kg/ha respectively) Trial results make it possible to conclude that in Quintana Roo, Mexico, precuts to improve synchronizing flowering and induce production of floral stems of Andropogon gayanus, should be done on July and August.