Stems and leaves "in vitro" dry matter digestibility in Galactia striata (jacq.) urb., sowed at two intervals of time in an ustox soil at ilha solteira, SP, Brazil

Abstract

The legume was established in a randomized block desing with sub-plots, tne sowing times considered as blocks and the harvesting time as sub-plots. The seeds were sowed in 09/28/1979 and 03/05/1980. Timing was carried out 30 days before each sowing time. Fertilizer with 20 kg/ha of N, 120 kg/ha of P2O5 and 60 kg/ha of K2O was made at each sowin time. Plots consisted of ten rows 0,30 apart. Plants were established vegetatively 10 cm apart in the row and the rows were 5 m long. Harvesting was at the ground level at intervals of 28 days after the shoot forth of the plants. The plants collected were divided into leaves and stems, oven-dried and analysed for digestibility "in vitro". The outhos concluded: Since the dry matter "in vitro" digestibility decrease is slow with the vegetative grouth, the harvesting grouth, the harvesting time for Galactia striata can be determined though the dry matter production. The Galactia striata is able to furnish a high quality forage during the whole years.