This work was carried out at FCAV-UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil, to evaluate growth physiological characteristics, dry matter production, contents of crude protein and acid detergent fiber and the IVDMD of two genotypes of Pennisetum americanum (cv. Comum and CMS 02/EMBRAPA). Genotypes were sown in November/94 and March/95 and submitted to four nitrogen levels (0; 75; 150 and 225 kg ha-1) as ammonium nitrate. A split plot design, with three replications was used. In the first sowing time, the cv. Comum presented higher (P<0.05) total dry-matter production (6,995 kg ha-1) than the genotype CMS 02 (6,177 kg ha-1). The application of 150 kg ha-1 was considered adequate during this period. In the second sowing time, the average total DM productions of the genotypes (2,799 kg ha-1) were similar and the nitrogen fertilization did not show any significative effect. In the first two cuts of the first sowing time the plants presented a high production of leaves with contents of crude protein higher than 20% and values of IVDMD around 70%.
Pennisetum americanum; genotypes; productivity; growth control; crude protein; dry matter; feed grasses; sowing date
