Chemical composition of cassava stem and foliage hay in different harvesting ages

Abstract

This study was conducted with the objective of obtain information about chemical and bromatologic composition of hay of cassava stem and foliage of several crop harvesting ages. During 18 months, 36m² experiment units were established in the field with 60 plants, which 26 were considered for evaluation. A randomized block design with four replications and six treatments, formed by different crop harvesting ages (8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 months after plant - MAP) was used. At 18 MAP hay showed high insoluble ash in acid percentage (11.62%) and inorganic matter in NDF residues (25.38%). These values differed from the other ages (P<0.05). The results for crude protein were lower for 18 MAP, which were different from the results from 8 MAP hay (P<0.05). Hay samples obtained from crops of 8 MAP were positively from others treatments in relation to chemical composition, and that required a shorter harvesting period.