Herbage Accumulation and Nutritive Value of ′Mavuno′ Brachiariagrass in Florida.

Brachiariagrasses are the most cultivated forage species in tropical regions. ‘Mavuno’ (Brachiaria spp.) is a new brachiariagrass hybrid tested in tropical regions; however, there are no information about production and nutritive value of Mavuno in subtropical regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate herbage accumulation and nutritive value of Mavuno in South Florida. The research was conducted in Ona, FL (27º N) from March to September 2016. Treatments were the factorial arrangement of two harvest frequencies (3 or 6 wk) and four forage cultivars, Mavuno, ‘Mulato II’ (Brachiaria spp.), ‘Tifton 85’ bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.), and ‘Jiggs’ bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers] distributed in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Plot size was 4 x 2 m with a 1.0-m alley between plots and plots were fertilized with 60 kg N, 7 kg P, and 50 kg K ha^-1 every 6-wk. Herbage accumulation (HA), sward height, light interception (LI), crude protein (CP), and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) concentration data are presented by 6-wk periods and data from a given 6 wk reflect the total of one 6-wk or two 3-wk harvest. There was a cultivar × harvest interaction on herbage HA, LI, and sward height. Bermudagrass cultivars had greater HA in May, while brachiariagrass cultivars had greater HA in July and August. Light interception was the greatest in Tifton 85, the least in Mavuno, and there was no difference between Mulato II and Jiggs in May. Jiggs had the least LI in July, August, and September and there was no difference among other cultivars. Jiggs had the greatest sward height in May, while Mavuno had the greatest sward height in June, July, August and September. There was a cultivar × harvest frequency interaction on HA and IVDOM. The interaction occurred because there was no difference in HA in bermudagrass cultivars between 3- and 6-wk; however, brachiariagrass cultivars had greater HA at 6-wk than 3-wk harvest interval. Brachiariagrass cultivars had greater IVDOM than bermudagrass and forage harvested at 3-wk had greater IVDOM than 6-wk for all cultivars, but the magnitude of the difference was greater for bermudagrass. Forage harvested at 3-wk had greater CP concentration than at 6-wk. Mavuno may be a feasible forage cultivar to be used in South Florida with greater summer HA and less detrimental effects on nutritive value due to longer regrowth intervals than bermudagrass.