Seasonal and genotypic variations influence the biomass and nutritional ingredients of Cenchrus ciliaris grass forage.

High contents of protein and digestible nutrients are required in the diet of ruminants. Therefore, during, 2004-2007 a field experiment was undertaken to investigate the most promising strains of Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) under rain-fed conditions. Five strains of Buffel grass, included in this study (RMF-267, RMF-268, RMF-269, RMF-270 & RMF-271) were grown for four years and their data on biomass and nutrient parameters were recorded every year during two seasons viz. spring and summer. During spring season, the highest fresh biomass (24.4 t ha) was in RMF-269 strain followed by RMF270 and RMF-268. The lowest fresh biomass (18.1 t ha) during this season was that of RMF-267 strain. Dry matter yield (6.93 t ha) was at the highest in RMF-269 among other strains. Similar trend was also in monsoon season, however forage yield was higher in monsoon than in spring season due to prolonged growing period and more rainfall. RMF-268 gained higher crude protein (9.24%) and total digestible nutrients (56.5%) than in other grass strains. Post-harvest soil characteristics had non-significant difference with the original soil. It is concluded that the nutritional parameters, as well as biomass yield of Buffel grass had genotypic variation and also differ seasonally. © 2011 Friends Science Publishers