In vitro fermentative characteristics and chemical quality of tanzania grass with organic and chemical fertilization

Objective: To evaluate the chemical quality and in vitro fermentative characteristics to find the optimum cutting point of Panicum maximum cv. tanzania grass under four fertilization schemes. Methodology: The grass was tanzania, which received chemical (F1), vermicompost (F2), compost (F3) and compost+lixiviate (F4) fertilizations. The grass was cut at 20, 35, 50, 50, 65, 80 and 105 days. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), dry matter (DMD), NDF (NDFD) and ADF (ADFD) degradations and in vitro gas production were determined. The experimental design was a 4x6 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized system with fertilization and days of cutting as factors. Results: F3-65, F1-65, F4-80 and F1-8 d higher NDF content; F1-65 d higher ADF; F1-20 d higher CP (p≤0.05). F4-50 and F2-50 d higher gas production; F4-20, F4-35, F4-50, F2-20, F2-35, F1-20 d higher DMD, F2-20 and F4-20 d higher NDFD; F4-20, F4-35, F4-65 and F2-20 d higher ADFN (p≤0.05). Limitations/implications: Lack of previous research studies on organic fertilization of tanzania. Conclusions: Fertilization with vermicompost or compost+lixiviate improve chemical content, in vitro gas production and degradations of tanzania gras