Productivity, Morphology and Chemical Composition of Brachiaria spp. Ecotypes, under Two Solar Illumination Intensities, in Yucatan, Mexico

There are mixed reports about the advantages and disadvantages of presence shade produced by trees over understory-growing grasses; thus, it is urgent to test grass species cultivars with potential develop in shaded conditions associated that occur silvopastoral systems. The objective present study was identify Brachiaria spp. ecotypes adapted for cultivation under tree shade, typical conducted at Kampepen ranch, located 14 km south Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. A factorial 6 (ecotypes) x 2 (sunlight intensities) treatment structure used, arranged split-plot design; sunlight intensity levels being plots subplots, three replications. were T1: hybrid cv. Mulato II, T2: Cayman Blend, T3: Talisman (BR05/1467), T4: Camello T5: brizantha Marandu T6 (the control): M. maximus Mombasa, while two higher lower reductions respect full (25% 50% light transmission sunlight, respectively). Variables plant height, forage yield chemical composition; leaf, stem dead material fractions leaf:stem ratio; canopy cover, maturity, growth rate. Significant (p < 0.050) ecotype interactions recorded most studied variables. Independent shading levels, showed superior performance compared other assessed ecotypes, yielding up 20 ton ha−1 highest intensity, means across intensities crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid (ADF) 11.8%, 59.7%, 34.7%, respectively, more than 90% cover. It concluded has promising characteristics systems, where common, dry tropics