Browse yield and nutritive value of two Salix species and Dorycnium rectum in New Zealand

• Published in: Agroforestry systems Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 11 - 21
• Main Authors: OPPONG, S. K, KEMP, P. D, DOUGLAS, G. B, FOOTE, A. G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.02.2001; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural and farming systems; agroforestry; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Cuttings; Dry matter; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Grasses; hills; Islands; Nitrogen; Nutritive value; Organic matter; Salix; Soil conservation; tannic acid; Trees; New Zealand; Oceania; New Zealand, North I; Organic matter; Interspecific comparison; Nutritive value; Fodder; Nitrogen; Salicaceae; Leguminosae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Application method; Cutting height; Yield component; Harvesting frequency; Agroforestry; Digestibility; Vegetal tannin
• ISSN: 0167-4366; 1572-9680
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1006412021394

The willows Salix matsudana x alba and S. kinuyanagi, and the leguminous shrub Dorycnium rectum, are used for soil conservation in New Zealand and have potential value as browse plants. Two experiments were conducted in the lower North Island to ascertain the effect of selected establishment and cutting practices on their browse yield and nutritive value. A hill site experiment determined the effect of rooted and unrooted stem cuttings on establishment and initial production of the Salix species. A flat site experiment determined the effect of cutting height (0.10-0.30 m, 0.80 m, and 1.20 m above ground) and cutting frequency (once or twice per year) on yield of the Salix species and D. rectum. The establishment and dry matter (DM) yields of the Salix species were unaffected by the type of stem cutting. S. matsudana x alba (1.2 kg DM/tree) plants yielded more edible DM than S. kinuyanagi (0.9 kg DM/tree) and D. rectum (0.4 kg DM/tree). Cutting height had no effect on edible DM yield but affected total DM yield of the Salix species. Nitrogen concentration in edible DM, of all species, was 18-22 g/kg DM. In vitro organic matter digestibility of S. matsudana x alba (648-691 g/kg DM) and D. rectum (664-666 g/kg DM) was greater than S. kinuyanagi (611-615 g/kg DM). The condensed tannin concentration in edible DM of S. kinuyanagi was four-fold higher than in S. matsudana x alba (255 vs. 59 g/kg DM). It was concluded that S. matsudana x alba had the greatest potential as a browse species and D. rectum the least.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]