Grazing Intensity and Frequency on Seasonal Biomass Production in Jojoba (Simmondsia chinesis) PDF

Keywords

Grazing, Biomass, jojoba

Abstract

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of annual grazing (pruning) and seasonal grazing (four times a year) on total green foliage weight (TGFW), total dry foliage weight (TOFW), culm dry weight (COW), leaf dry weight (LOW), total leaf area (TLA), specific leaf area (SLA) and N-content (protein) of both culms and leaves. Three grazing intensities (pruning 25 , 50 and 75% of vegetative growth) were evaluated in each trial. Oata taken at the end of each of eight consecutive seasons (from 21/6/94 until 21/3/96) revealed differences (P< 0.05) among seasons for all of the traits studied in the annual grazing trial (both years, for SLA) and for TGFW, SLA and N-content of leaves and culms in the first year and for TLA in both years in the seasonal grazing trial. The interaction of season and pruning intensity in the annual grazing trial significantly affected TGFW, TOFW, COW and LOW in the first year of the study. Ory matter accumulation. under all grazing intensities, progressively increased with plant age under annual grazing but progressively decreased with plant age under seasonal (repeated) grazing practices. Estimates of N-content over the grazing intensities ranged from 2.61 % to 3.00% for leaves and from 1.70% to 2.14% for culms over the grazing trials. Thus, rotational annual grazing of jojoba will ensure the availability of high yields of high quality forage throughout the year.