Forage productivity of three fodder shrubs in Malaysia

C. C. Wong and M. A. Mohd . Sharudin

Abstract

Three fodder shrubs comprising Gliricidia sepium, Leucaenale ucocephala and Manihot esculenta together with the control species, napier, were evaluated for forage productivity with and without
nitrogen fertilization and under 4, 8 and 12-week cutting intervals. Napier was the best yielder in dry matter (15.6 t/ha/yr) followed by M. esculenta ( 6.2t/ha/yr), L. leucocephala (5 .5 t/ha/yr) and G. sepium (2.1 t/ha/yr). Dry matter yields generally increased with increased cutting intervals and nitrogen fertilization. In vitro dry matter digestibilities of the dicot fodders were low but their nitrogen and mineral contents were higher than those of napier. Leucaena leucocephala was the most persistent fodder with napier the least. Hydrocyanic acid in the foliage of M.esculenta was high but declined with increased cutting intervals.

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