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The Impact of Harvest Frequency on Herbage Yield and Quality of Cynodon
nlemfuensis
Article  in  West African Journal of Applied Ecology · January 2015
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ERIC COFIE TIMPONG-JONES Leonard Kofi Adjorlolo
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TTimhpeo ngI-mJonpesa ect ta l.:o Tfh eH imapracvt oefs hta rvFesrt efrqequueenncyc oyn  hoernba gHe erbage Yield and7
Quality of Cynodon nlemfuensis
E. C. Timpong-Jones1*, L. K. Adjorlolo1 and R. A. Ayizanga2
1Livestock and Poultry Research Centre, School of Agriculture, College of Basic
and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon.
2Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture, College of Basic and
Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon.
# Corresponding author; Email: etimpong-jones@ug.edu.gh
Abstract
Ruminants in Ghana experience feed deficit in the dry season leading to loss of weight and condition. To curb this
problem of weight loss, there is the need to raise their plain of nutrition in the critical months of the year when
feed is low in quantity and quality. This can be achieved by maximising forage production through appropriate
harvest management practices. This study sought to find the effect of repeated harvest on dry matter (DM) yield
of Cynodon nlemfuensis (Cynodon) in the coastal savanna of Ghana. It was hypothesised that infrequent repeated
harvest will improve DM yield and nutritive value of Cynodon. An area of 7.0 m by 5.5 m was used for a two year
study (2013 and 2014). The treatments were harvest of Cynodon at 24 (T1), 12 (T2) and 6 (T3) weeks intervals.
The Randomised Complete Block Design was used with four replicates per treatment. Dry matter yield and plant
cell wall constituents viz. NDF, ADF and Cellulose contents decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the order
T3<T2<T1, indicating that DM yield and plant cell wall constituents decreased with increasing harvest frequency.
Crude protein content (CP) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the order T1<T2<T3, indicating that CP content
increased with increasing harvest frequency. The study has shown that repeated harvest of Cynodon provided
lower DM yield of better quality, with harvest at six weeks interval exceeding the minimum CP level required for
adequate intake and digestibility by ruminant livestock.
Introduction 6.4 km daily in search of feed and water in
Most tropical climates have wet season with the dry season. According to Smith (1999),
adequate lush herbage followed by dry walking increases the maintenance
season with scarce forage of low quality that requirement of ruminant livestock at the rate
hamper the productivity of ruminant of 10% per 1.5 km walked. The effect of
livestock. The crude protein (CP) contents the fluctuation in feed quantity and quality
of grasses have been found to fall to as low on ruminant livestock production is a gain in
as 20 g/kg dry matter (DM) in the dry season live weight in the rainy season followed by
(Attah-Krah & Reynolds, 1987). The weight loss in the dry season. Studies have
scarcity of feed in the dry season also leads shown that livestock depending solely on
to trekking long distances by ruminant grass resources provided by the coastal
livestock, particularly cattle, in search for savanna rangelands of Ghana lose about 11–
feed and water. A study by Timpong-Jones 15% of their live weight depending on the
et al. (2014) indicated that about 18% of severity of the dry season (Otchere et al.,
cattle owners in the coastal savanna plains 1977). This seasonal loss of weight by
of Ghana herd their cattle a distance of 1.5– ruminant livestock tends to prolong the period
West African Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 23(2), 2015: 7–15.
8 West African Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 23(2), 2015
to attain maturity and market weight and The specific objectives of this study were
sometimes death of animal could occur, to: (1) investigate the effect of the frequency
causing great financial loss to livestock of sward harvest on dry matter yield of
owners. cultivated Cynodon. (2) evaluate the effect
To curb this perennial problem of weight of repeated sward harvest on forage quality
loss by ruminant livestock in the dry season,
there is the need to raise their plain of Materials and methods
nutrition in the critical months of the year. This study was conducted in 2013 and 2014
This can be achieved by maximising grass (May to October, 2013 and April to
production in the wet season and conserve September, 2014) in the Western part of the
in order to provide feed of reasonable quality Accra plains (Lat 50–60 N). This location
to livestock in the dry season. To maximise experiences bimodal rainfall with the major
forage production, appropriate harvest season having its peak in June and the minor
management practices need to be employed. season having its peak in September.
Forage harvest management is the timely According to Alhassan et al. (1999), mean
cutting of forages from the field for annual rainfall for the study area ranges from
immediate consumption by livestock or for 600 to 1000 mm. Fig. 1 shows the amount
deferred consumption as hay or silage of rainfall recorded during the study years.
(NRCS, 2006). Harvest management is The study area has a high annual average
geared toward optimising the economic yield temperature of about 26.4 0C and a relative
of forage with the desired quality (NRCS,
2006). Forage harvest management takes humidity range of 60–75% (Alhassan et
the following parameters into consideration; al.,1999). Soil analyses conducted during the
the stage of forage maturity at harvest, study period indicated that the soil has
average number of cuttings for maximum characteristics of vertisols with a pH range
yields (cutting/ harvest intervals), residual of 5.4–5.9, organic carbon of 1.78 to 1.90%,
stubble height for plant health and vigor ammonium nitrogen of 24.2–26.1 μg/g and
among other parameters (NRCS, 2006). An nitrate nitrogen of 265–276 μg/g. Soil particle
in-depth knowledge of the effect of repeated size consists of 53.10% sand, 15.16% silt
harvests on forage yield and quality is and 31.74% clay.
therefore very vital in optimising forage An area of 7.0 m by 5.5 m representative
productivity. of the pure Cynodon stand was used for the
This study therefore sought to find out two year study in 2013 and 2014. The
the effect of repeated harvest at different defoliation regimes (treatments) that were
intervals on DM yield of cultivated Cynodon used in this study are shown in Table 1.
nlemfuensis (Cynodon) in the coastal While T3 was to simulate grazing with 
savanna agro-ecological zone of Ghana. It short fallow periods, T2 was to estimate DM 
was hypothesised that infrequent repeated yield at the end of the major and minor rainy 
sward harvest will improve the DM yield seasons and T1 was to estimate DM yield if 
and nutritive value of cultivated Cynodon sward remains undisturbed until the end of 
forage. both rainy seasons.
Timpong-Jones et al.: The impact of harvest frequency on herbage 9
Fig. 1. Amount of rainfall for the study years and the long-term average.
TABLE 1
Treatments and their descriptions
Treatment Description No. of times harvested
T1 Control Once. At 24 weeks
T2 Infrequent harvests at 12 weeks intervals Twice. At 12 and 24 weeks
T3 Frequent sward harvest at 6 weeks intervals Four. At 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks
The Randomised Complete Block Design makes use of sugars stored in the bottom 4
was used; this was to keep variability among cm of the tiller (AHDC, 2010), thus 7 cm
plots in a block as minimal as possible was deemed high enough not to hinder grass
(Gomez and Gomez, 1984). The plot size regrowth. Data collected at each harvest
for each treatment was 1.0 m  1.0 m. was the above ground biomass yield (ton
Spaces between blocks and treatments ha-1).
measured 0.5 m. These spaces were clearly Harvested samples weighing between
weeded and served as paths for easy access 250–500 g were taken, placed in labeled
to treatments as well as prevent shading of envelops and dried in a forced draught oven
experimental plots. There were four at 65 0C for 48 h. The dried samples were
replicates for each treatment. then weighed at room temperature to
Sward was harvested for all the determine the dry weight. The procedures
treatments at the start of the rainy season outlined by the Association of Official
by cutting the herbage at a height of about 7 Analytical Chemists (AOAC, 1995) were
cm from the ground using a sickle. This used to determine CP and ash contents while
height was to ensure that the apical the procedure by Van Soest et al. (1991)
meristems were not destroyed. Regrowth was used to determine the cell wall
10 West African Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 23(2), 2015
constituents; Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF), photosynthetic rate and cause unrecognised
Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF), cellulose, reductions in the movement of assimilate to
hemicellulose and lignin. the roots and thus reduce root growth.
The data were subjected to least squares Additionally, Mealor (2010) reported that
analysis using the Generalised Linear Model beyond 40% leaf volume removal, root
(GLM) Type III procedures of SAS (1999) growth by grass species begin to decline,
for any differences in DM yield, CP, NDF, and if root system is disturbed, aboveground
ADF, lignin, cellulose and total ash contents production also suffers. Cutting grasses
of the three treatments. between the third leaf and the reproductive
stages can lead to beneficial responses but
Results and Discussion cutting late in the seasonal development of
Dry matter yield the plant reduces the plants ability to recover
Dry matter yield decreased significantly (P (Manske et al., 2001). This is because, the
< 0.05) in the order T3<T2<T1 (Table 2), growing point of grasses moves from the
indicating that DM yield decreased with stem bases (with time) upward during the
increasing harvest frequency. It has been stem elongation phase, and as they are
well established that the productivity of harvested, growth in that tiller stops and it
forage plants is influenced by management eventually dies. New growth is initiated from
factors (Kramberger & Gselman, 2000) with dormant basal buds, thus considerably
cutting frequency being of major importance slowing down the regrowth process. The
(Vinther, 2006). A plot of forage DM yield reduction in DM yield with repeated harvests
with time results in a sigmoid curve, with an obtained in this study could be due to
initial period of slow growth, a rapid growth Cynodon sward’s lack of regrowth vigor and
middle period and a final period of slow persistence under frequent defoliation
growth (Stubbendieck & Burzlaff, 1971). regime without the use of fertiliser and
Sims et al. (1973) reported that the early irrigation. This was consistent with the low
above-ground growth is mainly made up of survival rate of Fescue spp harvested at
leaf material with the middle period having short intervals reported by McLean and
stem materials in addition while the final Wikeem (1985).
phase of growth accumulates DM rather
slowly. All these stages of development are TABLe 2
associated with DM accumulation, thus  Effect of treatments on dry matter yield (ton ha-1)
leading to the control treatment (T1) having
a significantly higher DM yield (P < 0.05) Treatment Least squares mean + s.e
than T2 and T3. a +
The reduction in DM yield with increasing T1 10.53  0.35b +
harvest frequency obtained in this study is T2 4.88    0.24
c +
also because, with repeated harvests, the T3 2.12   0.14
leaf component of the sward outweighs the Least squares means with different superscripts
stem components, thus reducing whole plant differ significantly (P < 0.05)
DM yield (Ayala Torales et al., 2000). T1- Control; T2- Infrequent harvest at 12 weeks
Humphrey (2005) also indicated that, lenient intervals; T3- Frequent sward harvest at 6 weeks
removal of grass shoot may still reduce net intervals.
Timpong-Jones et al.: The impact of harvest frequency on herbage 11
Nutritive quality 2003), thus, causing CP content to decline.
Crude protein and ash contents. Crude Additionally, perennial grasses transport
protein content decreased significantly (P < excess nitrogen from the shoot system to
0.05) in the order T1<T2<T3 (Table 3), storage organs with advancing age, making
indicating that CP content increased with grasses frequently harvested higher in CP
increasing harvest frequency. This is content than those with longer cutting
consistent with the findings of Namihira et intervals (Henzell, 1971).
al. (2005) who worked on the effect of Norton (1994) reported that forages
cutting intervals on mean CP content of containing less than 13.0 g/kg DM N (or
Cynodon nlemfuensis. They reported that 80.0 g/kg DM CP) cannot provide the
nitrogen content  for harvests at  4 weeks minimum ammonia levels required byruminant livestock. Minson (1981) also
interval (16.0 g/kg DM N or 100.0 g/kg DM indicated that the CP level below which DM
CP) was higher than at 6 weeks interval (13.0 intake declines is 70.0 g/kg DM. The
g/kg DM N or 80.0 g/kg DM CP) and at 8 conclusion that can be drawn from these
weeks interval (12.0 g/kg DM N or 75.0 g/ reports is that, frequent harvest of Cynodon
kg DM CP). Similarly, Brown and (T3) with the least squares mean CP of 84.6
Kalmbacher (1998) working on the same g/Kg DM is the preferred management
species reported CP content of 106.0 g/kg practice for improved livestock production.
DM for harvests at 5 weeks intervals and The ash content was not significantly
44.0 g/kg DM for harvests at 10 weeks different (P > 0.05) among treatments (Table
intervals. Thus in all cases, CP content 3).  Apart from CP and ash contents, another
reduced with longer harvest or cutting important measure of forage quality is the
intervals. plant cell wall constituents (Minson, 1990).
Increasing the number of cuts increased
CP content because sward turns to be TABLE 3
relatively leafy (Ayala Torales et al., 2000) Effect of treatments on Plant Crude Protein and Ashcontents (g/kg DM)
with a higher leaf: stem ratio (Boval et al.,
2002) and also because of the relatively rapid Treatment Least squares mean ± s.e
intake of minerals by grasses that takes place crude protein
at early growth stages (Butler & Bailey, T1 33.2a ± 5.5
1973). Frequent harvests generally caused T2 55.2b ± 3.6
retrogression in grass development (back to T3 84.6c ± 2.1
its early growth stages). This stage is
characterised by high nutrient absorption for Total asha
leaf development. T1 66.2  ± 5.4T2 76.4a ± 3.8
As plants age with longer cutting intervals, T3 70.1a ± 2.2
the proportion of senescent leaves with low
nitrogen content and other structural Least squares means with different superscripts differ
components (with lower nitrogen content) significantly at P < 0.05T1- Control; T2- Infrequent harvest at 12 weeks
outstrip that of the leaves with higher nitrogen intervals; T3- Frequent sward harvest at 6 weeks
content (Larbi, 1982; Overman & Scholtz, intervals.
12 West African Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 23(2), 2015
Plant Cell Wall Constituents (T3) to 845.5 g/kg DM (T1) recorded for
The plant cell wall constituents viz. NDF, Cynodon in this study was high and could
ADF and Cellulose contents decreased hinder voluntary intake.
significantly (P < 0.05) in the order Apart from Lignin content, there were
T3<T2<T1 (Table 4).  This indicates that significant differences (p < 0.05) in DM yield,
NDF, ADF and Cellulose contents Ash, CP, NDF, ADF and Cellulose contents
decreased with increasing harvest between the two years of study (2013 and
frequency. There was however an 2014) (Table 5).  This is attributable to the
inconsistent relation between lignin content total amount of rainfall (Fig. 1) in the year
and frequency of harvest. as well as rainfall frequency. Cynodon yield
The NDF gives an estimate of the total and quality harvested after a dry spell is
structural carbohydrates present in forages expected to be lower than that preceded by
(ADF and hemicellulose). The increase in a frequent occurrence of rainfall.
plant cell wall constituents with longer
regrowth interval recorded in this study is in TABLE 4
harmony with other reports (Sanderson et Effect of treatments on Plant cell wallconstituents (g/kg DM)
al., 1999; Mahr et al., 2005). This trend is
obvious because an increase in cutting Treatment Least Squares Mean ± s.e
interval leads to plant maturity, and a mature Neutral detergent fibre
sward has more fibre content (Wilson et al.,
a
1991; Blade et al., 1993), lower leaf: stem T1  845.5  ± 11.1T2  805.0b ±7.9
ratio (Boval et al., 2002) and a high T3  768.4c ±1.4
proportion of senescent leaves in harvested
samples (Ayala- Torales et al., 2000). Leaf Acid detergent fibre
senescence occurs with age because the T1  515.9a ± 8.8
lower and older leaves become shaded by T2  461.3b ± 6.2
the younger and higher leaves, leaving them T3  419.2c ± 3.6
with inadequate supply of sunshine, thus
causing them to senesce (Larbi, 1982). Cellulose
a
Additionally, there is more formation of T1  372.0  ± 12.9b  
structural carbohydrates to enable the stem T2  335.0  ± 9.1T3  300.3c ± 5.3
carry the inflorescence as the plant ages
(Putman et al., 2000). Lignin
Plant cell wall fractions control the rates T1  86.7a ± 6.7
of digestion and intake of DM by ruminant T2  68.2b ± 4.7
livestock (McCammon-Feldman, 1980). T3  75.7ab ± 2.7
Meissner et al. (1991) reported that the safe
upper limit of NDF to guarantee adequate Least squares means with different superscripts differsignificantly at P < 0.05; T1- Control; T2- Infrequent
intake of forages is 600 g/kg DM. This upper harvest at 12 weeks intervals; T3- Frequent sward
limit indicates that, the NDF range of 768.4 harvest at 6 weeks intervals.
Timpong-Jones et al.: The impact of harvest frequency on herbage 13
TABLE 5 AOAC (1995). Official methods of Analysis (16th edi-
Effect of year of study on least squares mean of tion) of the Association of Official Analytical Chem-
sward dry matter yield and quality (Dry matter ists. Arlington, Virginia.
basis) Attah-Krah A. N. and Reynold L (1987). Utilisation
of pasture and fodder shrubs in the nutrition of
Parameter Year Year s.e sheep and goats in the humid tropics of West Af-
2013 2014 rica. Proceedings of a FAO seminar held at
Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, 21–25 September.
Dry matter yield (t/ha) 6.15a 5.53b ± 0.2 Theme- Sheep and goat meat production in the
CP (g/kg) 46.8a 68.6b ± 2.8 humid tropics of West Africa.
NDF (g/kg) 815.7a 797.0b ± 6.2
a b Ayala Torales A. T., Acosta G. L., Deregibus V. AADF(g/kg) 473.2 457.7 ± 4.9
Lignin (g/kg) 74.6a 79.1a ± 3.7 and Moauro P.M (2000). Effect of grazing fre-
Cellulose (g/kg) 354.5a 317.0b ± 7.3 quency on the production, nutritive value, herbage
Total ash (g/kg) 92.5a 49.1b ± 3.1 utilisation and structure of a Paspalum dilatatum
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