Abstract
Climate change constitutes a threat for the sustainability of fodder crops production. With the aim of introducing vetiver grass as a resilient forage alternative in the Mediterranean basin, a field trial was set up at three-consecutive-year field experiments (2015, 2016, and 2017) in the North of Tunisia. The effects of irrigation regimes and planting density on the growth parameters, fodder yield, and quality of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L.) ‘Sunshine’ were assessed.
The experiment was arranged in a split-plot factorial design with four irrigation regimes: optimum (Ir75), moderate (Ir100), severe (Ir125) and very severe (Ir150) combined with three plant densities (D1: 10,000, D2: 20,000 and D3: 40,000 plants ha−1).
The findings showed that a short (Ir75) and moderate (Ir100) irrigation intervals improved production mainly influenced by the number of tillers. Additionally, the medium (D2) and the highest (D3) densities gave the best results in terms of DMY (14.7 and 14.6 T ha−1) and PY (1638.3 and 1540.3 kg ha−1) for all water regimes. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that PY was explained by the DMY and crude protein content under Ir × D interaction. The optimal combination for maximizing PY (1978.46 kg ha−1) appears to be the result of the interaction between a moderate irrigation regime (Ir100) and average plant density (20,000 plants ha−1).These results highlight that the vetiver’s grass potential to cope with water scarcity conditions by enhancing the DMY and PY, might be provided by the use of a specific planting density and irrigation dose.
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The original contributions generated for the study are included in the article, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
Abbreviations
- ADF:
-
Acid detergent fiber
- Ash:
-
Ashes
- Ca:
-
Calcium
- CFa:
-
Crude fat
- Ch:
-
Leaf chlorophyll content
- CP:
-
Crude protein
- D1:
-
10,000 Plants ha−1
- D2:
-
20,000 Plants ha−1
- D3:
-
40,000 Plants ha−1
- DMD:
-
Dry matter digestibility
- DMY:
-
Dry matter yield
- GS-1:
-
First growing season of 2015
- GS-2:
-
Second growing season of 2016
- GS-3:
-
Third growing season of 2017
- H:
-
Height
- Ir75 :
-
Optimum irrigation
- Ir100 :
-
Moderate irrigation
- Ir125 :
-
Severe irrigation
- Ir150 :
-
Very severe irrigation
- L/S:
-
Ratio of leaves fresh weight per stem fresh weight
- NDF:
-
Neutral detergent fiber
- Nt:
-
Number of tillers per plant
- OM:
-
Organic matter
- P:
-
Phosphorus
- PY:
-
Protein yield
- WSC:
-
Water soluble carbohydrates
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Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the technical staff of the Central Laboratory of Analyses of Ailments for the Cows.
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This research was funded by North-west sylvo-pastoral development office (ODESYPANO).
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All authors contributed equally to the implementation of the present research, read and approved the final manuscript, and consent to its publication. Data collection and methodological structure: AB, SD, CK and SB; analysis, validation and software: AB, SD and CK literature: AB and SD; writing, preparation, and editing of the original draft: AB, SD, SB, KB and CK.
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Ben Romdhane, A., Dhane, S., Boukef, S. et al. Vetiver forage yield and nutritive value affected by water irrigation regimes and plant density under Mediterranean climate conditions. Euro-Mediterr J Environ Integr (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41207-024-00530-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41207-024-00530-2