Desarrollo fenológico y producción de biomasa del pasto maralfalfa (Pennisetum sp.) cultivado en el sureste mexicano

Objective: To generate information on the phenological development and biomass production of maralfalfa grass (Pennisetum sp.), in southeastern Mexico.Design/Methodology/Approach: Two techniques of establishment of the grass: staked and crossed, different doses of nitrogen fertilization (100, 150, 200 kg urea ha1) and two cutting ages (60 and 90 days) were evaluated, under an experimental design of random blocks with 232 factorial arrangement.Results: Effects of interaction between the type of planting and the amount of urea applied were found. Due to its forage yield at 60 days, cross seeding and the application of 150 and 200 kg of urea ha1 with 8.15 and 6.17 t ha1 stood out, while for staked planting the best yield was obtained with 100 kg application of urea. For the staked planting, the best yield was obtained with the application of 100 kg of urea (6.45 t ha1). The analysis of the protein content of the forage revealed an equality between the study treatments with values between 10.25 and 11.38 %. Regarding the analysis of fodder ashes with the evaluated treatments, SC  150 kg of urea was determined as the best, followed by SC  100 k of urea ha1.Findings/conclusions: Maralfalfa grass had a good growth response. In established cultivars it could be harvested to more than 100 t ha1, establishing the grass by stakes.