Forage quality of some tropical legumes as affected by the genotype and time of harvest

Abstract

In an experiment over two seasons, the forage quality of 
‘,tibia, (Lablab purpreus), Clitoria (Clitoria ternatae) and Phillipesara ( Vigna trilobata) was 
estimated throughout the growing seasons at 14 days intervals. Advancement in the crop age of 
all species was accompanied by decrease in crude protein (cp%), in vitro dry matter digestibility 
(IVDMD), leafiness and concurrent rise in acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre 
(NDF). In Clitoria and Phillipesara, crude protein yield (CPY) and digestible dry matter yield 
(DDM) increased with time to a maximum then declined. In conclusion, Phillipesara showed a 
higher quality forage yields compared to the other species in the individual harvests, maximum 
yield and mean across both seasons and harvests. Harvesting the three species in 98 days after 
emergence had resulted in the highest DDM yield, CPY and acceptable IVDMD, CP%, NDF and 
ADF.