Forage Biomass and Chemical Composition of Buffelgrass Genotypes in the Semi‐Arid Region of Brazil

Forage improvement in semi‐arid regions requires the identification of genotypes capable of maintaining productivity under climatic variability and chronic water scarcity. This study evaluated six buffelgrass ( Cenchrus ciliaris L.) genotypes over two production years in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil, to characterize their agronomic, morphological, and chemical attributes. The experimental genotypes were Áridus, Buffel 131, Biloela, Common, Grass, and USA. A randomized complete block design with a split‐plot arrangement was used, with genotypes assigned to main plots and years to subplots. Main effects of genotype and year were detected for most variables ( p < 0.05). Productive and morphological traits differed among genotypes (forage dry mass ‐ FDM: p = 0.0021; leaf dry mass ‐ LDM: p = 0.0047; leaf‐to‐stem ratio ‐ LSR: p = 0.0215). Biloela produced the highest FDM (4615.2 kg ha −1 year −1 ) and LDM, outperforming Buffel 131, Common, Grass, and USA. Grass expressed the greatest LSR. Year effects were pronounced ( p < 0.0001), with higher biomass accumulation in 2022. Chemical composition also varied among genotypes; notably, Biloela showed the highest acid detergent fiber (383.6 g kg −1 ), exceeding Buffel 131 by 11.1% ( p < 0.05), suggesting a trade‐off between productivity and fiber concentration. Year influenced crude protein, ash, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber (all p < 0.0001), with improved nutritional attributes in 2023. A genotype × year interaction occurred only for inflorescence proportion ( p < 0.0001). Overall, Biloela, Áridus, and Buffel 131 exhibited the most favorable combination of forage yield and chemical composition. These genotypes represent promising options for increasing forage resilience and nutritional quality in semi‐arid livestock systems.