Production and chemical composition of sesame forage at three harvest ages

ABSTRACT The phenological stage of plants affects forage production and nutritional quality. The objective of this study was to compare the production and chemical composition of sesame forage (Sesamum indicum L.) at three harvest ages in the dry tropics of Mexico. Dry forage yields (DFY) and chemical composition of sesame forage harvested at 58 (A58), 65 (A65), and 72 (A72) days of age were determined. A completely randomized design was used. Data was analyzed using ANOVA, and means were compared with Duncan’s test (p < 0.05). Forage harvested at A72 showed the highest DFY, DM, organic matter, ether extract, Ca and P (4940.00, 198.81, 928.64, 112.81, 13.58 and 2.53 vs. 4075.86 kg ha-1, 171.41, 918.57, 52.88, 12.28 and 1.9 g kg-1 respectively; p < 0.05), similar total digestible nutrients and neutral detergent fiber (623.23 and 485.11 g kg-1 vs. 610.34 and 501.97 g kg-1; p > 0.05), and lowest ash, acid detergent fiber and cellulose (71.36, 377.28 and 226.21 g kg-1 vs. 81.43, 407.53 and 258.50 g kg-1 respectively; p < 0.05) compared with forage A58 which was the lowest except for Ca, it was intermediate. Crude protein content in forage A72 was 102.17 g kg-1, only 5.4 g kg-1 lower than in forage A58 (p < 0.05). Therefore, under the conditions of this study, harvesting sesame forage at 72 d maximizes forage production and nutrient yield, suggesting its potential as an alternative feed resource for ruminants.