Characterization of naturalized pastures of the Southern Region Amazonian Ecuadorian: potentials for animal production

Abstract

The gramineae are basic diet and most economical of ruminants a world level; likewise, present high importance of conservation providing organic material to the soil protecting of the erosion. For the importance of gramineae, the objective of the present investigation was characterize 20 species of gramineae promising for the Southern Amazon Region of Ecuador established in germ-plasm banks in the Experimental Station ̈El Padmi ̈, Yantzaza-Ecuador. Germplasm banks were established using a statistical design of random blocks with 20 plot and 2 repetitions. Each plot had an area of 10m of long and 4m of width. The variables that were measured during the study were the following: percentage of arrest, biomass yield, number of outbreaks, height of the plant, thick-ness of the stem, length and width of the leaf, and nutritional value. To assess the nutritional value, a sample was taken of the last cut and was determined the crude protein and fiber by the proximal scheme of Windee. A descriptive statistical analysis was made. The species that was characterized by the highest nutritional value corresponds to Echynochloapolystachya followed of Pennisetum violaceum, also, this second species obtained greater value in growth and biomass yield conclud-ing that these species are the best for the South Amazon Region of Ecuador.