Evaluación del efecto de dos métodos de crecimiento forrajero pasto mombasa (panicum maximum) en la costa del Ecuador.

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the performance and morphological variables of Mombasa grass (Panicum maximum) under two different production systems (Hydroponic and Soil) in the Coast region of Ecuador. For this experiment, 3 treatments were applied, plus the Soil variable, with 2 replications per treatment, and the grass was cut 15 days after germination. The treatments applied were the nutrient solution (NS) proposed by Vargas and Rodríguez (2008), applied at 50 %, 100 %, and 150 % throughout the crop cycle. The variables evaluated in the experiment included plant height, fresh and dry weight of leaves, and fresh and dry weight of roots, as well as pH and electrical conductivity of the nutrient solutions. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and least significant difference (LSD) tests (P < 0.05) using Statgraphic Plus for Windows (version 5.1). The results showed that treatment T3 exhibited the best morphological development of Mombasa grass cut at 15 days, and the pH and EC values remained within the optimal ranges.