This trial aimed to study the nutritive value of three Elephant grass clones (Cameroon, Roxo de Botucatu and Mott) and an Elephant grass with pearl millet hybrid (HV-241) cultivated under two different humidity conditions (with and without water stress). A randomized block design with split plots and three replicates was used. In the main plot, the effect of the humidity regimes was studied and in the split plot, the different clones. The dry matter (DM); crude protein (CP) and of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content; and in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) were analyzed. The materials submitted to water stress showed a high dehydration level (more than 58% of DM), mainly in elephant grass cultivars. Plants submitted to water stress exhibited CP content (17.8%) significantly higher when compared to those plants submitted to the water treatment (14.45%), although, among cultivars, only Cameroon (14.68% CP) differed from the others (16.46%PB). As NDF contents, difference among the two humidity regimes was not observed, but Mott and Cameroon cultivars showed higher contents (61.79%) in relation to those of Roxo de Botucatu cultivar and HV-241 hybrid (56.60%). Difference in IVDMD among humidity regimes was not observed neither among the different clones and the average value was 53.07%.
digestibility; fiber; forage crops; crude protein
