This work aimed to evaluate the effect of the cutting height (10 cm and 20 cm) and cutting interval (30 days and 45 days) in the DM production of dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir. biótipo Virasoro) cultivated under field conditions. Plants were cut between September/2003 and June/2004, nine and six times, for the 30 d and 45 d cutting interval, respectively. The total DM yield did not differ among treatments, with an average of 2,017 g DM/row. There was a significant interaction between season and cutting height, with no difference observed between summer and spring at 10 cm height (997 g DM/row); at 20 cm cutting height, however, there was a higher yield on the summer (938 g DM/row) than in the spring (761 g DM/row); during the spring, the 10 cm cutting height enhanced the DM production (1,030 g DM/row) in relation to the 20 cm cutting height (761 g DM/row). The fall DM production was low (125 g DM/row). The leaf yield increased under frequent (30 days) and intense (10 cm) cutting. The highest CP concentration (14.7%) and the lower ADF (43.8%) and NDF (67.8%) concentrations were obtained under the frequency of 30 days. The cutting management did not affect the early, continuous, and intense flowering of the plants, which allocated an average of 27% of DM to the leaves and 68% to the stems + inflorescences.
cutting; dallisgrass; fiber; protein
