The potential role of spineless safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L. var. inermis) as fodder crop in central Italy
Author(s)
Date Issued
2011
Type
Article
Abstract
The present study aimed at assessing how nitrogen (N) fertilization
affects nutritional characteristics of spineless safflower grown under
Mediterranean conditions and evaluating a 2-days wilting treatment
on moisture reduction and pH before ensiling. Spineless safflower,
sown in November 2008, was grown in 3 m x 18 m plot (45 plants m–2).
A randomized complete block design (RCBD) one cultivar x four N-fertilization
levels (N0=0 kg/ha, land allocation, N1=35 kg/ha, N2=70
kg/ha, N3=105 kg ha–1) (3 replicates each level) was adopted. At mowing
(May 2009, before blooming) the crop biomass production was
recorded. Wilted plant material for each plot was collected and pH was
measured. Dried and ground samples (1 mm mesh) were analyzed for
crude protein (CP), lipids (EE), crude fibre (CFom), neutral detergent
fibre (aNDFom), acid detergent fibre (ADF), lignin (ADL) and ash
(ASH) content. All data were analyzed by ANOVA and differences
among means were declared significant at P<0.05. Biomass production
showed a N dose-dependent relationship [from N0=1.80±0.29 to
N3=2.71±0.20 t ha–1 dry matter (DM), P<0.01]. N-fertilization significantly
affected the CP content, with the highest values (17.52±0.26%
DM) observed for the N3 fertilization level. The other nutritional characteristics
(EE: 1.36±0.23% DM; CFom: 41.70±3.65% DM; aNDFom:
44.6±2.71% DM; ASH: 12.74±0.74% DM) were not or only slightly
affected (ADF: 34.15±2.14%; ADL: 9.53±2.35) (P<0.05) by the N-fertilization.
After the 2-day wilting treatment, the highest pH (5.99±0.08)
was found for N2 treatment, while the lowest one (5.85±0.06) was
recorded for the N0 level (P<0.01). The wilting treatment gave a sufficient
moisture reduction, allowing satisfactory preservation of safflower
by ensiling. Spineless safflower shows an interesting potential
to be grown for ruminants feeding in Mediterranean area. N-fertilization
plays an important role as far as productivity of safflower and its
CP content are concerned. Further studies are in progress to fully characterize
safflower as fresh and preserved forage resource for crop-livestock
production systems in central Italy.
Citation
Danieli, P.P. et al. 2011. The potential role of spineless safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L. var. inermis) as fodder crop in central Italy. "Italian Journal of Agronomy" 64: 19-22.
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