Effect of harvest frequency and season on morphogenic and structural characteristics of dwarf and tall Elephantgrass genotypes

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of two harvest frequencies (60 and 90 days) on the morphogenic and structural characteristics of four Elephantgrass genotypes (two tall and two dwarf) in both rainy and dry seasons. The research was conducted in Garanhuns, Brazil from September 2019 to December 2021. The morphogenic characteristics evaluated included leaf appearance rate, stem and leaf elongation rate, phyllochron, plant height, stem diameter, leaf and stem length, basal tiller population density, and number of leaves per tiller. The results showed that Elephant B had the highest leaf elongation rate among all genotypes, both in the rainy and dry seasons. During the rainy season, the tall genotypes showed higher stem elongation rates compared to the dwarf genotypes. The tall genotypes also had lower phyllochron values. Taiwan A-146 2.37 had a higher population density of basal tillers by 30%–37% compared to other genotypes. During the dry season, the stem elongation rate of Taiwan A-146 2.37 was slower compared to the rainy season. The study showed that the harvest frequency had an effect on the morphogenic characteristics of Elephantgrass genotypes, with 60 days harvest resulting in higher leaf elongation rates. Elephant B was superior in terms of leaf elongation at both harvest frequencies. The results indicate that the season also plays a role in the morphogenic characteristics of the genotypes. This study provides insights into the optimal cutting strategies for Elephantgrass based on the size of the plant and season.