RITMO DE CRECIMIENTO, PRODUCCIÓN DE BIOMASA Y DINÁMICA DE MOVILIZACIÓN DE CARBOHIDRATOS EN UN CULTIVO DE Adesmia bicolor (POIR.) DC (FABACEAE)

Native perennial legumes are an important component of rangelands in many parts of the world and may contribute to improve the nutritional value of natural and cultivated grazing systems. In the arid and semi-arid central region of Argentina, the domestication of species with forage potential, such as Adesmia bicolor (Poir.) DC, has begun. The objective of this work was to evaluate a crop of Adesmia bicolor (Poir.) DC and relate crop growth to biomass production, and carbohydrate mobilization dynamics during one year. To evaluate growth dynamics, seedlings and adult plants https://doi.org/10.29393/CHJAAS36-15RCVP80015 Chilean J. Agric. Anim. Sci., ex Agro-Ciencia (2020) 36(3): 172 171-180. were selected, and vegetative and reproductive variables were recorded every 7 to 10 days. In addition, aerial and ground biomass samples were taken in an area of 0,0625 m2 every 60 days and processed to determine carbohydrate mobilization dynamics. The low stem:root ratio observed in the seedlings and the clonal growth of A. bicolor adults plants favor the establishment and development of the crop, reaching its maximum vegetative growth in winter/spring. This maximum growth is determined by high cotyledonary and prophyllar branching with increased internode length. The indefinite life cycle guarantees an important photosynthetic rate that allows for not only crop persistence, but also enough carbohydrate concentration in roots and stolons, which permits a rapid recovery during regrowth. These results indicate that A. bicolor is a species that has desirable attributes for forage production.