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Effect of cutting height on non-structural carbohydrates, biomass production and mortality rate of pigeon peas

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Abstract

Inadequate nutrition limits small-scale livestock production by smallholder farmers in South Africa but can be addressed by the introduction of woody fodder species. Cutting woody plants to harvest fodder affects their productivity and thus it is necessary to determine the optimum cutting height. Cutting affects the productivity and survival of woody plants because it alters concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates, which are used to support their recovery. Since pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) is not widely grown in South Africa and is not managed as a pruned hedgerow, there was a need to investigate the effect of cutting height under local conditions, especially in areas that experience frost. The trial was established in November 2016, ran over two growing seasons (2016/2017 and 2017/2018) and concluded in August 2018. The treatments comprised three silvopastoral systems with Panicum maximum planted between pigeon pea hedgerows that were cut at 60 cm and 90 cm above the ground, or left uncut and sole P. maximum. Over the two year period, the pigeon pea plants cut at 90 cm above ground produced significantly more leaf, twig and total biomass than the plants cut at 60 cm. Cutting height also had a significant effect on the percentage twig, with pigeon pea plants cut at 90 cm having significantly higher percentage twig than those cut at 60 cm (P < 0.05). There was a significant effect of cutting height on stem sugar concentration and sugar: starch ratio but not for starch and total non-structural carbohydrate concentration (P > 0.05). In July 2018 there were a number of days with temperatures below 0 °C. Prior to this no mortalities had been observed, but the frost events resulted in die-off. The mortality rates were determined in August 2018 when it was clear which of the shrubs had clearly died. The shrub mortality rates were higher for pruned relative to unpruned shrubs, but the effect was not significant (P > 0.05). It was concluded that the choice of cutting height is important for maximising browse production. Future research should consider the effect of pruning on non-structural carbohydrate concentration and total pool in the roots to better understand the reasons for reduced production and shrub mortalities.

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Data generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC) of South Africa under project number K5/2492//4 (Water use of agroforestry systems for food, forage and/or biofuel production). The authors are also thankful to the management of Fountainhill Estate for providing a research site for the trials.

Funding

BAL and TM were supported by project K5/2492//4 (Water use of agroforestry systems for food, forage and/or biofuel production) of the Water Research Commission (WRC) of South Africa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    B. A. Letty, T. Makhubedu & P. Mafongoya

  2. Institute of Natural Resources NPC, Box 100396, ScottsvillePietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa

    B. A. Letty & T. Makhubedu

  3. School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    P. F. Scogings

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  1. B. A. Letty
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  2. T. Makhubedu
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  4. P. Mafongoya
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Contributions

All authors contributed to conceptualization and experimental design. BA Letty and T Makhubedu collected the data. BA Letty managed the project, analysed the data and wrote the first draft. All authors contributed to revisions.

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Correspondence to B. A. Letty.

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Letty, B.A., Makhubedu, T., Scogings, P.F. et al. Effect of cutting height on non-structural carbohydrates, biomass production and mortality rate of pigeon peas. Agroforest Syst 95, 659–667 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-021-00616-8

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