Rivera-Andújar, Verónica L.

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    Alternativas para el control biológico de la maleza invasora, Hyparrhenia rufa: Hongos fitopatógenos y ganado caprino
    (2012) Rivera-Andújar, Verónica L.; Rivera-Vargas, Lydia I.; College of Agricultural Sciences; Rodríguez Carías, Abner; Vargas Ayala, Roberto; Department of Crops and Agro-Environmental Sciences; Acosta, Jaime A.
    Hyparrhenia rufa commonly known as Jaragua grass is an aggressive weed that has invaded cropland in Puerto Rico. To reduce the possible use of herbicide, several strategies have been proposed for its control such as the use of phytopathogenic fungi and small ruminants. The study was divided into two sections: (I) Identification and pathogenicity of fungi with potential for biological control of Hyparrhenia rufa and (II) Nutrient content and use of Hyparrhenia rufa in diets for goats. Fungal isolates of Curvularia sp., Sphaeropsis sp., Phoma sorghina and Fusarium sp. were identified and evaluated under laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions being Fusarium sp. the most virulent producing large ellipsoidal foliar lesions. As a possible food for goats were observed marked variations in the nutrient content of H. rufa through the years. Given the higher content of crude protein from August to October, this time of year could be the most suitable for hay production or grazing of this invasive species. As an integral part of the diet in goats, including 20% Hyparrhenia rufa hay with 80% tropical grass hay did not affect total forage consumption and digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber. The goats consumed 10% of Hyparrhenia rufa hay offered value that could represent the ideal replacement level in diets for goats based on tropical grass hay.