Abstract Objective To evaluate the effect of green manure from mycorrhized Canavalia ensiformis (L.) on the biomass yield and quality of the successor crop Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone Cuba CT-169. Materials and Methods A study was conducted on a soil of low natural fertility of the Base Soil Scientific Technological Unit, Barajagua, Cienfuegos, Cuba. A randomized block design was used, with three replicas and four treatments: inoculation of jack bean with the arbuscular mycorhizal fungi species Funneliformis mosseae, Glomus cubense and Rhizoglomus irregulare and a treatment without inoculation (control). After 69 days, jack bean was incorporated to the soil and 70 days later C. purpureus cv Cuba CT-169 was planted. Morphological indicators, biomass yield and crude protein content of C. purpureus were evaluated, in addition to mycorrhizal colonization of the roots and their visual density. Results There were no statistical differences in height, length of the fourth leaf, leaf area and stem diameter. Regarding the width of the fourth leaf, the best response was obtained with the green manure of C. ensiformis, mycorrhized with the strain R. irrregulare, without differing from the other inoculated variants, although it differed from the control (p ≤ 0,05). The biomass production showed significant differences in the variants inoculated with G. cubense and F. mosseae with regards to the control. R. irregulare did not differ from the two above-mentioned strains or from the control. In the crude protein content no statistical differences were found among the inoculated treatments, but they differed from the control. Conclusions The results suggest a favorable combination of green manure from mycorrhized C. ensiformis and C. purpureus cv Cuba CT-169. The inoculation of jack bean with the mycorrhizal strains increased the biomass and crude protein yield of C. purpureus cv Cuba CT-169.

Resumen Objetivo Evaluar el efecto del abono verde de Canavalia ensiformis (L.) micorrizada en el rendimiento y calidad de biomasa del cultivo sucesor Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone Cuba CT-169. Materiales y Métodos Se desarrolló una investigación en un suelo de baja fertilidad natural de la Unidad Científico Tecnológica de Base Suelos, Barajagua, Cienfuegos, Cuba. Se empleó un diseño de bloques al azar, con tres réplicas y cuatro tratamientos: inoculación de canavalia con las especies de hongos micorrízicos arbusculares Funneliformis mosseae, Glomus cubense y Rhizoglomus irregulare y un tratamiento sin inoculación (testigo). A los 69 días, se incorporó la canavalia al suelo y 70 días después se plantó C. purpureus vc Cuba CT-169. Se evaluaron indicadores morfológicos, el rendimiento de biomasa y el contenido de proteína bruta de C. purpureus, además de la colonización micorrízica de las raíces y su densidad visual. Resultados No hubo diferencias estadísticas en la altura, el largo de la cuarta hoja, el área foliar y el grosor del tallo. En cuanto al ancho de la cuarta hoja, la mejor respuesta fue con el abono verde de C. ensiformis, micorrizada con la cepa R. irregulare, sin diferir del resto de las variantes inoculadas, aunque sí del testigo (p ≤ 0,05). La producción de biomasa mostró diferencias significativas en las variantes inoculadas con G. cubense y F. mosseae con relación al testigo. R. irregulare no difirió de las dos cepas anteriores ni del testigo. En el contenido de proteína bruta no se encontraron diferencias estadísticas entre los tratamientos inoculados, pero sí difirieron del testigo. Conclusiones Los resultados sugieren una combinación favorable del abono verde de C. ensiformis micorrizada y C. purpureus vc Cuba CT-169. La inoculación de la canavalia con las cepas de micorrizas incrementó el rendimiento de biomasa y proteína bruta de C. purpureus vc Cuba CT-169.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the forage yield and quality of Canavalia ensiformis in the establishment stage. Three AMF species and a control were evaluated, in a randomized block design with four treatments and three repetitions. The evaluated variables were: aerial dry biomass yield, efficiency index, crude protein, NPK extraction, colonization and visual density of the roots. The inoculation with AMF species surpassed the control in all the variables. The highest dry biomass yield values were found in Funneliformis mosseae/INCAM-2, and the lowest ones in the control, with significant differences at p< 0,05 (8,30 and 4,35 t ha-1, respectively). The extraction of N, P2O5 and K2O reached values of 254,73; 32,26; 210,96 and 120,43; 15,03; 77,00 for F. mosseae /INCAM-2 and the control, respectively (p < 0,05). F. mosseae/INCAM-2 and Glomus cubense/INCAM-4 showed the highest values of colonization and visual density, although the latter did not differ from Rhizoglomus intraradices/INCAM-11. It is concluded that the different inoculated AMF strains surpassed the control in the dry matter yield, crude protein and extraction of macronutrients from the soil, although the highest effectiveness in any of these variables was obtained with the inoculation of the strain F. mosseae /INCAM-2.

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el efecto de hongos micorrízico arbusculares (HMA) sobre el rendimiento y la calidad del forraje de Canavalia ensiformis en la fase de establecimiento. Se evaluaron tres especies de HMA y un testigo, en un diseño de bloques al azar con cuatro tratamientos y tres repeticiones. Las variables evaluadas fueron: rendimiento de biomasa seca aérea, índice de eficiencia, proteína bruta, extracción de NPK, colonización y densidad visual de las raíces. La inoculación con especies de HMA superó al testigo en todas las variables. Los mayores valores de rendimiento de biomasa seca se hallaron en Funneliformis mosseae/INCAM-2, y los menores en el testigo, con diferencias significativas a p < 0,05 (8,30 y 4,35 t ha-1, respectivamente). La extracción de N, P2O5 y K2O alcanzó valores de 254,73; 32,26; 210,96 y de 120,43; 15,03; 77,00 para F. mosseae /INCAM-2 y el testigo, respectivamente (p< 0,05). F. mosseae/INCAM-2 y Glomus cubense/INCAM-4 mostraron los mayores valores de colonización y de densidad visual, aunque esta última no difirió de Rhizoglomus intraradices/INCAM-11.Se concluye que las diferentes cepas de HMA inoculadas superaron al testigo en el rendimiento de masa seca, proteína bruta y extracción de macronutrientes del suelo, aunque la mayor efectividad en cualquiera de estas variables se obtuvo con la inoculación de la cepa F. mosseae/INCAM-2.

Carcasses of twenty lambs (10 males and 10 females) from the Canaria Hair breed (CHB) and another twenty (10 males and 10 females) from the Canaria breed (CB) of 9.91±0.73 kg and 9.87±0.80 kg live weight, respectively, were studied. In the principal component (PC) analysis, the projection of carcass measurement data in the first PC allowed for clearly distinguishing between CB and CHB. In the analysis of variance, breed effect was observed in the morphology of the carcass: CB lambs showed the longest carcasses and CHB lambs showed the widest carcasses. Due to their wider rump and shorter legs, CHB lambs presented a more compact leg index. The carcasses from Canaria lambs had the highest fat score, the heaviest shoulder and the highest total fat percentage. The carcasses from CHB lambs showed a higher lean percentage. The carcass yield, conformation, degree of fatness and tissue composition were similar in both sexes. However, significant differences in the commercial cut yield were observed: males showed heavier shoulders than females. The effect of sex on carcass quality is unimportant. The breeds are different in important characteristics for the market, such as fatness. This fact is of significant interest because it diversifies the offer and means that different markets can be satisfied.