Forage potential of experimental soybean lines (Glycine max)

Five experimental lines (H15-0625, H15-0249, H14-0307, H14-0496, and H10-0556) and a commercial variety (Huasteca 300) of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] were evaluated at 77, 91, and 105 days after sowing (das). The variables were crop growth rate (GR), total dry matter yield (TDMY), and crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrients (TDN) and metabolizable energy (ME). A completely randomized design with four replicates (Tukey; alpha = 0.05) was used. Lines H10-0556, and H14-0496 presented the highest GR (p < 0.05), which on average were 100, 132, and 123 kg ha(-1) day(-1); while H10-0556, and H14-0496 showed higher TDMY, 7.689, 11.981, and 12.921 t ha(-1), at 77, 91, and 105 das, respectively. The materials H14-0496, H15-0625, and Huasteca 300 showed higher TDN (p < 0.05), on average 580, 654, and 708 g kg(-1) at 77, 91, and 105 das, respectively. The highest ME was presented by H14-0496, H15-0625, and Huasteca 300, 2.57 Mcal kg(-1), at 105 das. Experimental lines H10-0556, H14-0307, and H14-0496, presented the best forage potential in comparison with the commercial variety due to the higher forage yield and nutritional value; these lines could be harvested between 91 and 105 das, maintaining the nutritional value of the forage.