Enrique Troyo Diéguez

Potencial forrajero del pasto salado, Distichlis spicata L., (greene) en ecosistemas costeros de Baja California sur, México por el método de "componentes principales"

Forage potential of the non-domesticated saltgrass Distichlis spicata (Gramineae) was determined by analyzing its chemical and productive variables using principal components analysis (PCA). Plants were collected from five sites amongst three locations, in areas including wetlands shores, centers, and beach. The results suggested that D. spicata is a rough, poorly digested forage, as explained by the statistical significance of the variables, which indicate that neutral detergent fiber (NDF: 67%), acid detergent fiber (ADF: 52%), and minerals (ASH: 15%) were the main variables in the PCA. NDF, ADF, and ASH components were found to be part of two lineal functions that explain 84% of the total variance of the forage potential. Based on these functions, four forage types were identified: Chametla wetlands shore is significantly influenced by NDF and ASH and qualified as forage with fiber and mineral content in association, Mar Azul, qualified as a balanced forage, Chametla wetlands center and beach, influenced by ash, qualified as mineral-source forage, and San Carlos, influenced by ADF and classified as a poorly digested forage. The results suggest that different populations of D. spicata have different forage potential. D. spicata was generally defined as a fiber forage species, with low digestibility and high mineral content.