This work was carried out to evaluate the cutting effect at 0, 15, 30 and 45 cm height, on the chemical composition of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.) cv. Roxo in dry and rainy seasons. The samples were obtained from an useful area of 8,4 m² from each parcel. After the uniformity cut two cuts in dry season with 90 days interval, and three cuts in rainy seasons with 60 days interval. A sample of 3 or 5 tillers was taken from each parcel and they were dehydrated in air forced stove and ground for laboratorial analysis. The percentages of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose (CEL), hemicellulose (HCEL), lignin (LIG), and ashes were evaluated. The cutting heights did not influence the chemical composition of the grass, neither there was interaction with the seasons. Except for hemicellulose and ashes, the cut made in the dry season showed superior results than in the rainy season. The averages for the two periods were 19.70 and 17.44% for MS, 7.74 and 7.25% for CP, 76.41 and 71.13% for NDF, 42.75 and 41.02% for ADF, 31.44 and 30.43% for CEL, 30.66 and 30.28% for HCEL, 9.25 and 7.83% for LIG, and 1.97 and 3.38% for ashes, in dry and rainy seasons, respectively.
cellulose; fiber; lignin; Pennisetum purpureum; protein; seasons
