Resumen
- The forage shrubs represent an important strategy for feeding goats and sheep in the indigenous Wayuu communities in La Guajira, Colombia. In this region the prolongation of the drought is more accentuated and affects the availability of fodder for animal feed. The objective of this work is to estimate the biomass allocation and resprouting capacity of forage trees during two contrasting sampling periods. For each of the species, trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) between 5 and 20 cm were sampled, which were then subjected a total homogenization pruning at a height of two meters. The monthly counting, marking and record of shoots located in the first (B), second (M) and third third (T) of the tree during each sampling period (three months for rain season and three months for drought season). At the end of each period, the shoots were harvested and divided into fractions: fine <5 mm (leaves (HF) and stems (TF)) and thick> 5 mm (leaves (HG) and stems (TG)). During the two sampling periods, a shoots concentration in (T) of 82% was estimated, followed by (M) and (B) with 10% and 8% respectively. The rain season, P. juliflora and T. chrysanta showed greater resprouting capacity with 117 and 106 shoot/tree respectively, followed by P. dulce and C. odoratissima with 89 and 6 shoot/tree. While in the second period there was a significant reduction for P. dulce, T. chrysanta and C. odoratissima of 96, 44, 43% with respect to the previous period, the exception being P. juliflora with 218 shoot/tree. Differences were determined the fist sampling the production of edible biomass (HF+TF+HG) during the sampling periods. In the first period T. chrysanta, P dulce and P. juliflora presented value the highest of edible biomass (HF+TF+HG) of 357, 211,5, 208,9 g/DM/tree respectively. For the second period P. juliflora presented a better response to drought with 514 g/DM/tree, followed by T. chrysanta with 7,7 g/DM/tree. Regarding the total biomass allocation (HF+TF+HG+TG) during the first sampling period, P. dulce assigned for the fine fraction component 98% of biomass, followed by P. juliflora and T. chrysanta with 91% and 77% respectively. In the second period P. juliflora with 96% presented the highest allocation with respect to all the species. It is concluded that the species P. juliflora presents a greater capacity of regrowth and biomass allocation during the sampling periods with respect to the group of evaluated species, a response possibly associated with the strategies of allocatio