Adaptive Responses of Paspalum oteroi Native Grass to Fertilization and Shading

Alex Coene Fleitas,Luísa Melville Paiva,Henrique Jorge Fernandes ,Redney Gomes Brevilieri ,S A Santos ,Patrícia Gomes Dos Santos

doi:10.5296/jas.v8i3.17227

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the Paspalum oteroi native grass and its adaptive responses to shading and foliar fertilization in two pasture systems in the Cerrado-Pantanal transition region. A completely randomized block design with factorial arrangement was adopted to this study: three types of fertilizers [no fertilization – control (C); Foliar fertilizer for pasture (FF) and Soil fertilizer + Foliar fertilizer (SF)] x two pasture systems (WS - with shading, wooded P. oteroi pasture; NS - no shading, exclusive P. oteroi pasture) with four repetitions. P. oteroi seedlings were transplanted in November 2015. Data collection was from May 2016 to September 2016, during dry season. There were differences (p<0.05) in the sward height variables (H), dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) content, dry matter production (DMP) and shoot: root ratio (S:R). In the WS system increased of 8,61% of the CP content and fertilizer SF increased of 8.81% of the CP content. However, in the WS system was observed reduced DM, DMP and S:R and in the FF and SF fertilizers increased leaf area index (LAI), in the latter months of the application. Probably, P. oteroi grass developed adaptation strategies to deal with the environmental conditions to which it was submitted during this study, such as variations in its morphophysiological traits: low shoot / root ratio, height, chemical composition, leaf area index e light interception. In conclusion, P. oteroi showed adaptation to wooded pasture systems, during dry period, however, the use of fertilization depends on economic viability studies.

Highlights

Water shortage, and light and soil nutrient availability are considered resources that limit plant growth in grasslands (Craine e Dybzinski, 2013; Siebenkäs et al, 2015), affecting pasture productivity and nutrient supplies for the animals
There was no interaction between fertilizer type and the pasture systems
There was no significant correlation between leaf area index (LAI) and light interception (LI) as well as H and LI as expected (Table 6)

Summary

Introduction

Water shortage, and light and soil nutrient availability are considered resources that limit plant growth in grasslands (Craine e Dybzinski, 2013; Siebenkäs et al, 2015), affecting pasture productivity and nutrient supplies for the animals. On the other hand, integrated crop-livestock systems, such as the silvopastoral system, have been used to optimize the sustainability of pastures through the production of wood-based and forage. Integrated systems must be designed differently among the Brazil regions according to specific characteristics (Salton et al, 2014). One of the most frequent demands of the savanna region has been shade tolerant grasses aiming at pasture-forest production systems, these forages are limited (Euclides et al, 2010). Studies with different forages are fundamental to evaluate tolerance and development under conditions of restricted luminosity (Carvalho et al, 2002)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion