Dynamics and stability of Marandu grass tillers in monocrop systems and babassu palm silvopastoral systems

Ricardo Alves De Araújo,Rosane Cláudia Rodrigues,Marcônio Martins Rodrigues,Clésio Santos Costa,Francisco Naysson Sousa Santos,Antonio José Temístocles Lima

doi:10.4025/actasciagron.v42i1.42445

Ricardo Alves De Araújo, Rosane Cláudia Rodrigues + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.4025/actasciagron.v42i1.42445

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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics, population density of tillers and stability index of Urochloa brizantha in silvopastoral systems composed of babassu palm trees in the Pre-Amazon region. Four systems consisting of different densities of palm trees (80, 131, and 160 palms ha-1) and a monocrop were evaluated. The rates at which the basal tillers appeared in systems with 131 and 160 palms ha-1 were similar to each other and were slower compared to the monocrop pasture and the system with 80 palms ha-1. Despite the variations, the stability index was always higher than 1.0, which infers a compensatory mechanism between tiller appearance and mortality rate, since monocrop pastures and systems with 80 palms ha-1 have a higher rate of tissue turnover with high rates of tiller appearance and mortality; in contrast, the system with 160 palms ha-1 presents high tiller survival rates. Both the 160 and 131 palms ha-1 systems indicate impaired canopy renewal, as seen in the low appearance rate of basal tillers due to shading. As such, the tillering dynamics of the systems vary according to the density of palm trees, and the smaller tree densities favor the tiller turnover in the first generations evaluated.

Highlights

Providing pasture to feed ruminants is the most economical way to maintain productive herds, and when well-managed, herds can remain productive for long periods provided that their physiological, nutritional and climatic requirements are met
One example can be seen in the Pre-Amazon region, where intercropping adult babassu palm trees (Orbygnia phalerata Mart.) with pastures is observed
A higher tiller population density was observed in the rainy season; between systems, tiller population density was highest for the system with 80 palms ha-1, there was no significant difference between the 131 and 160 palms ha-1 systems, and the 131 and 160 palms ha-1 systems did not differ from the monocrop, which had the lowest tiller population density

Summary

Introduction

Providing pasture to feed ruminants is the most economical way to maintain productive herds, and when well-managed, herds can remain productive for long periods provided that their physiological, nutritional and climatic requirements are met. Due to inadequate management, pastures in Brazil are often degraded or present some degree of degradation, and the main consequence is the decrease in animal productivity, which requires the replacement and/or recovery of degraded pasture or even conversion new areas. In this sense, integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems are viable alternatives for the advancement of a sustainable agriculture and livestock production given their positive influence on ecological and social processes. One example can be seen in the Pre-Amazon region, where intercropping adult babassu palm trees (Orbygnia phalerata Mart.) with pastures is observed. This palm tree is noticeable in the dry forest of the Eastern Amazon, mainly in the State of Maranhão, where approximately 53% of the Brazilian babassu plantations are concentrated (Rodrigues et al, 2016)

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