Effects of nitrogen application on growth characteristics of signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens)

Abstract

SUMMARYSignal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) given 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg N/ha and protected from defoliation by growing in cages was evaluated for tiller height, tiller density and dry matter (DM) yield in 1979 and 1980.Nitrogen rate had highly significant linear effects on tiller height and density and DM yield of the grass at each age of pasture regrowth and at all the ages of pasture regrowth combined in 1979 and 1980. The quadratic effect of N rate was not significant in either year.The positive linear responses shown by the growth of tillers and the overall yield of the grass at N rates up to 400 kg/ha suggest that further work, using N rates above 400 kg/ha, is needed to ascertain the optimum N requirement of this grass.