Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the production and bromatological composition of cultivars of Brachiaria brizantha (cvs. Marandu and Xaraes) and Campo Grande stylo (Stylosanthes ssp) monocropped and intercropped under different planting methods for a period of two years. The experimental design used consisted of randomized complete blocks, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of the following forage systems: monocropped Campo Grande stylo; monocropped Xaraes palisadegrass; monocropped Marandu palisadegrass; X. palisadegrass row-intercropped with Campo Grande stylo; X. palisadegrass mixed-intercropped with Campo Grande stylo; M. palisadegrass row-intercropped with Campo Grande stylo and M. palisadegrass mixed-intercropped with Campo Grande stylo. The evaluations were performed for two years, with evaluations for each season of the year (autumn, winter, spring and summer) in the same plots and repeated measures over time. The X. palisadegrass and M. palisadegrass showed similar results between the intercropping systems, indicating that both may be intercropped with Campo Grande stylo. Intercropping stylo with B. brizantha cultivars improves both pasture production and quality. However, the most efficient planting method was row intercropping because it maintains greater legume persistence in the forage system throughout the years assessed while also providing greater production and nutritional value. Key words: Marandu palisadegrass, Xaraes palisadegrass, Stylosanthes spp.
Highlights
Nitrogen (N) is a key nutrient for enhancing the productivity of forage grasses
The treatments consisted of the following forage systems: monocropped Campo Grande stylo; monocropped Xaraes palisadegrass; monocropped Marandu palisadegrass; Xaraes palisadegrass row-intercropped with Campo
The comparison of seasons within each forage system in the first year shows that the legume ratio for Campo Grande stylo row intercropping with Xaraes palisadegrass was similar in autumn, winter and spring, differing only in the summer, which showed the lowest ratio
Summary
Nitrogen (N) is a key nutrient for enhancing the productivity of forage grasses. Its use has been limited by its relatively high cost due to the extension of the areas involved and the need for frequent applications (Costa et al, 2010). The use intercropped with tropical grasses may appropriate alternative for supplying N (Barbero et al, 2010). The introduction of legumes be a more to a system of legumes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
