Establishment of paiaguas palisadegrass in monoculture or in an integration system with other crops

José Ricardo Dos Santos Filho,Anna Luiza Hora Dos Santos,José William Teles Silva,Jailson Lara Fagundes,Bráulio Maia De Lana Sousa,Rafaela Stefanny Rodrigues Florêncio,Vinícius Conceição Da Silva,Alfredo Acosta Backes,Gabriela Santos Andrade

doi:10.1590/1809-6891v22e-68211

José Ricardo Dos Santos Filho, Anna Luiza Hora Dos Santos + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-6891v22e-68211

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Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive and structural characteristics of Paiaguas palisadegrass established in monoculture and intercropped with agricultural crops in 2018 and 2019. The evaluated treatments were: Paiaguas palisadegrass (PP) in monoculture, PP intercropped with maize, PP intercropped with sorghum, and PP intercropped with soybean. The experimental design used was a randomized block, with 4 replications (plots of 160 m²). Sward height, tiller density, dry mass production, and bulk density of total dry matter, of leaves, of stems, and of dead material were evaluated. The data were analyzed using the Tukey test at 5% probability. The total dry mass was higher in intercropping than in monoculture. Paiaguas palisadegrass intercropped with maize showed lower productions of total dry mass, leaf blade, and stems. The percentage of leaf blades was higher in Paiaguas palisadegrass intercropped in 2018 and in monoculture and intercropped with maize and soybean in 2019. Higher percentages of stems were registered in Paiaguas palisadegrass in monoculture in 2018 and in intercropping with sorghum in 2018 and 2019. In general, higher heights were found in Paiaguas palisadegrass in monoculture and smaller when intercropped with maize. The highest tiller densities were observed in Paiaguas palisadegrass in monoculture and the lowest in Paiaguas palisadegrass intercropped with maize and sorghum. Intercropping with agricultural crops reduces the production of Paiaguas palisadegrass. The accompanying agricultural crops alter the composition of the forage produced by the Paiaguas palisadegrass.

Highlights

The intercropping with maize resulted in a reduction of sward height, and the intercropping with either maize or sorghum decreased tiller density
The absence of an agricultural crop enabled the growth of Paiaguas palisadegrass in an environment with greater light intensity, which favored the growth of its height and of its tiller set
According to3), the competition for light in crop-livestock integrated systems are high because in most cases, the agricultural crops were genetically enhanced to be more responsive to management practices

Summary

Introduction

Brachiaria brizantha) species have been vastly used in ruminant production due to their adaptation to diverse edaphoclimatic conditions in Brazil, their spread by seeds, their productivity, and their flexibility in the management[1]. Among the forage plants of Urochloa brizantha, the cultivar BRS Paiaguas (Paiaguas palisadegrass) is a new option for the establishment or renewal of pastures, presenting as characteristics higher productive potential in dry periods allied to good nutritional value[2]. For the establishment of pastures or agricultural crops, the integration between agriculture and livestock represents an advance in the sustainability of that activity, since it allies the aggregation of diverse income, rational use of the property, and reduction in production costs, minimizing the negative effects of crop-livestock production on the environment[3]. The accompanying agricultural crop may be used to complement ruminant feeding, through silage or grains

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