Abstract
This study was carried out from October 2002 to December 2003 to evaluate the dynamics of sward condition and botanical composition of a mixed massaigrass (Panicum maximum x P. infestum, cv. Massai) and forage peanut (Arachis pintoi Ac 01) pasture, intermittently stocked at three daily herbage allowance levels (9.0, 14.5 and 18.4% live weight). Sward condition was characterized in each grazing cycle in terms of the pre and post-grazing sward height, forage mass and percentage of bare ground. Botanical composition (grass, legume and weeds) was evaluated before each grazing period. Sward height and forage mass increased linearly with increasing herbage allowance (HA) levels, and higher values were observed during the rainy season. Percentage of bare ground increased primarily at the lowest HA level. Percentage of forage peanut increased throughout the experimental period, primarily in the barest and shortest swards, under the lowest HA level. In the last quarter of 2003 the legume constituted 23.5, 10.6 and 6.4% of the pasture forage mass, respectively, from the lowest to the highest HA level. These results suggest that forage peanut can be successfully associated with massaigrass, as long as the pre-grazing sward height is maintained shorter than 65-70 cm, which will prevent excessive shading to the legume.
Highlights
The use of improved grass-legume pastures has been considered as one of the options to increase the productivity, profitability and sustainability of cattle production systems in tropical (Valentim & Andrade, 2004) and temperate regions (Laidlaw & Teuber, 2001)
In the last quarter of 2003 the legume constituted 23.5, 10.6 and 6.4% of the pasture forage mass, respectively, from the lowest to the highest herbage allowance (HA) level. These results suggest that forage peanut can be successfully associated with massaigrass, as long as the pre-grazing sward height is maintained shorter than 65-70 cm, which will prevent excessive shading to the legume
The successful use of grass-legume pastures in the tropics is an exception to the norm, with only a few cases reported in the literature, most of which were realized in the last two decades (Valentim & Andrade, 2004)
Summary
The use of improved grass-legume pastures has been considered as one of the options to increase the productivity, profitability and sustainability of cattle production systems in tropical (Valentim & Andrade, 2004) and temperate regions (Laidlaw & Teuber, 2001). Arachis pintoi is currently the most promising forage legume in tropical regions, especially in humid climates One reason for this fact is that, of all the tropical herbaceous legumes, A. pintoi has the highest number of favorable attributes related to persistence under grazing. Some of these attributes include: 1) a prostrate and stoloniferous growth habit; 2) a prolonged plant life span (half-life of 25 months); 3) a high production of buried seeds, which germinate vigorously in the beginning of the rainy season; and 4) high shade tolerance (Grof, 1985a, 1985b; Jones, 1993; Fisher & Cruz, 1995; Thomas, 1995; Andrade et al, 2004). Belmonte was successfully introduced in approximately 65,000 ha of pasture, in association with various grass species (Valentim & Andrade, 2004)
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