&lt;b&gt;Tiller dynamics of ryegrass managed under two stocking rates

Marcos Bernardino Alves,Luciana Pötter,Marta Gomes Da Rocha,Paulo Roberto Salvador,Sheila Cristina Bosco Stivanin,Viviane Da Silva Hampel

doi:10.4025/actascianimsci.v36i3.22912

<b>Tiller dynamics of ryegrass managed under two stocking rates

Marcos Bernardino Alves, Luciana Pötter + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.4025/actascianimsci.v36i3.22912

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Abstract

This study investigated the tiller dynamics of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) under low and high stocking rates. These rates were determined by heifers exclusively on pasture or grazing and supplemented with oats and corn grain. The experimental design was completely randomized with repeated measurements over time, with two stocking rates, three and six replications of area for low and high stocking rates, respectively. The appearance rate (1.0 tillers tiller -1 m -2 ), survival rate (0.8 tillers tiller -1 m -2 ), population stability index (1.6) and site occupation (0.3) were similar for high and low stocking rates. The tiller density was similar for different stocking rates. The first generation of tillers was 56% of the tiller population at end of the ryegrass cycle. The increase by 22.5% in the stocking rate derived from the use of supplements for grazing heifers did not alter the tiller dynamics of ryegrass.

Highlights

The persistence of forage grasses is related to the ongoing appearance of tillers from axillary buds in the sheath of each leaf blade in older stems
This study aimed to evaluate the tiller dynamics of Italian ryegrass grazed with two stocking rates, low and high, of beef heifers exclusively on pasture or grazing and supplemented with corn grain or oat grain
In the high stocking rate, the use of corn grain or oats grain as supplement for heifers on ryegrass pasture resulted in a stocking rate of 1434.6 kg body weight (BW) ha-1, an increase (p < 0.05) of 22.5% in relation to the low stocking rate obtained exclusively on pasture (1111.8 kg BW ha-1)

Summary

Introduction

The persistence of forage grasses is related to the ongoing appearance of tillers from axillary buds in the sheath of each leaf blade in older stems. Studies on demographic patterns of tillering have enabled significant improvements in the productivity of grazing systems through fine-tuning of management (MATTHEW et at., 2000). The manipulation of defoliation by adjustments and combinations of frequency and intensity of grazing can generate different responses in accumulation and nutritive value of forage produced, promoting variations in leaf area from changes in demographic patterns of tillering (DIFANTE et al, 2008). Environmental growth factors such as rainfall, temperature, light and nutrient availability combined with the strategies of. Animal Sciences defoliation can alter the tiller turnover in the canopy (MATTHEW et al, 2000)

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