Abstract
ABSTRACT Most sandy soils have low natural fertility and low levels of organic matter, making nitrogen (N) fertilization essential. Thus, five doses of N were applied (0, 75, 125, 175 and 225mg dm-³) in a randomized block design to evaluate the effects of nitrogen fertilization on the morphogenetic, structural and production characteristics of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu in a Quartzarenic neosoil. The doses of N did not affect the height of the canopy. The leaf elongation rate, final leaf length and number of live leaves increased linearly at the doses of N. Leaf appearance rate, stem elongation rate, leaf lifespan, phyllochron, leaf senescence rate and tiller density showed a quadratic response to the rates There was also an effect of N rates in herbage mass, leaf mass, stem mass, which increased linearly. Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu cultivated in Quartzarenic neosoil requires higher doses of N, 175 and 225mg dm-³. Under these conditions, increases in its morphogenetic, structural and productive characteristics are observed. These findings may not be repeated in the most fertile soils with the greatest capacity to supply N.
Highlights
Cultivars of the species Brachiaria brizantha stand out for their persistence and high herbage production capacity (Calvano et al, 2011; Euclides et al, 2019) as well as high phenotypic plasticity in sandy soils and in semiarid environments (Veras et al, 2020)
The fraction of N in the soil resulting from the mineralization of organic matter is not sufficient to meet the requirements of plants in tropical sandy soils (Fagundes et al, 2012; Campos et al, 2020; Clément et al, 2020) a low supply of N can compromise the appearance of new tissues (Farias et al, 2019)
The N rates induced a linear response in leaf elongation rate (LER), FLL and number of live leaves (NLL), which increased by 0.006cm/tiller, 0.032cm and 0.010 leaves/tiller, respectively, with each milligram of N added (Table 1)
Summary
Cultivars of the species Brachiaria brizantha stand out for their persistence and high herbage production capacity (Calvano et al, 2011; Euclides et al, 2019) as well as high phenotypic plasticity in sandy soils and in semiarid environments (Veras et al, 2020) For these plants to persist in sandy soils, fertilization management is necessary due to their lower natural fertility (Bezerra et al, 2017). Knowledge of the limiting nutritional factors is essential for plants to be able to achieve optimal production capacity (Megda and Monteiro, 2010) In this respect, adequate soil fertility and the maintenance of its chemical attributes are the factors responsible for the formation and development of plants (Aquino et al, 2014). The fraction of N in the soil resulting from the mineralization of organic matter is not sufficient to meet the requirements of plants in tropical sandy soils (Fagundes et al, 2012; Campos et al, 2020; Clément et al, 2020) a low supply of N can compromise the appearance of new tissues (Farias et al, 2019)
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