Morphological characteristics and production of Xaraes and Zuri grass fertilized with combinations of sulfur and potassium

Abstract

Sulfur and potassium are essential elements for the development of forages as part of protein synthesis, nutrient transport, activation of photosynthesis enzymes and stomatal activity. Thus, this study aimed was to evaluate the production and morphology of Xaraes grass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraes) and Zuri grass (Megathyrsus maximus cv. Zuri) fertilized with combinations of sulfur (S) and potassium (K) (only S, only K, with S and K, and without both), and identify which of these nutrients should be prioritized in maintenance fertilization. Two experiments were conducted in the greenhouse, in a completely randomized design. The first experiment was utilized the Xaraes grass and the second experiment the Zuri grass. Each experimental plot consisted of 5 dm3 pots with five plants per pot. All treatments were fertilized 200 mg/dm3 per pot with nitrogen. On treatments fertilized with sulfur it were applied ammonium sulfate (21% N and 24% S) as nitrogen supply, thus, it was applied 228 mg/dm3 of sulfur per plot. On treatments without sulfur, the nitrogen source was urea (46% N). The treatments with potassium were fertilized 100 mg/dm3 with potassium, utilizing potassium chloride (58% K2O). The harvest was performed when the plants reached the height of 35 and 75 cm, for xaraes and zuri respectively. For Xaraes grass, the fertilization with S and K in different combinations had a significant effect (P<0.05) on forage mass, leaves number and tillers per pot, individual tiller mass, leaf blade, stem + sheath, and dead material, as well as relative forage mass. For Zuri grass, the combinations of S and K showed statistical difference (P<0.05) just on leaf blade mass and dead material, and the number of leaves per pot, as well as on relative leaf blade mass. Based on the results obtained in the two experiments, the S and K combination in the maintenance fertilization of xaraes grass improves the forage development, however, S does not increase the productive indexes of zuri grass.