Abstract
The structure of the sward is important because it influences the responses of plants and animals in grazing conditions. The objective with this work was to evaluate the structural characteristics of the Marandu palisade grass pasture (Brachiaria brizantha syn. Urochloa brizantha) during spring and summer, depending on the condition of the sward at the end of winter. Four grazing conditions at the end of winter were evaluated: short (24.1 cm), short (25.2 cm)/mown (8 cm), tall (49.0 cm) and tall (50.0 cm)/mown (8 cm). The foliar area index was lower in the tall pasture than in the tall/mown pasture. The mass and the volumetric density of dead stem were higher in the tall pasture, intermediate in the short pasture, and lower in mowed pastures. At the beginning of the grazing period, the live stem mass was higher in the tall pasture. At the beginning and middle of the grazing period, the volumetric density of dead leaf lamina was lower in mowed pastures. At the beginning of the pasture period, the short pasture had a higher tiller number (TN). In the middle of the grazing period, the short and short/mown pastures had higher TN. At the end of the pasture period, the lowest TN value occurred in the tall pasture. The tall pasture at the end of winter presents an unfavorable structure to the animal in grazing, while the mowing and reduction in the height of the marandu palisade grass improves the structure of the sward in spring and summer.
Highlights
Sward structure is defined as the arrangement and spatial distribution of parts of above ground plant within their community (PEREIRA et al, 2010), which influences in the light interception and, in effect, the photosynthesis of forage canopy (PEDREIRA; PEDREIRA, 2007; PERI et al, 2003)
The sward structure is important because it determines the degree of ease on which the forage is digested during grazing and, influences the animal performance (CARVALHO et al, 2015)
It is important to recognize that the current sward structure is a consequence of sward management strategies adopted in previous seasons (SANTOS et al, 2015; SANTOS et al, 2017)
Summary
Sward structure is defined as the arrangement and spatial distribution of parts of above ground plant within their community (PEREIRA et al, 2010), which influences in the light interception and, in effect, the photosynthesis of forage canopy (PEDREIRA; PEDREIRA, 2007; PERI et al, 2003). After the implementation of the management strategy, forage plants develop in posterior seasons with morphogenic patterns determined by the previous management of the sward. This is due, in part, to the gradual phenotypic plasticity of the forage plant (NELSON, 2000). In this context, it is important to recognize that the current sward structure is a consequence of sward management strategies adopted in previous seasons (SANTOS et al, 2015; SANTOS et al, 2017). These results, temporally, in a more ample horizon for assessing pasture management, an aspect that still requires scientific research
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