Abstract
The increased world population has raised the demand for animal proteins, forcing livestock to become productive, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. This study aimed to assess the effect of weed coexistence on productivity, nutritional quality, and potential production of greenhouse gases (GHG) by Convert HD364 grass (Urochloa hibrida cv. Mulato II) under pasture renovation conditions. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with four replications and treatments consisting of eight coexistence periods: 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, and 120 days after seedling emergence. Phytosociological assessments were performed in the weed community at the end of each coexistence period. The Convert HD364 grass was assessed for the morphological and chemical-bromatological parameters and for the GHG emission potential. Productivity, nutritional quality, and energy value of the Convert HD364 grass decreased proportionally with the increased period of weed coexistence. The non-coexistence with weeds results in a better in vitro digestibility of organic matter and, consequently, decreases the potential of GHG emission by the dry matter of the Convert HD364 grass.
Highlights
Forage species have an essential role for grazing ruminants since the profitability and sustainability of this system depend on the choice and nutritional quality of the plants, directly affecting zootechnical indices and socioeconomic aspects of the majority of tropical countries (GLÉRIA et al, 2017)
Brachiaria) are among the exotic forages currently cultivated in Brazilian pastures due to their adaptation to the most adverse climatic and soil conditions, dominating widely on the other genera of forages used in the Cerrado environment (MARCHI et al, 2017)
Mulato II, commercially known as Convert HD364, obtained by the cross between Urochloa ruziziensis x Urochloa decumbens x Urochloa brizantha, which was selected for its resistance, vigor, and high digestibility
Summary
Forage species have an essential role for grazing ruminants since the profitability and sustainability of this system depend on the choice and nutritional quality of the plants, directly affecting zootechnical indices and socioeconomic aspects of the majority of tropical countries (GLÉRIA et al, 2017). Its noted that the grasses of the genus Urochloa Hybrids have been developed in order to more efficiently convert natural resources into different final products of livestock, guaranteeing higher productivity in a smaller area and shorter time. A typical example is Urochloa hibrida cv. Results have shown that this forage has the potential to produce from 10 to 27 t ha-1 year-1 of dry matter with good nutritional value (ARGEL et al, 2007; VENDRAMINI et al, 2012; SANTOS et al, 2015)
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