Structure of differed Marandu palisade grass with variables nitrogen doses and heights

Flávia Soares,Dilermando Miranda Da Fonseca,Kimberly Barcelos Gois,Gustavo Segatto Borges,Manoel Eduardo Rozalino Santos,Lorena Carla Adorno,Davi Moraes De Oliveira

doi:10.14393/vtn-v26n2-2020-55056

Flávia Soares, Dilermando Miranda Da Fonseca + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14393/vtn-v26n2-2020-55056

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Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effects of height (15 and 30 cm)and nitrogen dose (N, 40, 80, and 120 kg ha-1) at the beginning of thestockpiling period on the structural characteristics of the Urochloabrizantha cv. Marandu (Marandu palisade grass) during winter. Thefalling index of the plant did not vary with the factors under scrutiny(P>0,10). The number of basal tillers was higher (P<0,10) in the 15-cmdeferred canopy than in the 30-cm canopy only when the highest N dosewas used. Under conditions of application of 0 or 80 kg ha-1 of N, the 30-cmstockpiled canopies showed a higher (P<0,10) forage mass than the 15-cmones. Associated with reduced canopy height at the beginning ofstockpiling period, nitrogen fertilization improves the morphologicalcomposition of Marandu palisade grass. To maximize the forage mass inthe dry season, the canopies of Marandu palisade grass can be deferredeither at 15 cm (fertilized with about 100 kg ha-1 of N) or at 30 cm (with nonitrogen fertilization) at the beginning of the stockpiling period.

Highlights

Forage production in tropical regions is divided into two periods
This study aims to evaluate how height and the nitrogen dose at the beginning of the stockpile period affect the structural characteristics of stockpiled Marandu palisade grass
The falling index of the plant did not vary with the factors under scrutiny (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Forage production in tropical regions is divided into two periods. During the dry season in the Southeast and Midwest regions of Brazil, Urochloa grasses produces only 10 to 23% of the annual forage production, the rainy season on the other hand, produces up to 90% of the annual production. (Pizarro, Valle, Séller-Grein, Schultzekraft, & Zimmer, 1996). The high stocking rate and the best animal performance in the rainy season are reduced during the dry season (Euclides, Montagner, Barbosa, Valle, & Nantes, 2016). To circumvent or minimize the problems resulting from low forage production throughout the dry season, stockpiling pasture is an appropriate management strategy (Santos et al, 2009a; Silva et al, 2016). It consists of excluding a pasture area from grazing in late summer or early autumn. The forage will accumulate in the pasture and be used for grazing only in the period of forage scarcity (dry season)

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