The supply of phosphate fertilizers affects the uptake of macronutrients and the productivity of Brachiaria cultivars during the establishment period

Abstract

Phosphate fertilizer is necessary in Brachiaria species to boost fodder yield and nitrogen uptake. Know Plant response the phosphate guides nutrient dosing for optimal growth. The goal was to assess how phosphorus (P) dose affected forage production and macronutrient uptake in forage plants during the establishment period. The experimental design was in a 9 × 2 factorial scheme. Nine forage plants of the genus Brachiaria were evaluated: B. decumbens cv. Basilisk, B. humidícola cv. BRS Tupi, B. humidícola, B. ruziziensis, B. brizantha cvs. Marandu, BRS Piatã, Xaraés, BRS Paiaguás and hybrid (B. brizantha × B. ruziziensis) cv. BRS Ipyporã, two doses of P: 6 and 72 mg/dm−3 of P. At the lowest dose of P, the most productive forages were Paiaguás and ruziziensis. In contrast, at the highest dose of P, the forages ruziziensis, Basilisk, Piatã, Paiaguás and Xaraés were the most productive. When compared to the use of 6 mg/dm−3 P, dose of 72 mg/dm−3 P generated an increase in forage production of 803%. The greater forage production provided by the higher P content in the soil is reflected in greater uptakes of macronutrients by forages, following the decreasing order of N > K > Mg > Ca > S = P. The highest efficiencies to produce 1 g of dry matter (DM) at doses of 6 and 72 mg/dm−3 of P were observed in the Paiaguás and humidicola, respectively. In soils with more readily available phosphorus, macronutrient conversion into plant material is more effective. As a result, grasses of the genus Brachiaria generate more DM with less mineral content.