Abstract
To evaluate the tillering dynamics of massai grass under rotational sheep stocking and fertilized with nitrogen (control - 0; 400; 800 and 1200 kg ha -1 year -1 ), this study was carried out, in a completely randomized design with repeated measures over time. The mob-grazing technique was applied to perform the grazing by employing groups of animals for rapid defoliation. The tiller appearance, survival and mortality rates, tiller biomass, and green/dead tillers ratio, have presented increase responses to nitrogen levels, with the three rates and the tiller biomass varying between evaluation periods. There was a quadratic response for the tiller flowering rate, population density of vegetative and reproductive tillers, reaching maximum values (0.051 tiller 100 tiller -1 day -1 ; 4,818 and 35 tillers m -2 , respectively) under the nitrogen levels of 613.5; 993.5 and 623.9 kg ha -1 year -1 , respectively. For the tiller flowering rate and population density of reproductive tillers, it was verified a fluctuation between periods. The nitrogen fertilization promotes positive changes in tillering dynamics of massai grass, allowing the use of up to 800 kg ha -1 year -1 for maintaining the pasture stability. The tillering demography of the forage had varied little between assessment periods.
Highlights
Pasture persistence and productivity reflect the synchrony in the tillering dynamics of the grass, which is influenced by abiotic factors such as: light, temperature, water and nutrient supply, especially nitrogen
The tiller appearance, survival and mortality rates, tiller biomass, and green/dead tillers ratio, have presented increase responses to nitrogen levels, with the three rates and the tiller biomass varying between evaluation periods
There was a quadratic response for the tiller flowering rate, population density of vegetative and reproductive tillers, reaching maximum values (0.051 tiller 100 tiller-1 day-1; 4,818 and 35 tillers m-2, respectively) under the nitrogen levels of 613.5; 993.5 and 623.9 kg ha-1 year-1, respectively
Summary
Pasture persistence and productivity reflect the synchrony in the tillering dynamics of the grass, which is influenced by abiotic factors such as: light, temperature, water and nutrient supply, especially nitrogen This nutrient plays a significant role in forage growth and production, result of its benefits, increasing the number of tillers per plant (BAHMANI et al, 2002; LOPES et al, 2011) and the tiller population density. This positive effect of nitrogen on tillering reflects the activation of dormant buds (MATTHEW et al, 2000) and initiation of corresponding tillers, increasing the forage biomass. The tillering dynamics of forage grasses, defined by the rates of appearance, flowering, mortality and survival of tillers, determines the contribution of tillering for the morphological composition of the pasture, allowing a greater or lesser forage biomass accumulation along the year, according to different seasons (HERNANDEZ GARAY et al, 1997) and management practices
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