Abstract
This study evaluated the dry matter production and chemical composition of Brachiaria forage grasses in the offseason after corn harvest in integrated crop-livestock system. The experiment was conducted at the Federal Institute of Goias, Rio Verde Campus, using a randomized complete block experimental design, with four replications. The treatments consisted of the forages: Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu; Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraes; Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piata; Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG-4; Brachiaria decumbens and Brachiaria ruziziensis, intercropped in oversown corn for implantation of integrated crop-livestock system. The results showed that intercropping corn with Brachiaria grasses favors the production of high-quality forage in the offseason, and the cultivars of Brachiaria brizantha and Brachiaria decumbens showed higher dry matter production. And cultivars of Brachiaria brizantha (Marandu palisadegrass, Xaraes palisadegrass and Piata palisadegrass) are the most suitable for presenting food of better quality, compared with Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG-4, Brachiaria decumbens and Brachiaria ruziziensis.
Highlights
In recent years, intercropping between annual crops and tropical forages, known as integrated crop-livestockHow to cite this paper: Maia, G.A., De Pinho Costa, K.A., Da Costa Severiano, E., Epifanio, P.S., Neto, J.F., Ribeiro, M.G., Fernandes, P.B., Silva, J.F.G. and Gonçalves, W.G. (2014) Yield and Chemical Composition of Brachiaria Forage Grasses in the Offseason after Corn Harvest
Forages were evaluated under successive cuts, being collected samples of 1 m2, by randomly directing the square within each plot and cutting at 20 cm height for cultivars of Brachiaria brizantha and at 15 cm for Brachiaria decumbens and Brachiaria ruziziensis
Assessing the dry matter production of cuts between Brachiaria species (Table 2), it is observed that in the first and sixth cut, higher yield was achieved in Brachiaria brizantha cv
Summary
In recent years, intercropping between annual crops and tropical forages, known as integrated crop-livestock. This system consists of the exploitation of the same area with the purpose of producing grains and livestock farming (production of meat, milk, etc.) [3], with the potential to increase yield and reduce the risk of degradation of pastures, improving the chemical, physical and biological soil properties, and yield potential of grain, forage and silage [4]. In view of this, considering the importance of supplying better quality food, the present study aimed to evaluate the dry matter production and chemical composition of Brachiaria forage grasses in the offseason after corn harvest in integrated crop-livestock system
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