Stem Elongation Rate Research Articles

Productive and structural responses of Urochloa brizantha cv. piatã subjected to management strategies

This experiment was carried out to evaluate management strategies for Piatã grass grown in the soil-climatic conditions of the south region of Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The treatments corresponded to four management strategies determined by the following pre- and post-harvest heights: 30/10, 30/15, 35/20 and 40/15. A completely randomized design with five replications was employed totaling twenty experimental units. The highest number of harvests was observed in the plots subjected to strategies 35/20 and 30/15, which allowed for two additional harvest cycles when compared with strategies 40/15 and 30/10. The strategies that provided plants with the greatest pre-harvest heights, 40/15 and 35/20, resulted in lower leaf elongation rates, stem elongation rates, and leaf senescence. Because of the lower post-harvest height, strategy 30/10 resulted in the largest tiller population, an average of 829 tillers m2. The highest herbage accumulation value, 18.600 kg ha-1 DM, was observed with management strategies 40/15 and 30/15. The management of Piatã grass based on the harvest target of 30/15 associates elevated herbage production with a favorable pasture structure for grazing.

Morphogenic and structural characteristics of tropical forage grasses managed under different regrowth periods in the Brazilian semi-arid region

The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphogenetic and structural characteristics of tropical grasses managed under different regrowth periods. The experiment was conducted at the Federal Institute of Science and Technology Education of Rio Grande do Norte, located in the municipality of Apodi-RN, Brazil. The study design was in randomized blocks and the treatments were allocated in a 3x4 factorial arrangement, with three cultivars (Andropogon, Buffel and Massai) in four regrowth periods (21, 35, 49 and 63 days). The interaction between cultivar and age was significant for all studied variables, with the exception of leaf blade width and accumulation rate. The highest leaf appearance rates were observed in Buffel grass, regardless of the regrowth age. This characteristic was not influenced by age only in Andropogon grass. Higher stem elongation rates were observed in Buffel grass, while the lowest were observed in Massai grass until 35 days of regrowth, attributed to the presence of inflorescences. Canopy heights in Massai and Andropogon grass were greater than Buffel grass until 35 days of regrowth, Andropogon grass had higher height from 35 days of regrowth than the others. Andropogon grass showed higher rates of accumulation than Massai grass only at 21 days of regrowth, and no effects of regrowth age were observed for this variable. Buffel grass should be defoliated at 21 days, while Andropogon and Massai grass can be managed without losses between 21 and 63 days of regrowth.

Growth, Physiological, Biochemical, and Transcriptional Responses to Drought Stress in Seedlings of Medicago sativa L., Medicago arborea L. and Their Hybrid (Alborea)

Medicago sativa L. is a tetraploid perennial forage legume of great agronomical interest. The increasing need for its use under water-deficit conditions as well as low-input systems demands further improvement of its drought tolerance. On the other hand, Medicagoarborea L. is a perennial leguminous shrub, which is knownas a drought-tolerant species. In the present study, drought stress responses of the aforementioned medicago species, along with their hybrid, named Alborea, were comparatively assayed at the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and transcriptional levels. In particular, transcript abundance of representative genes that: (a) control ion transport, intracellular Na+/H+ antiporters(NHX1) and rare cold inducible2A (RCI2A); (b) have an osmotic function Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase 1 (P5CS1); and (c) participate in signaling pathways and control cell growth and leaf function stress-induced mitogen-activated protein kinases kinases (SIMKK), Zinc Finger (ZFN), apetala2/ethylene-responsive element binding (AP2/EREB), basic leucine zipper (bzip) and Medicago sativa Helicase 1(MH1) were evaluated. Under well-watered conditions, the studied population of Alborea showed the highest stem elongation rate and photosynthetic rate that were dramatically reduced under drought conditions compared to M. sativa and M. arborea. Under drought conditions, the studied population of M. arborea showed less reduction of relative water content, all gas-exchange parameters, less lipid peroxidation, and more antioxidant capacity. Moreover, transcriptional analysis demonstrated that the population of M. arborea exhibited significantly higher transcript levels of drought-responsive genes in both leaves and roots under drought stress conditions. M. sativa has better antioxidant capacity than Alborea and had a higher induction of stress-related genes, thus it performs better than Alborea under drought conditions. Among the studied genes, it seems that AP2/EREB play a critical role in the response of the studied population to drought stress.

Morphogenetic and structure characteristics of marandu grass subjected to grazing management strategies

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphogenetic and structural characteristics of Brachiaria brizantha cv. marandu subjected to grazing management strategies. The treatments corresponded to four grazing management strategies (25-10; 25-15; 35-15; and 45-15 pre and post grazing swards heights, respectively). Grazing management strategies were allocated to the experimental units (100 m2 paddocks) in a completely randomized blocks design with four repetitions. There was no effect of the grazing management on leaf elongation rate and leaf senescence rate, with average values of 11.22 mm/day and 2.17 mm/day, respectively. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) of leaf appearance rate, leaf elongation rate and stem elongation rate among months, where higher values were seen in months with greater rainfall. The evaluated management strategies showed a small effect on the morphogenetic and structural characteristics and can consequently be utilized for the management of marandu grass. In addition, during rainy periods, farmers can use management with higher defoliation frequencies (25-15), while the opposite (45-15) may be used during months with low rainfall in order not to exhaust the organic reserves of the plant.

Responses of young cucumber plants to a diurnal temperature drop at different times of day and night

In greenhouse production of a number of vegetable and ornamental plant species, a short diurnal temperature drop in the end of the night or in the morning is commonly used to reduce stem elongation as an alternative to chemical growth retardants. Experiments were carried out to quantify the effects of a temperature drop at different times of the day and night on growth and photosynthetic activity of young cucumber plants. During 6 days plants were exposed daily to a temperature of 10 °C for 2 h at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the night and day periods. The results have shown that plant response to drop may be qualitatively different in the light and darkness. While strongest effects of drop are observed when it is given in the daytime, for practical application in greenhouses it is more appropriate to reduce temperature at night. However, it may not be strictly necessary for cucumber seedlings to apply drop at the end of the night as it was stated in the literature. Thus, our results may cast doubt on the following statements: (a) temperature drops are not effective when delivered at other times of the day or night (except before sunrise), (b) optimal time for drop effects depends on the daily dynamics of stem and petiole elongation rate. It is rather drop itself is capable of modifying the dynamics of plant growth in the daily cycle.

Effect of Bacillus subtilis BD233 on seedlings growth of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum), Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Bacillus species are ubiquitous microorganisms that enhance growth in several crops as well as provide protection against pathogens. In this study, the effects of soil inoculation with B. subtilis BD233 on growth and development of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), were investigated. Three treatments were employed: i) incubation with a lysogeny broth culture of B. subtilis BD233; ii) broth without B. subtilis BD233 (without BD233/control) and iii) tap water. Potting soil-grown seedlings of the three crops were assayed to measure growth parameters over a period of five weeks (35 days) after exposure to the treatments. Soil inoculation with B. subtilis BD233 significantly improved the growth and development of sweet pepper and lettuce seedlings relative to the other treatments but not for Swiss chard. Bacillus subtilis BD233 in lysogeny broth increased the plant height, stem elongation rate and stem diameter of sweet pepper and lettuce seedlings relative to those treated with water. Furthermore, the biomass of sweet pepper and lettuce seedlings exposed to B. subtilis BD233 was increased by 32.2 and 92.6%, relative to their respective controls. However, no statistical differences for height and biomass were found for Swiss chard in response to the treatments. The results of the study demonstrated the potential of B. subtilis BD233 to enhance the early growth of these non-indigenous vegetables in nutrient-poor African soils.

Leaf-level physiology in four subalpine plants in tephra-impacted forests during drought

Ecological impacts of climate change in the Pacific Northwest may hinge on acclimation to drier summers, highlighting the importance of plant physiological studies in forests. Evaluating dominant forest plant species under old-growth and managed forest conditions is similarly important as timber harvest might change microclimates and alter drought effects on plants. We examined water potential and gas exchange rates of four dominant plant species in understories of subalpine forests of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States during 2015 — a year with drought conditions representative of future climate projections. We examined two conifer species (Abies amabilis Douglas ex J. Forbes and Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) and two huckleberry species (Vaccinium membranaceum Douglas ex Torr. and Vaccinium ovalifolium Sm.) in old-growth and formerly clear-cut forests at two elevations. Contrary to expectations, we found no evidence of hydraulic stress, and there were no significant differences between old-growth and clear-cut stands, consistent with an edaphic buffering effect in this volcanic landscape. Variation in stem elongation rates among years also indicated the lack of a strong drought response in 2015. Water potential, photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance varied among species and among elevations. In combination, our results help constrain expected physiological activity of understory species in subalpine forests and emphasize the importance of the edaphic context (e.g., tephra deposits) in framing expectations for the responses to drought.

A reassessment of the genome size-invasiveness relationship in reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea).

Genome size is hypothesized to affect invasiveness in plants. Key evidence comes from a previous study of invasive eastern North American populations of the grass Phalaris arundinacea: invasive genotypes with smaller genomes had higher growth rates, and genome sizes were smaller in the invasive vs. native range. This study aimed to re-investigate those patterns by examining a broader range of North American populations and by employing the modern best-practice protocol for plant genome size estimation in addition to the previously used protocol. Genome sizes were measured using both internal and pseudo-internal standardization protocols for 20 invasive and nine native range accessions of P. arundinacea. After a round of vegetative propagation to reduce maternal environmental effects, growth (stem elongation) rates of these accessions were measured in the greenhouse. Using the best-practice protocol, there was no evidence of a correlation between genome size and growth rates (P = 0.704), and no evidence for differences in genome sizes of invasive and native range accessions (P > 0.353). However, using the older genome size estimation protocol, both relationships were significant (reproducing the results of the previous study). Genome size reduction has not driven increased invasiveness in a broad sample of North American P. arundinacea. Further, inappropriate genome size estimation techniques can create spurious correlations between genome size and plant traits such as growth rate. Valid estimation is vital to progress in understanding the potentially widespread effects of genome size on biological processes and patterns.

Plant architecture and foliar senescence impact the race between wheat growth and Zymoseptoria tritici epidemics.

In order to optimize crop management in innovative agricultural production systems, it is crucial to better understand how plant disease epidemics develop and what factors influence them. This study explores how canopy growth, its spatial organization and leaf senescence impact Zymoseptoria tritici epidemics. We used the Septo3D model, an epidemic model of Septoria tritici blotch (STB) coupled with a 3-D virtual wheat structural plant model (SPM). The model was calibrated and evaluated against field experimental data. Sensitivity analyses were performed on the model to explore how wheat plant traits impact the interaction between wheat growth and Z. tritici epidemics. The model reproduces consistently the effects of crop architecture and weather on STB progress on the upper leaves. Model sensitivity analyses show that the effects of plant traits on epidemics depended on weather conditions. The simulations confirm the known effect of increased stem height and stem elongation rate on limiting STB progress on upper leaves. Strikingly, the timing of leaf senescence is one of the most influential traits on simulated STB epidemics. When the green life span duration of leaves is reduced by early senescence, epidemics are strongly reduced. We introduce the notion of a 'race' for the colonization of emerging healthy host tissue between the growing canopy and the developing epidemics. This race is 2-fold: (1) an upward race at the canopy scale where STB must catch the newly emerging leaves before they grow away from the spore sources; and (2) a local race at the leaf scale where STB must use the resources of its host before it is caught by leaf apical senescence. The results shed new light on the importance of dynamic interactions between host and pathogen.

Morphogenetic and structural characteristics of signal grass in response to liming and defoliation severity

ABSTRACT The control of soil acidity through liming and the adoption of adequate management are essential to the maintenance of pastures productivity. The morphogenetic and structural characteristics of Urochloa decumbens cv. Basilisk, in canopies with (0.7 t ha-1 and 1.0 t ha-1) or without liming and subjected to severe or lenient cuttings (stubble corresponding to 40 % or 60 % of the pre-harvest height, respectively), were evaluated throughout regrowth, during late spring and summer. Treatments were distributed in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement, in a completely randomized block design, with 3 replications (80 m2 plots). Increased liming rates do not result in benefits to the herbage mass, tiller population density or a faster canopy recovering. The average tiller weight decreases, while the duration of regrowth linearly increases, with increasing liming rates, particularly in late spring. Stem elongation and leaf senescence rates increase and leaf elongation rates decrease from the 15th day of regrowth, regardless of the liming rates or defoliation severities. Post-harvest heights ranging from 40 % to 60 % of the pre-harvest height showed to be within the tolerance limits to defoliation of U. decumbens. The liming rates adopted had only marginal impacts on the morphogenetic characteristics of U. decumbens.

Morphogenesis and structure of mombassa grass over different growth periods

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer doses on morphogenic and structural characteristics of mombassa grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) at three different periods of the lifespan of tillers. The experiment was conducted in Araguaína-TO, Brazil, from December 2014 to February 2015. It was installed in split plots in a randomized block design with four replications. The doses of N-fertilizer (0, 30, 60, 90 kg N.ha-1) were the plots and the periods evaluated (1PER – first period from day 16 to 30; 2PER from day 31 to 45 and 3PER from day 46 to 60 after germination) were the subplots. The evaluated variables consisted of leaf appearance rate (LAR), leaf elongation rate (LER), stem elongation rate (SER), leaf senescence rate (LSR), phyllochron, tiller number, leaf emergence, and total leaf number. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to morphogenic and structural characteristics along with a regression analysis for all the variables. Overall, increasing N-fertilizer doses positively influenced the leaf appearance and leaf elongation rates, tiller density, and the number of live leaves per tiller. The 90-kg N.ha-1 dose enabled the best morphogenic and structural responses of the forage when compared to the other rates. Each period featured differently, with higher values of LSR, SER, and LER in 3PER when compared to those in 2PER and in 1PER. Therefore, the nutritional supply over the first weeks of tiller lives was defining to an increase in forage production in the remaining periods. In light of this, we observed that as LAR raise in the first days after germination, nutritional supplies are required from day 15 on, mainly nitrogen, so plants could continue their development since initial plant growth determines pasture productive vigor and longevity.

Lime and phosphate application as mycorrhizae stimulation to enhance growth and yield of Marandu grass

Pastures are important food sources for Brazilian cattle herds. However, inadequate management of soil fertility has emerged as a major cause of low yield rates and of progressive degradation of these areas. The objective of the present study was to evaluate growth, by means of morphogenetic and structural characteristics, and yield of Brachiaria brizantha Stapf. cv. Marandu as functions of the application of the mycorrhizae stimulant formononetin, associated with lime and phosphate application. The experimental design was completely randomised with four replications, and the treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 x 5 factorial scheme, consisting of two liming treatments (with and without limestone), two formononetin treatments (with and without application) and five P2O5 doses (0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg dm-3). Three shoot cuttings were carried out after a first standardisation cutting to evaluate the morphogenetic and structural characteristics as well as the dry matter yield of different morphological fractions. Liming and phosphate application at the dose of 141 mg dm-3 P2O5 increased growth and yield of Marandu grass, and these practices are essential for the cultivation of this pasture grass in Yellow Latosol of the Cerrado region of Piauí, Brazil. The application of formononetin increased stem elongation rate, total number of tillers and green stem dry matter, and decreased dead dry matter of Marandu grass, which are effects that contribute to the improvement of pasture quality.

Lime and phosphate application as mycorrhizae stimulation to enhance growth and yield of Marandu grass

Pastures are important food sources for Brazilian cattle herds. However, inadequate management of soil fertility has emerged as a major cause of low yield rates and of progressive degradation of these areas. The objective of the present study was to evaluate growth, by means of morphogenetic and structural characteristics, and yield of Brachiaria brizantha Stapf. cv. Marandu as functions of the application of the mycorrhizae stimulant formononetin, associated with lime and phosphate application. The experimental design was completely randomised with four replications, and the treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 x 5 factorial scheme, consisting of two liming treatments (with and without limestone), two formononetin treatments (with and without application) and five P2O5 doses (0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg dm-3). Three shoot cuttings were carried out after a first standardisation cutting to evaluate the morphogenetic and structural characteristics as well as the dry matter yield of different morphological fractions. Liming and phosphate application at the dose of 141 mg dm-3 P2O5 increased growth and yield of Marandu grass, and these practices are essential for the cultivation of this pasture grass in Yellow Latosol of the Cerrado region of Piauí, Brazil. The application of formononetin increased stem elongation rate, total number of tillers and green stem dry matter, and decreased dead dry matter of Marandu grass, which are effects that contribute to the improvement of pasture quality.

Partial correlation analysis in the study of morphogenesis and herbage accumulation in Panicum maximum cv. ‘Tanzânia’

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate, through partial correlation analysis, the degree of association between herbage accumulation and morphogenetic traits of ‘Tanzania’ grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) defoliated with 95% of light interception and fertilized with nitrogen, under different planting densities. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete design with 12 treatments and two replicates, in a 4 × 3 factorial arrangement consisting of four nitrogen rates (0, 80, 160, and 320kg ha-1 Yr-1) and three planting densities (9, 25, and 49 plants m-2). Harvests were performed at 25cm above the soil, when the plots intercepted 95% of the incident light. The simple correlation coefficients between herbage accumulation and leaf and stem elongation rates and leaf appearance rate were high and positive. Correlation between herbage accumulation and leaf lifespan; however, was high and negative. The study of partial correlation coefficients revealed considerable changes in the correlation structure, whereby the association with stem elongation had a negative value statistically equal to zero, indicating no relationship between these variables. A similar result was observed for the correlations between herbage accumulation and leaf appearance and leaf lifespan. The partial correlation between accumulation and leaf elongation was different from zero and positive indicating a strong association. In Guinea grass cv. ‘Tanzania’ canopies defoliated at 95% light interception, leaf elongation is the morphogenetic variable with the highest strength of association with herbage accumulation.

Defoliation management affects morphogenetic and structural characteristics of mixed pastures of brachiaria grass and forage peanut

A sound understanding of the effects of defoliation management in a grass–legume pasture is key in balancing populations between species. The aim of this study was to quantify the morphogenetic and structural characteristics and forage production of brachiaria grass and forage peanut mixtures under four defoliation strategies. A two-year experiment was carried out in Brazil (Cwa climate), where the following treatments were studied: rest period interruption by cattle grazing when the canopy attained light interception (LI) of 90%, 95% and 100%, and grazing performed every 42 d. Morphogenetic and structural characteristics of both species were measured. The forage and leaf accumulation rates were also quantified. The design was randomised blocks, with three replications, and repeated measurements over time. The 100% LI had greater stem and stolon elongation rates and a lower leaf appearance rate in both species and fewer tillers or stolons when compared with the other strategies. Conversely, rest periods of 90–95% LI promoted an increase of about 30% on forage and leaf accumulation rates of both grass and legume. Therefore, to enhance productivity and stability when these species are associated we recommend defoliating at 90–95% LI, which represents a canopy height ranging from 26 to 32 cm.

ACÚMULO DE FORRAGEM DURANTE O PERÍODO DE OCUPAÇÃO DOS ANIMAIS EM PASTOS SOB LOTAÇÃO INTERMITENTE

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o acúmulo de forragem durante o período de ocupação pelos animais em pastos de capim-quicuiu (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. Ex. Chiov.) manejados sob lotação intermitente. Os tratamentos consistiram de quatro proporções de desfolhação (remoção de 40, 50, 60 e 70% da altura inicial) partindo de uma mesma altura em pré-pastejo (20 cm). Foram avaliadas: taxas de alongamento foliar e colmos e senescência de folhas, índice de área foliar e taxa de acúmulo de forragem. Adicionalmente, dez perfilhos por faixa foram avaliados para as mesmas variáveis dentro de gaiolas de exclusão. Os efeitos linear, quadrático e cúbico da severidade de desfolhação foram avaliados por contrastes de polinômios ortogonais com 5% de nível de significância. Houve relação linear e inversa entre a porcentagem do índice de área foliar removido e o alongamento de lâminas foliares e o acúmulo de forragem. As taxas de alongamento de folhas em perfilhos bem como o acúmulo de forragem nas áreas excluídas do pastejo foram maiores em relação aos pastos submetidos a desfolhação. Durante o período de rebaixamento de pastos manejados sob lotação intermitente ocorre acúmulo de forragem e o mesmo é linear e inversamente associado à proporção da área foliar removida.

Promoting lentil germination and stem growth by plasma activated tap water, demineralized water and liquid fertilizer

Tap water, demineralized water and liquid fertilizer have been activated using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) to investigate their benefits for the germination rate and stem elongation rate of lentils from Puy-en-Velay (France).

Plant morphology and herbage accumulation of signal grass with or without fertilization, under different light regimes

ABSTRACT: The silvopastoral system has been suggested as an alternative to recover degraded pastures in tropical regions. However, trees reduce the light available for pastures, which may affect the growth and herbage accumulation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphogenesis, canopy structure and herbage accumulation of signalgrass ( Brachiaria decumbens ) subjected to three light regimes (0, 20 and 70% of natural shading) and two fertilization levels (presence or absence of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). Leaf and stem elongation rates increased under shading but did not vary with fertilization. The leaf appearance rate was greater under fertilizer treatment but was generally similar among light regimes. The tiller density was greater in full sun and lower in intense shading. Tiller density responded to fertilization under full sun and moderate shading. Herbage accumulation increased by 42% with fertilization under full sun, 12% under moderate shading and did not vary under intense shading. Results showed that even under fertilization the herbage accumulation was limited by reduced light. However, under moderate shade the fertilization was important to raise tiller population over the growth cycles.

Morphogenesis of marandu palisade grass closer to or farther from cattle feces varies by season

The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphogenic and structural characteristics of the Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu Syn. Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu during the different seasons of the year, in locations closer to or farther from feces deposited by cattle in pastures. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four replicates. The following response-variables were calculated: phyllochron (PHYL), leaf appearance rate (LAR), leaf elongation rate (LER), stem elongation rate (SER), leaf senescence rate (LSR), life span of the leaf (LSL), stem length (SL), leaf blade length (LBL), number of dead leaves per tiller (NDLT), and number of living leaves per tiller (NLLT). Farther from the feces, a larger phyllochron period was observed in all seasons. The LSL was greater in winter, especially farther from feces. Closer to feces, higher values were observed for LAR, LER and LBL compared with the sites farther from feces. The SL, SER, and NLLT were lower in the winter compared with the other seasons. In the summer, a greater NDLT value was observed than in the other seasons. The deposition of feces by cattle and the seasons of the year both affect the morphogenesis of B. brizantha cv. Marandu, generating the observed spatial and temporal variability in pasture grass.

Morphogenesis, biomass and nutritive value of Panicum maximum under different shade levels and fertilizer nitrogen rates

AbstractPanicum maximum is important for cattle production in tropical regions, and it responds well to nitrogen (N) fertilization. Many cultivars have exhibited potential for use in silvopastoral systems, although there is limited information on how different levels of N can influence plant growth and nutritive value under shading. Morphogenetic and structural traits, biomass production and nutritive value of two P. maximum cultivars (Tanzânia and Massai) were investigated under three shading levels (0, 37 and 58%) and four N rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 mg N dm−3). Plants were grown in pots under shade. Leaf and stem elongation rate and leaf blade length increased with shading and in response to N. Tiller density was reduced with shading, but showed a linear increase fashion with N under full sun and moderate shading. Under intense shading, the tillering showed a quadratic response to N. Plant biomass production increased linearly with N under full sun and moderate shade, but it increased quadratically under intense shade. Crude protein (CP) content increased with shade and N and was greater for Tanzânia than Massai under shade. Contents of NDF and ADF were greater for Massai than Tanzânia. Acid detergent insoluble protein was reduced in Tanzânia under shade, but it increased for Massai. It is suggested that the positive shading effect on CP content may not result in increased nutritional value. Although N fertilization was important for increasing biomass production under full sun and moderate shade, it should be avoided under intense shading.