Ronaldo Liberato Dourado¹, Alexandre Lima de Souza², Anderson de Moura Zanine², Fabio Luiz Buranelo Toral³, Daniele de Jesus Ferreira², Joadil Gonçalves de Abreu²

Show more
¹ Department of Science and Technology, Federal Institute of Education, Brasilia, Brazil.
² Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil.
³ Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Show less

Abstract: Piatã grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatã) is a tropical grass cultivating in pasture production system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen levels (0, 125, 250, 375 and 500 kg·N·ha-1) on structural characteristics and forage production of Piatã grass. The experiment comprised of twenty grass parcels arranged in randomised completely casualties design. This study was carried out between November of 2007 and April of 2008, with 175 experimental days. A quadratic effect (P < 0.05) was verified for nitrogen dosage on canopy height, final leaf blade length and leaf area index. Nitrogen fertilisation altered the population density of tillers, with estimated maximum value of 955 tillers·m-2 at a nitrogen dose of 357 kg·ha-1. A quadratic effect (P < 0.05) was also verified for nitrogen levels on the production of total and green leaf blade dry matter, with estimated maximum values of 19,253 and 11,548 kg·ha-1·year-1 for nitrogen levels of 411 and 384 kg·ha-1, respectively. However, a considerable portion of forage production obtained by nitrogen addition occurred from stem production. The productions of green leaf blade dry matter, tiller density, leaf blade length and leaf blade index are all variables related to structural aspects and pasture quality, with all attaining their highest values at a mean nitrogen application level of 380 kg·ha-1.

Keywords: Forage Accumulation, Frequencies Cuts, Leaf Area Index, Tiller Density

Cite this paper: Dourado, R. , de Souza, A. , Moura Zanine, A. , Buranelo Toral, F. , Jesus Ferreira, D. and de Abreu, J. (2015) Structural and Production Characteristics of Piatã Grass Forage Submitted to Levels of Nitrogen. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 6, 693-701. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2015.65075.

References

[1]   Lemaire, G. and Chapman, D. (1996) Tissue Flows in Grazed Plant Communities. In: Hodgson, J. and Illius, A.W., Eds., The Ecology and Management of Grazing Systems, CAB International, London, 3-36.

[2]   Sollenberger, L.E. and Burns, J.C. (2001) Canopy Characteristics, Ingestive Behaviour and Herbage Intake in Cultivated Tropical Grasslands. International Grassland Congress, 19, 321-327.

[3]   Zanine, A.M., Nascimento, J.D., Santos, M.E.R., et al. (2011) Structural Characteristics and Accumulation of Forage Grass in Tanzania-Grazed Rotary. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science, 40, 2364-2373.

[4]   Zanine, A.M., Nascimento, J.D., Sousa, B.M.L., et al. (2013) Tillering Dynamics in Guinea Grass Pastures Subjected to Management Strategies under Rotational Grazing. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science, 42, 155-161.

[5]   Caetano, L.P.S., Dias-Filho, M.B., et al. (2008) Responses of Six Brachiaria spp. Accessions to Root Zone Flooding. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science, 37, 795-801.

[6]   Valle, C.B., Euclides, V.P.B., Pereira, J.M., et al. (2013) O capim-xaraés Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés) na Diversificação das Pastagens de Braquiárias. Embrapa Gado de Corte, Campo Grande, 149, 36 p.

[7]   Ferreira, D.J. and Zanine, A.M. (2014) Challenges Facing Pasture in the Context of Agricultural Multifunctionality in Brazil. American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 4, 1793-1811.
http://dx.doi.org/10.9734/AJEA/2014/12597

[8]   Silva, D.J. and Queiroz, A.C. (2002) Análise de Alimentos (Métodos Químicos e Biológicos). 3rd Edition, Imprensa. Universitária da UFV, Viçosa, 235 p.

[9]   Alexandrino, E., Nascimento, J.D., Regazzi, A.J., et al. (2005) Morphogenic and Structural Traits of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu Submitted to Different Levels of Nitrogen and Frequency Harvest. Acta Scientiarum, 27, 7-14.

[10]   Statistical Analysis System (2001) User’s Guide: Statistics, Version 8.2. SAS Institute, NC, USA.

[11]   Da Silva, S.C. and Nascimento, J.D. (2007) Advances in Research on Tropical Forages in Pastures: Morphological and Physiological Characteristics and Grazing Management. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science, 36, 121-138.

[12]   Pena, C.K., Nascimento, J.D., Silva, S.C., et al. (2009) Características Morfogênicas, Estruturais e Acúmulo de Forragem do Capim-Tanzania Submetido a duas alturas e Três Intervalos de Corte. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science, 38, 2127-2136.

[13]   Santos, E.M., Zanine, A.M., Parente, H.N., de Jesus Ferreira, D., de Almeida, F.Q. and Cecon, P.R. (2006) Comportamento Ingestivo de Eqüinos em Pastagens de Grama Batatais (Paspalum notatum) e braquiarinha (Brachiaria decumbens) na Região Centro-Oeste do Brasil. Ciência Rural, 36, 1565-1569.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782006000500035

[14]   Cabral, W.B., Souza, A.L., Alexandrino, E., Toral, F.L.B., dos Santos, J.N. and de Carvalho, M.V.P. (2012) Structural Characteristics and Agronomic Traits of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés Subjected to Nitrogen Levels. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science, 41, 846-855.

[15]   Paciullo, D.S.C., Gomide, J.A., Silva, E.A.M., Queiroz, D.S. and Gomide, C.A.M. (2002) Anatomical Traits of Leaf Blade and Stem of Tropical Forage Grasses, According to Level of Insertion on the Grass Tiller, Age and Season of Growth. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science, 31, 890-899.

[16]   Paciullo, D.S.C., Gomide, J.A., Silva, E.A.M., et al. (2002) In Vitro Digestion of Leaf Blade and Stem Tissues of Tropical Forage Grasses According to Stages of Development. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science, 31, 900-907.

[17]   Euclides, V.P.B., Macedo, M.C.M., Valle, C.B., dos Santos Difante, G., Barbosa, R.A. and Cacere, E.R. (2009) Forage Nutritive Value and Animal Production in Brachiaria brizantha Pastures. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, 44, 98-106.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-204X2009000100014

[18]   Silva, D.R.G. (2007) Structural Characteristics and Nitrogen Fertilisation Efficiency of Marandugrass Pasture in Moderate Stage of Degradation under Nitrogen Rates and Sources. Dissertation (MSc in Soil Science), Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, 89.

[19]   Costa, K.A.P., Oliveira, I.P., Faquin, V., et al. (2009) Dry Mass Production and Nitrogen Nutritional Value of Brachiaria brizantha (A. Rich) Stapf Cultivars under Nitrogen Levels. Ciência Agrotécnica, 33, 1578-1585.

[20]   De Bona, F.D. and Monteiro, F.A. (2010) Marandu Palisadegrass Growth under Nitrogen and Sulphur for Replacing Signal Grass in Degraded Tropical Pasture. Scientia Agricola, 67, 570-578.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162010000500011

[21]   Dupas, E., Buzetti, S., Sarto, A.L., Hernandez, F.B.T. and Bergamaschine, A.F. (2010) Dry Matter Yield and Nutritional Value of Marandu Grass under Nitrogen Fertilisation and Irrigation in Cerrado in São Paulo. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science, 39, 2598-2603.