Canopy characteristics and tillering dynamics of Marandu palisade grass pastures in the rainy–dry transition season |
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| Authors: | S S Santana L F Brito M V Azenha A A Oliveira E B Malheiros A C Ruggieri R A Reis |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Animal Science Department, Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Brazil;2. Exact Science Department, Sao Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pasture management during the rainy–dry transition season in Jaboticabal, Brazil, on the structural and tillering characteristics of Marandu palisade grass. The treatments were as follows: 15 cm sward height in the rainy season and ungrazed in the rainy–dry transition season (15/0); 25 cm sward height during the rainy season and fixed stocking rate of 2·5 AU ha?1 during the rainy–dry transition season (25/2·5); and 35 cm sward height in the rainy season and fixed stocking rate of 2·5 AU ha?1 in the rainy–dry transition season (35/2·5). There were more herbage mass, stem and dead herbage mass in treatments 25/2·5 and 35/2·5 than 15/0. Tiller appearance rate was greater in treatment 15/0 and tiller mortality rate was higher in treatment 35/2·5 compared to treatment 15/0. Tiller population stability index was 1 in treatment 15/0 and lower in treatment 35/2·5. Although treatment 15/0 showed favourable structural and tillering characteristics, it also has the lowest herbage mass. Treatment 25/2·5 can be regarded as an adequate management strategy for Marandu palisade grass, since it has similar herbage mass and better tillering characteristics than treatment 35/2·5. |
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| Keywords: |
Brachiaria brizantha
ecophysiology pasture structure tiller |
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