The ideal time to start grazing is when pastures reach 95% light interception. The use of residual leaf area index (rLAI) to time the interruption of grazing under intermittent grazing has recently been studied in forage species in different climatic conditions in Brazil. However, studies evaluating the formation and development of leaves and tillers through morphogenetic and structural variables in functional rLAI are still lacking for Tifton 85 pastures. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of varying rLAI in successive grazing cycles on morphogenetic and structural characteristics of Tifton 85 pasture grazed intermittently by sheep. Morphogenetic and structural characteristics were evaluated in three grazing cycles under three rLAI conditions (0.8, 1.6, and 2.4). The regrowth interval (time taken to return to 95% light interception) of pastures increased from 21.33 to 29.66 days with decreasing rLAI. The leaf appearance rate increased at a rate of 0.02 leaves tiller -1 day -1 and the number of live leaves per tiller increased by 0.41 with decreasing rLAI. Phyllochron, leaf elongation rate, final leaf length, leaf senescence rate, and stem elongation rate decreased linearly with decreasing rLAI. The number of live leaves per tiller was lower (7.97) in the third grazing cycle, probably owing to the higher senescence rate observed that same cycle, while the other variables had higher values. The 2.4 rLAI condition promotes excessive stem elongation, reduced leaf appearance, lower number of live leaves per tiller, and increased senescence of leaves, while the 0.8 and 1.6 rLAI conditions promote desirable morphogenetic and structural characteristics, which correlate directly with forage quality. In order to avoid excessive forage losses, grazing must occur preferentially by the end of March, when climatic conditions still support the appropriate development of the plants. Key words: Grazing cycles. Leaves appearance. Light interception. Residual leaf area index. Stem elongation. ResumoO momento de iniciar o pastejo quando os pastos atingem 95% de interceptação luminosa e de interrupção do pastejo por meio de índices de área foliar residual (IAFr), em situação de pastejo intermitente, recentemente vem sendo estudado em espécies forrageiras em distintas condições climáticas do Brasil, porém, pesquisas avaliando a formação e desenvolvimento de folhas e perfilhos por meio das variáveis morfogênicas e estruturais em função de IAFr são ainda inexistentes em pastos de Tifton 85. Por isso,
The objective of this study was to evaluate regrowth period (RP), morphogenetic, structural and productive characteristics of the guinea grass cultivar Tanzania [Megathyrsus maximus (syn. Panicum maximum)] under different stubble heights (SH) during dry (DS) and rainy (RS) seasons in the eastern Amazon region. The treatments were: 5, 15, 25, 35, 45 and 55 cm SH, distributed in a randomized complete block design with 6 replicates. In the 2 seasons, RP decreased linearly with increase in SH, and was considerably shorter in the RS (47 d). Leaf appearance rate decreased linearly from 0.071 to 0.051 leaves/tiller/d with increasing SH, and it was higher during the RS. Increase in SH increased leaf elongation rate, stem elongation rate and leaf area index. In the RS, climatic conditions favored the morphogenesis, resulting in higher herbage accumulation (8,693 kg DM/ha) than in the DS (2,597 kg DM/ha). In associating seasons with SH, we recommend that Tanzania grass be managed at SH between 35 and 45 cm in the DS, resulting in RP from 61 to 64 days, and at SH of 35 cm in the RS, resulting in RP of 41 days. Studies to test this management strategy seem warranted.
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