Marandu palisadegrass growth under nitrogen and sulphur for replacing signal grass in degraded tropical pasture

Abstract

The degradation of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. (Signal grass) pastures has resulted in a big problem for the Brazilian cattlemen. The objective of this study was to assess fertilization with nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) rates on yield of Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf. cv. Marandu (Marandu palisadegrass) under establishment in a soil supporting degrading pasture of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. Additionally, the N and S concentrations in plant tissue and soil according to the rates of these nutrients were evaluated. The study was carried out in a greenhouse in pots filled with an Entisol with high organic matter content. Five rates of N (0; 100; 200; 300 and 400 mg dm-3) and five rates of S (0; 10; 20; 30 and 40 mg dm-3) were tested in a 5² fractionated factorial. Plants were harvest three times. The interaction N rates × S rates was significant for the variables leaf area, tiller number, shoot dry matter, N concentration and N:S ratio in plants, and total N and sulphur-sulphate in the soil in at least one of the three growth periods of Marandu palisadegrass in establishment. The supply of both S and N to reach the N:S ratio about 10:1 in the fertilization promoted high yield, adequate N and S concentrations for plant metabolism and forage production, as well as kept and/or raised the soil fertility in relation to these nutrients.

Desenvolvimento de Urochloa brizantha adubada com fonolito e inoculada com bactérias diazotróficas solubilizadoras de potássio

“…O gênero Urochloa (syn. Brachiaria) destaca-se entre as forrageiras mais cultivadas no Brasil devido, principalmente, à sua alta capacidade de adaptar às diferentes condições edafoclimáticas (De Bona e Monteiro, 2010). No entanto, cerca de 50% dessas áreas encontram-se degradadas e a ausência de adubação de manutenção tem sido apontada como uma das principais causas (Macedo et al, 2014).…”

Marandu Palisadegrass Mineral Nutrition and Production Related to Nitrogen and Potassium Supply

“…(Marandu palisadegrass). The former is usually used in lowfertility soils, whereas the latter is more responsive to plant nutrition, achieving higher yields under fertilization (De Bona and Monteiro, 2010). As Brazilian agriculture shifts toward technological efficiency, a growing trend in some areas is to replace Brachiaria decumbens with Brachiaria brizantha.…”

Common bean grain yield as affected by sulfur fertilization and cultivars

“…Therefore, this nutrient has importance in the yield of common beans and should be included in recommendations of common bean fertilization. Typically, in common bean cultivation, farmers apply lime and fertilizers such as N, P, and K, but S is seldom applied (Bona & Monteiro, 2010), which also may limit the crop yield.…”