Establishment of Brachiaria cultivars in the soil-climatic conditions of the Brazilian semi-arid region

Abstract

This study aimed was the establishment of the genus Brachiaria in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The experiment was conducted from April to June 2016, as a randomized-block experimental design with five treatments and four replicates. Treatments were represented by five Brachiaria cultivars, namely, Marandu, Paiaguás, Piatã, Xaraés and Basilisk. Morphogenetic (leaf appearance rate, leaf elongation rate e stem elongation rate) and structural characteristics (final leaf length, tiller population density e number of leaves per tiller, forage mass, leaf blade mass, stem mass, senescent material mass and leaf:stem ratio) of the forage cultivars were evaluated. Canopy height fitted a linear regression model (P<0,05), with estimated daily increases of 0.50, 0.53, 0.53, 0.54 and 0.56 cm for cvs Basilisk, Marandu, Paiaguás, Piatã and Xaraés, respectively. The number of live leaves in cvs Basilisk and Paiaguás increased linearly (p < 0.05), by 4.3 and 2.8 leaves per tiller, respectively, during the 60-day period. The recommended height at which the growth of Brachiaria cultivars should be interrupted is upon reaching 25 to 35 cm. In the soil-climatic conditions of the Brazilian semi-arid region, the Brachiaria cultivars Basilisk, Marandu, Paiaguás, Piatã and Xaraés are established at 75 days after sowing, which is the recommended time for performing the first harvest or lenient grazing to stimulate tillering.

Establecimiento de gramíneas forrajeras tropicales en el bioma del Cerrado

“…The linear increase in canopy height is consistent with the establishment period (Table 2), since when the forage is in the initial phase of vegetative growth, an increase in the average height of the sward over the days is observed, regardless of the cultivar (5,6) . The recommended height to interrupt growth is around 30 cm for Brachiaria cultivars (9,10,11) , 70 cm for Quênia (12) and 35 cm for Tamani (13) .…”

“…Marandu indicates that this cultivar did not reach the maximum value during its establishment. The always-higher NLL in Urochloa brizantha cultivars in comparison to Megathyrsus maximus cultivars can be attributed to their genetics, since the number of leaves formed in Urochloa brizantha cultivars is greater than in plants of Megathyrsus maximus (5,6,16) .…”

“…Oftentimes, it represents the beginning of the degradation process or the implementation of a perennial and productive pasture, depending on the interaction between soil, plant and climate. Efficient soil correction and fertilization practices; the choosing the appropriate period for sowing the pasture; and the right moment for the first grazing are essential to ensure plant germination and growth (5) .…”

Nitrogen Fertilization of Paiaguás Grass: Production and Nutrition

“…Froehlich et al (2019) using the same soil, grass, and N rate, observed a greater height of 0.63 m 150 kg ha -1 of N. Bezerra et al (2019) using Paiaguás palisade grass in the Mato Grosso state region obtained heights between 53.55 and 55.48 cm at 30 and 60 d after sprouting during tests using wood ash as a fertilizer in soils under water stress. Rodrigues et al (2021) using the same grass studied the establishment stage, which resulted in heights of 57 cm at 105 d after sprouting using 55 kg N ha -1 in Quartizarenic Neosoil. Based on this information, it can be concluded that the height of Paiaguás palisade grass observed in this study corroborated that observed in the literature under different planting and fertilization conditions.…”

Production Potential and Quality of Panicum maximum Cultivars Established in a Semi-Arid Environment

“…The blocks were spaced 2.0 m apart and the plots 1.0 m apart, totaling 24 plots in a 375-m 2 area. Sowing was carried out as described by Rodrigues et al (2021).…”