Herbage accumulation and tillering dynamics of ‘Zuri’ guineagrass under rotational stocking

Abstract

Understanding the effects of grazing management on tillering dynamics of forage grasses may help identify management practices that optimize pasture production, stability, and ultimately, persistence. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of two grazing frequencies (regrowth interrupted when the canopy was 70 cm tall or at 95% canopy light interception [LI]) and two grazing intensities (reduction of 29 [lenient] or 57% [standard] of initial canopy height) in ‘BRS Zuri’ guineagrass [Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B.K. Simon & S. W. L Jacobs (syn. Panicum maximum Jacq.)], under rotational stocking and on herbage accumulation rate (HAR), tiller appearance rate, tiller mortality, tiller survival rate, tiller stability index (SI), tiller population density (TPD), tiller mass (TM), apical meristem height, and tiller half‐life during two summer rainy seasons in Piracicaba, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized complete block, with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The HAR was not affected by treatments in the first year, averaging 100 kg dry matter ha−1 d−1, but was greater under lenient than standard grazing (146 and 81 kg dry matter ha−1 d−1, respectively) in the second year. In both years, there were no treatment effects on TPD and TM. The use of 95% LI associated with standard defoliation increased the variability in SI. Great tiller population renewal indicated by short tiller half‐life, varying from 31 to 75 d, classifies Zuri as an exploitative cultivar. Zuri guineagrass maintained tiller SI under the grazing treatments imposed but had greater HAR under lenient grazing.

Defoliation management and nitrogen fertiliser rate affect canopy structural traits of grazed guineagrass (Megathyrsus maximus) cv. Zuri under rotational stocking

“…The TPD is important for restoring canopy leaf area after defoliation (Matthew et al . 2000), being dependent on the defoliation strategy (Barbosa et al . 2021), for example canopy height.…”

Anatomical, morphogenic and structural characteristics of Xaraés palisade grass under grazing

“…The pastures managed under rLAI of 2.3 showed higher residue height which may have contributed to the higher LSR, decreasing up both NEL and NLL. In pastures under rLAI of 0.8, due to more intense grazing there are greater chances of apical meristm removal in the tillers, which can stimulate emergence of new tillers with lower number of leaves with reduced length (Barbosa et al 2021).…”

Nanosilica modulates C:N:P stoichiometry attenuating phosphorus toxicity more than deficiency in Megathyrsus maximus cultivated in an Oxisol and Entisol

“…Biomass production.The plants were cut twice when reaching 70 cm in height in the treatment with adequate P content [55] . This height was reached at 25 and 31 days after the uniform cut in the Entisol and Oxisol, respectively, after the rst cut was made.…”