Biomass flow in massai grass fertilized with nitrogen under intermittent stocking grazing with sheep.

Abstract: This study evaluated the biomass flow of massai grass in regrowth subjected to different nitrogen levels (control - no fertilization; 400; 800; and 1200 N kg ha-1year-1) and under rotational stocking with sheep, in a completely randomized design with repeated measures over time. The leaf elongation rate increased with increasing nitrogen levels (N) and the fourth grazing cycle presented a lower value compared with the others. The stem elongation rate responded linearly with increasing levels of N, but it was not influenced by grazing cycles. The senescence rate of leaves remaining before grazing and after grazing were not influenced by the nitrogen fertilization or amended with successive grazing cycles. The phyllochron was influenced only by the nitrogen fertilization, with a decreasing linear response with nitrogen levels. Quadratic response was observed for the average length of leaves with increasing N levels and the grazing cycle 4 presented the lowest value for this variable. For each kilogram N ha-1 year-1, increases of 0.161 and 0.1604 kg ha-1 day-1 were verified in the herbage growth and accumulation rates, respectively. Nitrogen fertilization favors the biomass flow of massai grass, promoting an expressive increase in the production and accumulation of forage.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	LOPES, M. N., CÂNDIDO, M. J. D., POMPEU, R. C. F. F., SILVA, R. G. da, CARVALHO, T. C. F. de, SOMBRA, W. A., MORAIS NETO, L. B. de, PEIXOTO, M. J. A.
Other Authors:	Marcos Neves Lopes, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC) - Fortaleza, CE.; Magno José Duarte Cândido, UFC - Fortaleza, CE; ROBERTO CLAUDIO FERNANDES F POMPEU, CNPC; Rodrigo Gregório da Silva, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia (IFCE), Campus Avançado do Tauá - Tauá, CE.; Thaíse Cristine Ferreira de Carvalho, IFCE - Tauá, CE.; Weberte Alan Sombra, UFC - Fortaleza, CE; Luiz Barreto de Morais Neto, UFC - Fortaleza, CE; Márcio José Alves Peixoto, Secretaria do Desenvolvimento Agrário do Ceará (SDA) - Fortaleza, CE.
Format:	Artigo de periódico biblioteca
Language:	pt_BR por
Published:	2013-04-15
Subjects:	Panicum infestum, Fluxo de biomassa, Capim massai, Nitrogen fertilization, Ovino, Fixação de nitrogênio, Morfogênese, Panicum maximum, Pastejo, Fertilizante nitrogenado, Sheep, Morphogenesis, Grazing,
Online Access:	http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/955879 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982013000100003
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