Características morfogênicas e estruturais de pastos de capim-mombaça sob doses de nitrogênio em pastejo intermitente

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the morphogenetic and structural characteristics of the pastures of Mombasa grass with three nitrogen doses, managed under intermittent grazing. The experimental design was completely randomized blocks, with three nitrogen doses: 100; 200 and 300 kg ha-1, and three area replicates. The time for interruption of regrowth occurred when sward reached 80-90 cm of height (95% of interception of light by canopy). The moment of withdrawal of the animals from the paddocks occurred when 50% of the entry height was consumed. Pastures were sampled in pre and post grazing conditions, for determining herbage mass and forage accumulation. To evaluate swards morphogenic and structural characteristics, 10 tillers were marked in 18 paddocks distributed among treatments (6 paddocks/nitrogen dose). The use of 200 and 300 kg ha-1 of nitrogen promoted the highest rates of appearance and leaf elongation. The best nitrogen doses will be the one that promote the balance between herbage production and production costs.