TITLE:
Structural and Production Characteristics of Piatã Grass Forage Submitted to Levels of Nitrogen
AUTHORS:
Ronaldo Liberato Dourado, Alexandre Lima de Souza, Anderson de Moura Zanine, Fabio Luiz Buranelo Toral, Daniele de Jesus Ferreira, Joadil Gonçalves de Abreu
KEYWORDS:
Forage Accumulation, Frequencies Cuts, Leaf Area Index, Tiller Density
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.6 No.5,
March
19,
2015
ABSTRACT: Piatã grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatã) is a tropical grass cultivating in pasture production system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen levels (0, 125, 250, 375 and 500 kg·N·ha-1) on structural characteristics and forage production of Piatã grass. The experiment comprised of twenty grass parcels arranged in randomised completely casualties design. This study was carried out between November of 2007 and April of 2008, with 175 experimental days. A quadratic effect (P ·m-2 at a nitrogen dose of 357 kg·ha-1. A quadratic effect (P ·ha-1·year-1for nitrogen levels of 411 and 384 kg·ha-1, respectively. However, a considerable portion of forage production obtained by nitrogen addition occurred from stem production. The productions of green leaf blade dry matter, tiller density, leaf blade length and leaf blade index are all variables related to structural aspects and pasture quality, with all attaining their highest values at a mean nitrogen application level of 380 kg·ha-1.