Canopy structure and forage nutritive value of elephantgrass subjected to different stocking rate and N fertilization in the “Mata Seca” ecoregion of Pernambuco

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the effect of three stocking rates (2, 3.9, and 5.8 animal units ha −1) and three fertilization levels (0, 150, and 300 kg N ha −1 yr −1) on herbage mass and nutritive value of elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) cv. IRI-381. The experiment was conducted from May to August of 2009 and 2010 in Itambé, PE, Brazil, during the rainy season. Treatments were allocated in a split-plot arrangement in a completely randomized block design. The variables measured included leaf mass (pre-and post-grazing), botanical composition, soil cover, leaf area index, light interception, leaf angle, and concentrations of dry matter, organic matter, N, and in vitro digestible dry matter. When fertilized with 300 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , leaf mass reached 18,560 kg ha −1. Leaf area index decreased with increasing stocking rate. The relationship between sward height and light interception was R 2 = 0.0126. Increased stocking rate resulted in greater contribution of signalgrass [Brachiaria decumbens (Stapf.) R.D. Webster] in the botanical composition, with a contribution up to 29% in 2010. Elephantgrass nutritive value is directly affected by the fertilization levels and stocking rate, with highest nutrient concentrations observed with 2 AU ha −1 and 300 kg N ha −1 yr −1 .

Tall and short-sized elephant grass genotypes: morphophysiological aspects cut-and-carry, and grazing management

“…Furthermore, the highest N level increased the root decomposition. Moreover, DOURADO et al (2019) observed an increase of leaf productivity from 10.0 to 18.5 Mg ha -1 DM in an experiment with the same conditions and applied N levels. The authors emphasized the great N extraction capacity from the radicular system of the 'IRI-381' genotype.…”

“…The stocking rate also is an important aspect of grazing management, because the adopted stocking rate above the pasture carrying capacity is one of the most determinant factors of pastureland degradation all over the country (GAlDINo et al, 2013). DOURADO et al (2019) evaluated the leaf blade dry mass of the tall-sized genotype 'IRI-381' in pastures under 2.0, 3.9, and 5.8 AU ha -1 stocking rates and found values of 6,078, 2,543, and 1,670 kg ha -1 , respectively. Moreover, the authors observed a decreasing from 31 to 15% of the leaf blades after pre-grazing, in the function of the stocking rate increase.…”

Canopy leaf area and leaf mass in the upper stratum of Urochloa hybrid ‘Mavuno’ grass subjected to nitrogen fertilisation

“…For most tropical perennial grass species, such as Pennisetum purpureum Schum. ‘IRI‐381’ (Dourado et al, 2019) and Urochloa brizantha ‘Piatã’ (Zanine et al, 2020) linear increases on pre‐grazing herbage mass, leaf mass and LAI are commonly verified with increasing N fertilisation rates. On the other hand, when grazing strategies are adopted, for a given tropical perennial grass species, considering the ideal range of pre‐ and post‐cutting canopy heights, recent literature has showing that some plant responses may act buffering the increasing herbage mass in response to N fertilisation.…”

Potential of elephant grass genotypes silages as exclusive roughage on tissue composition and meat quality of lambs: a preliminary study

“…In this scenario, elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) presents itself as one of the main options for forage production, given its potential to produce forage mass, combined with its nutritional value and acceptability by ruminant animals (Dubeux Jr. and Mello, 2010;Cunha et al, 2011;Dourado et al, 2019;Souza et al, 2021). This forage grass is grown in tropical, subtropical, and even in semiarid zones worldwide (Pereira et al, 2017).…”