This study evaluated the agronomic, morphogenic and structural characteristics of palisadegrass (Urochloa brizantha) in silvopastoral systems (SSP's) composed of babassu palms (Attalea speciosa) and grass monoculture in the Pre-Amazon region of the state of Maranhão, Brazil. The study followed a completely randomized design, with the arrangement in split plots with six replicates for the evaluation of agronomic characteristics and 30 repetitions for the morphogenic and structural characteristics. The plots were divided into pasture environments with different palm densities (monoculture, 80, 131, 160 palms.ha -¹), and the subplots were divided into the different seasons (rainy and dry). Total forage production was affected (P<0.05) by the interaction between palm density and season. The rainy season, compared to the dry season, presented higher total forage production, whereas among silvopastoral systems, the one with 80 palms.ha-¹ presented higher production. The same pattern was found for leaf production. In the rainy season the production of culms increased, as did the ratio leaf.culm -1 . Regarding the accumulation of dead material, the only observed difference was a smaller accumulation in the dry season for pastures with 160 palms.ha-¹. In the rainy season, the leaf elongation rate, leaf appearance rate, and final leaf length had higher values in the silvopastoral system with 131 palm.ha -¹, whereas during the dry season, these variables only differed in the monoculture system. Tiller elongation rate and the phyllochron were not affected (P> 0.05) by pastoral system during the rainy season, but in the dry period, higher responses were obtained in SSPs. Overall, SSPs with 80 palms.ha -¹ favored the agronomic characteristics of pastures. Morphogenic and structural characteristics were favored by increasing palm
ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar as características agronômicas, morfogênicas e estruturais do capim-Marandu (Urochloa brizantha) em sistemas silvipastoris (SSP's) compostos por palmeiras de babaçu (Attalea speciosa) e em monocultivo de capim-Marandu na região Pré-Amazônica Maranhense. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com o arranjo em parcelas subdivididas com seis repetições para a avaliação das características agronômicas e 30 repetições para as características morfogênicas e estruturais. As parcelas foram constituídas pelos ambientes pastoris e suas densidades (monocultura, 80, 131, 160 palmeiras.ha -¹) e nas subparcelas os períodos (chuvoso e seco). A produção total de forragem foi influenciada (P<0,05) pela interação densidades x épocas do ano. Entre as épocas, o período chuvoso foi o que apresentou maior produção total de forragem e entre os ambientes pastoris a densidade de 80 palmeiras.ha -¹ apresentou maior produção. A mesma resposta foi encontrada para a produção de folhas. No período chuvoso foi observado maior produção de colmos e relação folha. colmo -1 . Para o acúmulo de material morto só houve efeito (P<0,05) entre os períodos, onde pastagens com 1...