Morphogenesis and structure of mombassa grass over different growth periods

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer doses on morphogenic and structural characteristics of mombassa grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) at three different periods of the lifespan of tillers. The experiment was conducted in Araguaína-TO, Brazil, from December 2014 to February 2015. It was installed in split plots in a randomized block design with four replications. The doses of N-fertilizer (0, 30, 60, 90 kg N.ha -1 ) were the plots and the periods evaluated (1PER -first period from day 16 to 30; 2PER from day 31 to 45 and 3PER from day 46 to 60 after germination) were the subplots. The evaluated variables consisted of leaf appearance rate (LAR), leaf elongation rate (LER), stem elongation rate (SER), leaf senescence rate (LSR), phyllochron, tiller number, leaf emergence, and total leaf number. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to morphogenic and structural characteristics along with a regression analysis for all the variables. Overall, increasing N-fertilizer doses positively influenced the leaf appearance and leaf elongation rates, tiller density, and the number of live leaves per tiller. The 90-kg N.ha -1 dose enabled the best morphogenic and structural responses of the forage when compared to the other rates. Each period featured differently, with higher values of LSR, SER, and LER in 3PER when compared to those in 2PER and in 1PER. Therefore, the nutritional supply over the first weeks of tiller lives was defining to an increase in forage production in the remaining periods. In light of this, we observed that as LAR raise in the first days after germination, nutritional supplies are required from day 15 on, mainly nitrogen, so plants could continue their development since initial plant growth determines pasture productive vigor and longevity. Key words: leaf appearance; tiller; (Panicum maximum Jacq.); growth period. ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar o efeito de doses de N-fertilizante sobre as características morfogênicas e estruturais no período de estabelecimento do capim-mombaça (Panicum maximum Jacq.) em três períodos da vida do perfilho. O experimento conduzido em Araguaína-TO de dezembro de 2014 a fevereiro de 2015, foi instalado em parcelas subdivididas em um delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições, sendo as doses de N-fertilizante (0, 30, 60 e 90 kg N.ha -1 ) a parcela e os períodos avaliados (1°PER-primeiro período do 16º ao 30º; 2°PER-segundo período do 31º ao 45º e 3°PER-terceiro período do 46º ao 60º dia pós germinação) a subparcela. Avaliou-se a taxa de aparecimento foliar (TApF), taxa de alongamento foliar (TAlF) e colmo (TAlC), taxa de senescência foliar (TSF), filocrono, número de perfilhos, surgimento de folhas e o número de folhas totais. Foi utilizada uma análise de correlação de Pearson entre as características morfogênicas e estruturais e, também, análise de regressão para todas as variáveis avaliadas. O incremento das doses de nitrogênio influenciou positivamente as taxas de aparecimento foliar, alongamento foliar, densidade de perfi...

Irrigation management, light interception, and nitrogen in Tanzania grass cultivation

“…Tanzania grass is demanding in terms of soil fertility and management, so fertilization and defoliation intensity are important for optimizing its production (LAGE FILHO et al, 2021). Forage species of the genus Panicum respond positively to increasing doses of nitrogen fertilization, which promote a shorter cycle, greater number of tillers, greater fresh and dry biomass, and higher crude protein content (COSTA et al, 2016;RODRIGUES et al, 2017;SILVA et al, 2017;SILVA et al, 2018;SOUZA;BITTAR, 2021). Nitrogen fertilization is a key management strategy for increasing Tanzania grass production (LINS et al, 2015).…”