Effect of severity and defoliation frequencies in Marandu palisadegrass pastures mixed with macrotiloma on forage production, canopy structure and in vitro methane production

• Grant number: 14/22580-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2016
• End date: July 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Pastures and Forage Crops
• Principal Investigator: Luciana Gerdes
• Grantee: Luciana Gerdes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Zootecnia. Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Nova Odessa , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alessandra Aparecida Giacomini ; Enilson Geraldo Ribeiro ; Flavia Maria de Andrade Gimenes ; Helder Louvandini ; Henrique Zavarez Barbosa ; Ivani Pozar Otsuk ; Karina Batista ; Linda Monica Premazzi ; Paulo de Mello Tavares Lima ; Renata Helena Branco Arnandes ; Waldssimiler Teixeira de Mattos

Abstract

The use of pastures with the association of grasses and forage legumes can contribute to the sustainability of animal production systems. The objective of this study is to evaluate the responses of plants of Marandu Palisadegrass mixed with the legume Macrotyloma axillare (access NO 279) subjected to rotational grazing. Treatments correspond to the combination of two pre-grazing conditions (pre-grazing heights of 25 and 35 cm) and two post-grazing conditions (post-grazing heights of 10 and 15 cm), in 16 experimental units (paddocks) with approximately 300 m2 each. The experiment will be conducted from November 2014 to April 2016, in a randomized complete block design with four replications following a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. The following response variables will be evaluated: forage accumulation and their components, botanical and morphological composition, leaf area index and vertical sward structure. It will be made, in laminae/leaves grass and legume components from pre-grazing samples, bromatological determinations of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), in vitro organic degradability (IVOD) and evaluation of in vitro gases production (methane and short chain fatty acids). Samples of legumes leaves will be also used to determine the total phenolic compounds and tannins. The results will be submitted to analysis of variance using PROC MIXED (SAS). It is expected, from the results, to define recommendations for grazing management in this consortium, contributing to its production and persistence. (AU)