Agronomic responses and adaptation of the CROPGRO model to predict growth of three forage grasses irrigated and non-irrigated

• Grant number: 13/01914-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: April 22, 2013
• End date: November 21, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Pastures and Forage Crops
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Guilherme Silveira Pedreira
• Grantee: Diego Noleto Luz Pequeno
• Supervisor: Kenneth J. Boote
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Florida, Gainesville (UF), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 11/00492-5 - Agronomic responses and adaptation of the CROPGRO model to predict growth of three forage grasses irrigated and non-irrigated, BP.DR

Abstract

Despite the importance of grasslands for livestock production in Brazil, tools that assist producers to make decisions in forage-livestock systems are scarce. These results from the still incipient research conducted for the purpose of modeling forage-livestock systems and software development. Simulation models are important tools in the management of agricultural systems allowing for estimations of forage production under different conditions. The objective of this research is to adapt the CROPGRO Perennial Forage model to estimate growth of Brachiaria hybrid CIAT 36087 cv. Mulato II, the Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu and Cynodon dactylon cv. Tifton 85 in response to harvest frequencies, irrigation, and environmental variables. Two experiments were conducted using a randomized complete block design in a 3x2 factorial arrangement, corresponding to the combinations between the three forage genotypes and two harvest frequencies (every 28 and 42 days), with four replications. Responses evaluated included forage production, photosynthesis, plant-part composition, leaf area index, light interception and forage nutritive value. At the University of Florida, the datasets will be used in parameterization of the CROPGRO Perennial Forage under the supervision of Dr. Kenneth J. Boote, one of the researchers who developed the model. Among the activities abroad, data will surveyed in the literature, an intensive training course will be taken to use the DSSAT software, data will be organized in file formats compatible with the software for integration into the model, simulations will be run to test model parameters in the adaptation process, including sensitivity analysis, and statistical analysis options to discuss the data obtained for the thesis and write scientific papers to journals of high visibility. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PEQUENO, DIEGO N. L.; PEDREIRA, CARLOS G. S.; SOLLENBERGER, LYNN E.; DE FARIA, ANA F. G.; SILVA, LILIANE S.. Forage Accumulation and Nutritive Value of Brachiariagrasses and Tifton 85 Bermudagrass as Affected by Harvest Frequency and Irrigation. AGRONOMY JOURNAL, v. 107, n. 5, p. 1741-1749, SEP-OCT 2015. (11/00492-5, 13/01914-6)

PEQUENO, DIEGO N. L.; PEDREIRA, CARLOS G. S.; BOOTE, KENNETH J.. Simulating forage production of Marandu palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha) with the CROPGRO-Perennial Forage model. CROP & PASTURE SCIENCE, v. 65, n. 12, p. 1335-1348, 2014. (11/00492-5, 13/01914-6)

PEQUENO, D. N. L.; PEDREIRA, C. G. S.; BOOTE, K. J.; ALDERMAN, P. D.; FARIA, A. F. G.. Species-genotypic parameters of the CROPGRO Perennial Forage Model: Implications for comparison of three tropical pasture grasses. GRASS AND FORAGE SCIENCE, v. 73, n. 2, p. 440-455, JUN 2018. (11/00492-5, 13/01914-6)