Agronomic biofortification of Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça with calcium and magnesium and its relation to grass nutritional quality

• Grant number: 18/06299-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2018
• End date: May 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: André Rodrigues dos Reis
• Grantee: Vinicius Knychala Muniz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Engenharia. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Tupã. Tupã , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The consequence of malnourish in humans and animals is the intake of food lacking essential minerals and vitamins. Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) are essential to higher plants, animals and humans. Calcium has a fundamental role in cell wall and membranes in higher plants, and bone and teeth formation in animals. Magnesium is component of chlorophyll in plants and prevent hypomagnesaemic paralysis or tetany in animals - a metabolic disorder that affect ruminants during lactation. Brazilian pasture and soils are poor in Ca and Mg. In addition, nitrogen and potassium fertilizer are applied in high concentration decreasing Mg uptake by plants. Therefore, application of Ca and Mg are needed in order to improve the nutritional balance of grasses and gypsum and magnesium oxide are widely used. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of combination of levels of Ca (0, 150, 300 and 600 kg ha-1) and Mg (0; 15; 30 and 60 kg ha-1) applied as gypsum and magnesium oxide as source. Photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids), nitrogen compounds (aminoacids, nitrate, ammonium), sugar and nutrient concentration will be analyzed in different seasons. This study will provide an important and powerfull information for further reccommendation of Ca and Mg application in Brazilian pasture using commercial fertilizers. Agronomic biofortification of pasture with Ca and Mg can be a good strategy to increase the grass quality and consequently a better animal health. (AU)