Animal productivity and canopy structure in legumes and grass pastures managed under continuous stocking with sheep

• Grant number: 20/12256-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Pastures and Forage Crops
• Principal researcher: Flávia Maria de Andrade Gimenes
• Grantee: Marcelo Moretin Vieira
• Home Institution: Instituto de Zootecnia. Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Nova Odessa , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this study will be to evaluate the animal productivity and the canopy structure of multispecies pastures under management strategies established in no-tillage areas. Forage legumes Macrotiloma axillare, Neonotonia wightii, Calopogonium mucunoides, Stylosanthes guianensis and Aruana grass (Panicum maximum cv. Aruana) were planted in October 2019 and February 2020, respectively. Multispecies pasture will be evaluated in four treatments of forage canopy height (15, 30, 45 and 60 cm) kept under continuous stocking and variable stocking rate by sheep in a randomized block design with four replications (16 paddocks of 500m2 / each) from September 2020 to May 2022. Monthly assessments of forage mass, forage botanical and morphological composition and canopy structure will be carried out using inclined point equipment. Animal performance will be measured in two test animals per experimental unit with weighing every 28 days. It is expected to determine management targets for multispecies pastures of Aruana grass and legumes for maximum presence of legumes in the forage mass and greater animal productivity.