Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
Related content
(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Growth of Megathyrsus maximus cv. Mombaca as affected by grazing strategies and environmental seasonality. I. Tillering dynamics and population stability

Full text
Author(s):
Carneiro da Silva, Sila [1] ; Uebele, Marina Castro [1] ; de Souza Congio, Guilhermo Francklin [1, 2] ; Carnevalli, Roberta Aparecida [3] ; Sbrissia, Andre Fischer [4]
Total Authors: 5
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Anim Sci, Ave Padua Dias 11, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil
[2] Agrosavia, Colombian Corp Agr Res, Km 14 Via Mosquera Bogota, Mosquera 205047, Cundinamarca - Colombia
[3] Embrapa Dairy Cattle, Brazilian Agr Res Corp, Ave Eugenio do Nascimento 610 Aeroporto, BR-36038330 Juiz De Fora, MG - Brazil
[4] Santa Catarina State Univ, Dept Anim Prod & Food Sci, Ave Luiz de Camoes 2090, BR-88520000 Lages, SC - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: CROP & PASTURE SCIENCE; v. 72, n. 1 JAN 2021.
Web of Science Citations: 1
Abstract

In rotationally grazed pastures, the canopy light environment can be modulated through both grazing frequency and severity, and the magnitude of sward responses may differ according to forage species and its ability to use available resources. We hypothesised that the tall, tufted, fast-growing, tussock-forming species Mombaca guineagrass (Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B.K.Simon \& S.W.L.Jacobs cv. Mombaca) can modulate its tillering dynamics and change its persistence pathway according to grazing strategy and the availability of growth factors. Treatments corresponded to all combinations of two levels of pre-grazing canopy light interception during regrowth (95% and maximum) and two post-grazing heights (30 and 50 cm), and were allocated to experimental units according to a randomised complete block design with four replications. Measurements were performed throughout contrasting climatic conditions during four seasons from January 2001 to February 2002. A quite stable tiller population density presented regardless of the range of grazing frequency and severity used in the study. However, tiller appearance and death were strongly influenced (P < 0.001) by season of the year, with highest rates recorded during the two summers and lowest during autumn-winter. There was no conclusive evidence that the persistence pathway of Mombaca guineagrass changes within the grazing management strategies studied. (AU)