Tillering Capacity of Brachiaria Cultivars in the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region During the Dry Season
Abstract
Identifying forage species that are responsive in regions with marked water deficits is one of the greatest challenges for the sustainable development of agriculture. However, information is still lacking about the persistence response of those pastures and their abilities to produce new tissues at the times of water scarcity. We hypothesized that Brachiaria grass has a tillering capacity during water-stress periods. This study thus examined the tillering capacity and structural characteristics of four Brachiaria brizantha cultivars (Xaraés, Piatã, Marandu, and Paiaguás) and one Brachiaria decumbens cultivar (Basilisk) in the Brazilian semi-arid region during the dry season (September to March). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with repeated measures over time in which five treatments were tested in four replicates. Tillering parameters, pasture production, and structural variables were evaluated. There was no interaction effect of cultivar × evaluation period on the tiller appearance (p= 0.1774), mortality (p= 0.1952) or survival (p= 0.4469) rates. The highest tiller appearance and mortality rates were observed in Marandu, while the highest survival rates were found in Marandu and Paiaguás. The index of tiller population stability was higher than or equal to 1.0 in all cultivars. Cultivar Basilisk showed the highest herbage mass yield (4448.0 kg DM ha-1), whereas Basilisk exhibited the highest yields of leaf (1845.9 kg DM ha-1), stem (1676.9 kg DM ha-1), and dead material (925.2 kg DM ha-1). The highest leaf:stem ratio (1.8) was found in Marandu. Cultivar Xaraés had the highest canopy (70.8 cm). The B. brizantha and B. decumbens cultivars evaluated in this study have the potential for cultivation in areas with marked water deficits, as is the case of the Brazilian semi-arid region. Cultivars Marandu, Basilisk, and Paiaguás exhibited the greatest tillering dynamics as well as the highest herbage-mass yield.
References
Bahmani, I., E. R. Thom, C. Matthew, R. J. Hooper, & G. Lemaire. 2003. Tiller dynamics of perennial ryegrass cultivars derived from different New Zealand ecotypes: effects of cultivar, season, nitrogen fertilizer, and irrigation. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 54:803-817. https://doi.org/10.1071/AR02135
Basso, K. C., U. Cecato, S. M. B. Lugão, J. A. N. Gomes, L. M. Barbero, & G. B. Mourão. 2010. Morfogênese e dinâmica do perfilhamento em pastos de Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. IPR-86 Milênio submetido a doses de nitrogênio. Rev. Bras. Saúde Prod. An. 11: 976-989.
Difante, G. S., D. Nascimento Júnior, S. C. Silva, V. P. B. Euclides, D. B. Montagner, C. T. Silveira, & K. S. Pena. 2010. Morphogenetic and structural characteristics of marandu palisadegrass subjected to combinations of cutting heights and cutting intervals. Rev. Bras. Zootecn. 40: 955-963. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982011000500003
Echeverria, J. R., V. P. B. Euclides, A. F. Sbrissia, D. B. Montagner, R. A. Barbosa, & N. N. Nantes. 2016. Forage accumulation and nutritive value of the Urochloa interspecific hybrid ‘BRS RB331 Ipyporã’ under intermittent grazing. Pesq. Agropec. Bras. 51: 880-889. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-204X2016000700011
Emerenciano Neto, J. V., G. S. Difante, E. M. Aguiar, L. S. Fernandes, H. C. B. Oliveira, & M. G. T. Silva. 2014. Performance of meat sheep, chemical composition and structure of tropical pasture grasses managed under intermittent capacity. Biosci. J. 30:834-842.
Emerenciano Neto, J. V., G. S. Difante, D. B. Montagner, M. G. S. Bezerra, R. C. P. Galvão, & R. I. G. Vasconcelos. 2013. Sward structural characteristics and herbage accumulation in tropical grasses, under intermittent stocking and sheep grazed. Biosci. J. 29:962-973.
Emerenciano Neto, J. V., G. F. Pereira, H. R. Medeiros, A. P. A. C. Gracindo, & G. S. Difante. 2011. Caracterização e avaliação econômica de sistemas de produção de agricultura familiar no semiárido. Rev. Bras. Agropec. Sust. 1:21-28. https://doi.org/10.21206/rbas.v1i1.7.
Erasmo, E. A. L., R. C. Goncalves, J. F. Mata, V. A. Oliveira, & L. P. F. Benicio. 2017. Growth of Brachiaria brizantha planted at different densities and seasons in Santa Fé systems with a culture of soybean. Emi. J. Food Agricul. 29:658-663. https://doi.org/10.9755/ejfa.2017.v29.i9.108
Euclides, V. P. B., D. B. Montagner, R. A. Barbosa, C. B. Valle, & N. N. Nantes. 2016. Animal performance and sward characteristics of two cultivars of Brachiaria brizantha (BRS Paiaguás and BRS Piatã). Rev. Bras. Zootecn. 45:85-92. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-92902016000300001
Euclides, V. P. B., D. B. Montagner, M. C. M. Macedo, A. R. Araújo, G. S. Difante, & R. A. Barbosa. 2019. Grazing intensity affects forage accumulation and persistence of Marandu palisadegrass in the Brazilian savannah. Grass. Forage. Sci. 75:1-13. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12422
Luna, A. A., G. S. Difante, D. B. Montagner, J. V. Emerenciano Neto, I. M. M. Araujo, & L.S. Fernandes. 2016. Tillering dynamic and structural characteristics of tropical grasses under cutting management. Biosci. J. 32:1008-1017. https://doi.org/10.14393/BJ-v32n4a2016-32944
Luna, A. A., G. S. Difante, D. B. Montagner, J. V. Emerenciano Neto, I. M. M. Araújo, & L. E. C. Oliveira. 2014. Características morfogênicas e acúmulo de forragem de gramíneas forrageiras, sob corte. Biosci. J. 30:1803-1810.
Montagner, D. B., D. Nascimento Júnior, H. H. Vilela, B. M. L. Sousa, V. P. E. Euclides, S. C. Da Silva, & M. N. Carloto. 2012. Tillering dynamics in pastures of guinea grass subjected to grazing severities under intermittent stocking. Rev. Bras. Zootecn. 41:544-549. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982012000300010
Nkugu, S. A., D. N. Njarui, N. K. R. Musimba, D. Amwata, & E. M. Kaindi. 2016. Primary production variables of Brachiaria grass cultivars in Kenya drylands. Trop. Sub. Agroec. 19:29-39.
Nunes, A. T., D. L. V. Cabral, E. L. C. Amorim, M. V. F. Santos, & U. P. Albuquerque. 2016. Plants used to feed ruminants in semi-arid Brazil: A study of nutritional composition guided by local ecology knowledge. J. Arid Environ. 135:96-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.08.015
Oliveira, J. S., J. V. Emerenciano Neto, R. S. Santos, B. R. S. Bonfim, F. N. Lista, V. A. Vieira, & G. S. Difante. 2019. Structural and Productive Characteristics of Urochloa Cultivars Submitted to Different Defoliation Frequencies in Semiarid Region. J. Agric. Stud. 7:91-102. https://doi.org/10.5296/jas.v7i3.15177
Pereira, G. F., J. V. Emerenciano Neto, G. S. Difante, C. S. L. Cortes, & P. O. Lima. 2019. Morphogenic and structural characteristics of tropical forage grasses managed under different regrowth periods in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Semin.-Cienc. Agrar. 40:283-292. https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2019v40n1p283
Pitman, W. D. 2012. Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) management combining nitrogen fertilizer rate and defoliation frequency to enhance forage production efficiency. Grass. Forage. Sci. 68:479-484. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12005
Santos, M. E. R., D. M. Fonseca, I. M. Oliveira, D. R. Casagrande, E. M. Balbino, & F. P. Freitas. 2010a. Correlações entre número de perfilhos, índice de tombamento, massa dos componentes morfológicos e valor nutritivo da forragem em pastos diferidos de capim-braquiária. Rev. Bras. Zootecn. 39:487-493. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982010000300006
Santos, M. E. R, D. M. Fonseca, E. M. Balbino, V. M. Gomes, & S. P. Silva. 2010b. Correlations among structural characteristics and nutritional value of tillers on deferred and nitrogen-fertilized signalgrass pastures. Rev. Bras. Saúde Prod. An. 11:595-605.
Silveira, M. C. T., D. Nascimento Junior, S. C. Da Silva, V. P. B. Euclides, D. B. Montagner, & A. F. Sbrissia. 2010. Morphogenetic and structural comparative characterization of tropical forage grass cultivars under free growth. Sci. Agric. 7:136-142. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162010000200002
Sousa, B. M. L., C. A. Rizato, J. L. Fagundes, P. T. N. Fontes, A. A. Backes, L. F. G. Oliveira Junior, & C. S. Nascimento. 2019. Tillering dynamics of digit grass subject to different defoliation frequencies. Pesqui. Agropecu. Bras. 54:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1678-3921.pab2019.v54.00668
Souza, J. S., G. S. Difante, J. V. Emerenciano Neto, A. M. Q. Lana, F. F. S. Roberto, & P. H. C. Ribeiro. 2019. Biometric measurements of Santa Inês meat sheep reared on Brachiaria brizantha pastures in Northeast Brazil. PLOS ONE, 30:1-16. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219343
Thorthwaite, C. W. 1948. An approach toward a rational classification of climate. Geog. Rev. 1:55-93. https://doi.org/10.2307/210739
Valle, C.B., V. P. B. Euclides, D. B. Montagner, J. R. Valério, C. D. Fernandes, M. C. M Macedo, & L. A. Z. Machado. 2013. Paiaguás: A new Brachiaria (Urochloa) cultivar for tropical pastures in Brazil. Trop. Grassl. 1:121-122. https://doi.org/10.17138/TGFT(1)121-122
Authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors submitting manuscripts should understand and agree that copyright of manuscripts of the article shall be assigned/transferred to Tropical Animal Science Journal. The statement to release the copyright to Tropical Animal Science Journal is stated in Form A. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA) where Authors and Readers can copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, as well as remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, but they must give appropriate credit (cite to the article or content), provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
Article Details
