Canopy responses of signal grass cv. Basilisk pastures subjected to three fertilization regimes at two stubble heights

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(10)32-43

Abstract

The impacts of fertilization regimes and stubble heights in signal grass cv. Basilisk pastures were evaluated during late
spring and summer in Brazil. Liming and N, P and K fertilization were applied to generate gradients in soil fertility to
maintain soil base saturations around 35%, 50% and 65%, increase soil P concentration and the proportion of K in soil
cation exchange capacity, combined with two stubble heights of 10 and 15 cm. Herbage accumulation was not affected
by fertilization regimes and stubble height reaching 10 t/ha of dry matter during the growing season. Cutting at 10
cm maximizes the leaf mass and leaf area index and decreases dead material mass without the need of high soil base
saturation and NPK fertilization rates to sustain plant growth. However, this stubble height required longer regrowth
periods to attain 95% of light interception (LI95%). A stubble height of 15 cm is preferred when short regrowth periods are required. The canopy height at the point of LI95% does not change with fertilization regimes, but the LI95% is reached at different canopy heights in late spring and summer in signal grass pastures. The adoption of a moderate fertilization regime is recommended as a strategy to obtain an equitable forage distribution between late spring and summer.

Author Biographies

Bruna Scalia De Araújo Passos, University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil.

Animal Science Department

Valdo Rodrigues Herling, University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil.

Animal Science Department

Manoel Eduardo Rozalino Santos, Federal University of Uberlândia, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.

Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária

Lucas Da Rocha Carvalho, University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil.

Animal Science Department

Lilian Elgalise Techio Pereira, University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil.

Animal Science Department

How to Cite

Passos, B. S. D. A., Herling, V. R., Santos, M. E. R., Carvalho, L. D. R., & Pereira, L. E. T. (2022). Canopy responses of signal grass cv. Basilisk pastures subjected to three fertilization regimes at two stubble heights. Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales, 10(1), 32–43. https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(10)32-43

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Published

2022-01-31

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Section

Research Papers