How the Intercropping between Corn and Palisade Grass Cultivars Affects Forage Production and Pastures Characteristics under Grazing

Crop-livestock integrated systems have been identified as an excellent option to use land efficiently. This study investigates how the intercropping between corn and three palisade grass cultivars affects the species productivity and the physiological and structural characteristics of swards grazed under 95% light interception under mob stocking. Evaluations were performed before corn harvest and during three grazing cycles. Similarity between the cultivars on the proportion of corn morphological components has shown that none of the studied forage plants had influence on the growth of corn. The crop-livestock integrated system with corn modified the proportion of palisade grass cultivars’ morphological components, promoting the development of Xaraes cultivar. In the pre-grazing in the grazing cycles, considering 95% of light interception the Xaraes cultivar showed higher height (0.47 m) compared with Marandu (0.37 m) and similar to Piata (0.42 m). Forage density was higher in the second grazing cycle only when the forage mass was also greater with greater contribution of both leaves and stems compared to the other cycles. Mass of leaves, stems and dead material was similar between the cultivars both pre- and post-grazing. The corn and forage intercropping did not affect the growth and development of palisade grass pastures and it is a viable alternative for the crop-livestock integrated system. Corn production is not affected by the palisade grass cultivars but production can be affected by environmental conditions mainly rainfall. The Marandu, Xaraes and Piata cultivars can be recommended for integration farming system in crop-livestock integrated system and are recommended for sward managed under 95% light interception and 15 cm high residue.

Wood Ash Fertilization on Structural Characteristics and Chlorophyll Index of Tropical Forage Grasses

The appropriate nutrient supply via fertilization is essential for an adequate plant growth and development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the structural characteristics and chlorophyll index of Marandu and Xaraes grasses fertilized with wood ash. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse;the experimental design was entirely randomized, with 12 treatments and six replications arranged in a 2 × 6 factorial scheme: two forage grasses (Marandu and Xaraes) and six wood ash doses (0;3;6;9;12;and 15 g·dm-3). Each plot was composed of pots with 7 dm3 soil and five plants. Soil moisture was maintained by the gravimetric method at 60% of the maximum soil water retention capacity. Three harvests of the plant aerial part were performed at 30-day intervals. The evaluated characteristics were plant height, leaf number, tiller number, and chlorophyll index. Results were submitted to the variance analysis by F test and, after verification of the significant effects on Marandu and Xaraes characteristics, were also submitted to Tukey test;the wood ash doses were evaluated according to the regression analysis at 5% probability. Wood ash doses ranging from 10.15 to 15 g·dm-3 resulted in quadratic responses of plant height, leaf number, and tiller number for both Marandu and Xaraes grasses. The highest values of chlorophyll index derived from wood ash doses of 9.44 and 10.92 g·dm-3, with increments greater than 50%, 25%, and 9% at the first, second, and third harvests, respectively. The wood ash, when used as a fertilizer, improves structural characteristics and increases chlorophyll indices of Marandu and Xaraes grasses cultivated in Cerrado Rhodic Hapludox.

Nutritional Characteristics of <i>Brachiaria brizantha</i>Cultivars Subjected to Different Intensities Cutting

This study evaluated the nutritional characteristics of Brachiaria brizantha cultivars subjected to three cutting intensities in the course of one year. The experiment was conducted at the University of Rio Verde. The experiment was performed as a randomized 3 × 3 factorial in complete block design with three replications and repeated measures in the time. Three Brachiaria brizantha cultivars (Marandu palisadegrass, Xaraes palisadegrass, and Piata palisadegrass), were tested at three cutting intensities (10, 20, and 30 cm sward height). The evaluations were conducted on the same plots throughout one year and during all four seasons (autumn, winter, spring, and summer). The results showed that the Piata palisadegrass had the best chemical composition compared to the Marandu palisadegrass and Xaraes palisadegrass. The management of Brachiaria brizantha cultivars at the lowest residual height (10 cm) affected the nutritional value of these feed grasses. Seasonality also influenced the nutritional value of these forages.