Características morfogênicas e estruturais e acúmulo de forragem do capim-tanzânia submetido a intensidades e freqüências de corte / Morpho-structural characteristics and forage accumulation of Tanzania grass subjected to different cutting intensities and frequencies

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007

RESUMO

The experiment was conducted in an area of the Animal Science Department, at the Federal University of Viçosa - UFV, MG, from 17/12/2004 to 08/04/2005, with the objective of evaluating morpho-structural characteristics and forage accumulation of Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania under different cutting intensities and frequencies. Two heights (25 and 50 cm) and three intervals between cuttings (corresponding to time interval necessary for the emergence of two, three and four leaves per tiller). The treatments consisted of a combination of levels of these two factors, arranged in a 2x3 factorial, complete randomized block design, with three replications. The following response variables were evaluated: canopy height, morpho-structural characteristics of tillers, tiller demography and emergence rates, tiller mortality and survival, tiller weight, dry matter accumulation and morphological composition of the accumulated forage. Leaf emergence rate (TApF) decreased with the reduction of defoliation frequency, whereas the phyllochron (FIL) increased. Overall, the final leaf length (CFF) was shorter for the cutting height of 25 cm than for 50 cm. This is because lower cuttings resulted in decreased leaf sheath length, a probable consequence of the reduction in the phase of cell multiplication, leading to a shorter final leaf length (CFF). There was a tendency towards higher rates of stem elongation (TAlC) for the cutting height of 50 cm compared to 25 cm, and this increase might have been responsible for the difference found in pre-defoliation height between the evaluated cutting heights. There was a tendency towards lower TAlC for the cutting frequency of two emerged leaves per tiller, although no differences were found among the tested frequencies, which is a consequence of the high variability associated with this type of measurement. The balance between leaf elongation rate (TAlF) and TAlC causes changes in the leaf blade-stem ratio (RLC). The choice of the appropriate combination of intensity and defoliation frequency should also seek to maintain a high RLC. The leaf senescence rate (TSF) and TAlC showed tendency towards increase when the frequency varied from two to three emerged leaves per tiller. It can be said, then, that the plants could be cut between two and three emerged leaves per tiller, in which case the dry matter accumulation seems to have been changed, leading to a greater accumulation of stems and dead material. There was an inverse relationship between TApF and TSF, maintaining a certain balance in the number of live leaves per tiller (NFV). NFV is affected by TApF and by the leaf life span (DVF). DVF was shorter for the cutting height of 25 cm than for 50 cm, suggesting higher tissue turnover in conditions of more severe cuttings. Leaf elongation rate (TAlF) decreased with the reduction in cutting frequency. The effect of defoliation on TAlF seems to be more related to the interaction of cutting intensity with the availability of organic compounds for leaf area recovery. Corroborating what was already reported by some authors that the IL of 95% for the canopy occurs with height about 70 cm, which in this experiment, this height, corresponded to the emergence of two leaves per tiller, when occurred the biggest positive balance between leaf elongation and senescence, associated to a shorter stem elongation. In general way, the weight of the tillers (PP) cut on parcels of 25 cm was shorter than those cut on 50 cm. The tillers increased its weight according to the prolongation of the resprout period, except for the combination of two leaves appeared per tiller and 25 cm of cutting height, which resulted in weight relatively uniform of the tillers. Such fact was due to emergence and leaf elongation that presented an increase of leaf blade accumulation. This combination of higher frequency and higher cutting intensity can control the stem elongation and accumulation, resulting in stability in the PP. The values of tiller population density (DPP) increased from the beginning of the experimental period until certain point, when they started to decrease. At the beginning of the resprout period, the interior of the canopy receives greater amount and quality of light, which makes the DPP increase. However, with the increase of the resprout period and the beginning of the competition for light in the canopy, occurs an increase in the TSF and the TAlC, and a decrease in the TApF and the tiller emergence rate (TApP), leading to a decrease in the DPP. The only treatment that did not hold in this way was the cutting height of 50 cm and four leaves appeared per tiller, presenting even an increase in DPP at the end of the experimental period due to the increase of the aerial tiller emergence rate (TApPA) and, consequently, the increase of the weight and the number of the aerial tillers. There was no difference between the cutting heights of 25 and 50 cm in relation to the DPP. An increase of the tiller mortality rate (TMoP) was observed throughout the period of evaluation. The high TMoP and TApP characterized an intense standard of the tiller population renewal (turnover). The TApP and the basal tiller emergence rate (TApPB) decreased throughout the experimental period, but the TApPA increased. The TApF was high at the beginning of the experimental period, when the growth conditions were adjusted, however it reduced after some time with the accomplishment of the experiment. A similar behavior was observed for TApP. In relation to the tiller survival rate (TSoP) the same behavior as in TMoP was observed, however in an opposite way. The pre-defoliation height decreased with the increase of cutting frequency and the total dry matter also tended to be higher in the shorter cutting frequencies. The stem accumulation only varied between the cutting heights in cut II and, for the cutting frequencies, was shorter for two leaves in comparison to three and four leaves appeared per tiller, also in the same cut. The data suggest that the cutting intervals for the Tanzania grass must not exceed the necessary time for the appearance of two to three leaves per tiller.

ASSUNTO(S)

intensidade tiller pastagem e forragicultura freqüência morphogenesis perfilho intensity morfogênese frequencies

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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