Effect of Season and Nitrogen Fertilization on the Agronomic Traits and Efficiency of Piatã Grass in Brazilian Savanna

Anderson Zanine, Lorraine Farias, Daniele Ferreira, Lorran Farias, Marinaldo Ribeiro, Alexandre Souza, Rosane Rodrigues, Edson Santos, Juliana Oliveira, Luciano Sousa, Fagton Negrão, Ricardo Pinho and Thiago Nascimento
Additional contact information
Anderson Zanine: Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Maranhão, Chapadinha, Maranhão 65500-000, Brazil
Lorraine Farias: Department of Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78735-901, Brazil
Daniele Ferreira: Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Maranhão, Chapadinha, Maranhão 65500-000, Brazil
Lorran Farias: Department of Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78735-901, Brazil
Marinaldo Ribeiro: Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
Alexandre Souza: Department of Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78735-901, Brazil
Rosane Rodrigues: Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Maranhão, Chapadinha, Maranhão 65500-000, Brazil
Edson Santos: Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Paraíba, Rod. Pb-079, Areia 58397-000, Brazil
Juliana Oliveira: Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Paraíba, Rod. Pb-079, Areia 58397-000, Brazil
Luciano Sousa: Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Tocantins, BR-153, Km 112, s/n°, Araguaína 78250-970, Brazil
Fagton Negrão: Department of Animal Science, Federal Institute of Education, Rondônia, Colorado do Oeste 76993-000, Brazil
Ricardo Pinho: Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Maranhão, Chapadinha, Maranhão 65500-000, Brazil
Thiago Nascimento: Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Maranhão, Chapadinha, Maranhão 65500-000, Brazil

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the agronomic traits in the pre- and post-grazing and the nitrogen use efficiency of Piatã grass that was subjected to nitrogen fertilization throughout the seasons of the year. The experiment was performed in a randomized block design with four treatments (0, 150, 300, and 450 kg ha −1 N). Grazing was performed with sheep when the forage canopy reached 95% light interception up to 20 cm height of post-grazing. The pre-grazing forage mass of the Piatã grass showed a behavior ( p < 0.05) linear to nitrogen fertilization, with higher and lower values in spring and winter, respectively. The post-grazing forage mass responded linearly ( p < 0.05) to nitrogen fertilization, with an increase of 43.12% for the dose of 450 kg ha −1 N in relation to pastures without nitrogen fertilization. When the non-fertilized pasture was compared with the highest nitrogen dose, a reduction of 21.79% dead tissue was observed in the post-grazing forage mass. The highest nitrogen use efficiency was obtained with the dose of 450 kg ha −1 N. The forage mass production of the Piatã grass in the pre- and post-grazing conditions are positively influenced by nitrogen fertilization and the seasons of the year, with lower values in winter.

Keywords: Brachiaria brizantha; ecophysiological management; intermittent grazing; mass production; sheep (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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