Population dynamics and structural characteristics of 'Survenola' digit grass subjected to intermittent defoliation strategies

Authors

  • Pryanka Thuyra Nascimento Fontes Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Departamento de Engenharia Agronômica, Avenida Marechal Rondon, s/no, Jardim Rosa Elze, CEP 49100-000 São Cristóvão, SE.
  • Bráulio Maia de Lana Sousa Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Departamento de Zootecnia, Avenida Marechal Rondon, s/no, Jardim Rosa Elze,CEP 49100-000 São Cristóvão, SE.
  • Luiz Fernando Ganassali de Oliveira Júnior Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Departamento de Engenharia Agronômica, Avenida Marechal Rondon, s/no, Jardim Rosa Elze, CEP 49100-000 São Cristóvão, SE.
  • Jailson Lara Fagundes Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Departamento de Zootecnia, Avenida Marechal Rondon, s/no, Jardim Rosa Elze,CEP 49100-000 São Cristóvão, SE.
  • Alfredo Acosta Backes Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Departamento de Zootecnia, Avenida Marechal Rondon, s/no, Jardim Rosa Elze,CEP 49100-000 São Cristóvão, SE.
  • Gilmartins Alves Nascimento Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Departamento de Zootecnia, Avenida Marechal Rondon, s/no, Jardim Rosa Elze,CEP 49100-000 São Cristóvão, SE.
  • Rafaela Stefanny Rodrigues Florêncio Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Departamento de Zootecnia, Avenida Marechal Rondon, s/no, Jardim Rosa Elze,CEP 49100-000 São Cristóvão, SE.
  • Anna Luiza Hora dos Santos Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Departamento de Zootecnia, Avenida Marechal Rondon, s/no, Jardim Rosa Elze,CEP 49100-000 São Cristóvão, SE.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2020.v55.26789

Keywords:

Digitaria eriantha, canopy structure, grass perenniality

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of defoliation strategies and insolation periods on the population dynamics and structural characteristics of Digitaria eriantha 'Survenola'. The following four defoliation strategies (DSs) were evaluated: 40/10, 40/20, 50/10, and 50/20 cm (that is, 40 and 50 cm pre-defoliation height, and 10 and 20 cm post-defoliation height), under high- (September to March) and low- (April to August) insolation periods. An experimental randomized complete block design was carried out with five replicates. The accumulation of forage and leaf blade was higher when using the DS 40/20 cm in the higher insolation period. DSs 40/10, 50/10, and 50/20 cm resulted in a higher stem accumulation than DS 40/20 cm. 'Survenola' grass showed a higher appearance rate for basal and aerial tillers using the 40/10 and 40/20 cm strategies, respectively, during the lower insolation period. Greater tiller densities (basal, aerial, and total) were observed in the DS 40/20 cm in the higher insolation period. DS 40/20 cm resulted in a greater tiller renewal. In the DS 40/20 cm, 'Survenola' grass shows the greatest number of defoliation cycles, the highest density of tillers, and the greatest accumulation of forage and leaf blade.

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Published

2020-10-13

How to Cite

Fontes, P. T. N., Sousa, B. M. de L., Oliveira Júnior, L. F. G. de, Fagundes, J. L., Backes, A. A., Nascimento, G. A., … Santos, A. L. H. dos. (2020). Population dynamics and structural characteristics of ’Survenola’ digit grass subjected to intermittent defoliation strategies. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, 55(X), e01602. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2020.v55.26789

Issue

V.55, Jan./Dec., 2020 :Continuos publication

Section

ANIMAL SCIENCE