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- Title
Signal Grass Litter Decomposition Rate Increases with Inclusion of Calopo.
- Authors
Hiran Marcelo Siqueira da Silva; José Carlos Batista Dubeux; Mércia Virginia Ferreira dos Santos; Mario de Andrade Lira; James P. Muir
- Abstract
Low N availability is a major limitation in tropical and subtropical pasture systems and one of the main causes for system degradation. Including legumes in forage mixes may enhance soil-N presence and cycling, therefore mitigating the problem. To test this theory, signal grass [Brachiaria decumbens (Stapf) R. D. Webster] litter chemical composition and decomposition after inclusion of calopo (Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.) at 0, 50, or 100% of litter mass was evaluated. Litter samples were collected from both species and incubated by litter bag technique for 0, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, or 256 d in 2007 and 2008. Biomass decomposition was described by a simple exponential organic matter (OM) decay model (p < 0.0001; Y predicted [the remaining biomass at a given time of decomposition, predicted by the single exponential model] = 91.11-0.00451t and 94.16-000217t for year 1 and 2, respectively). Remaining biomass was lower (p < 0.05) in 2007 (28%) than 2008 (54%) following 256 d incubation at least in part because of greater lignin concentrations in 2008 litter. Pure signal grass litter C:N values were 74 to 76% greater (p < 0.05) than pure legume while the inclusion of 50% calopo reduced (p < 0.05) grass ratios by 62 to 64%. Net annual N mineralization increased (p < 0.05) from 27% without legume to 38% with legume inclusion at 50% of the grass litter, a nutrient cycling acceleration of 16% (p <0.05). This research indicated that the inclusion of calopo will ameliorate N deficiency in soils of a signal grass pasture.
- Subjects
BIODEGRADATION of plant litter; PASTURES; NITROGEN deficiency; LEGUMES; FORAGE plants; NITROGEN in soils; PLANTS
- Publication
Crop Science, 2012, Vol 52, Issue 3, p1416
- ISSN
0011-183X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2135/cropsci2011.09.0482