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- Title
Herbage accumulation and tillering dynamics of 'Zuri' guineagrass under rotational stocking.
- Authors
Barbosa, Patricia L.; Silva, Valdson J.; Pedreira, Carlos G. S.; Sbrissia, André F.; Sollenberger, Lynn E.
- Abstract
Understanding the effects of grazing management on tillering dynamics of forage grasses may help identify management practices that optimize pasture production, stability, and ultimately, persistence. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of two grazing frequencies (regrowth interrupted when the canopy was 70 cm tall or at 95% canopy light interception [LI]) and two grazing intensities (reduction of 29 [lenient] or 57% [standard] of initial canopy height) in 'BRS Zuri' guineagrass [Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B.K. Simon & S. W. L Jacobs (syn. Panicum maximum Jacq.)], under rotational stocking and on herbage accumulation rate (HAR), tiller appearance rate, tiller mortality, tiller survival rate, tiller stability index (SI), tiller population density (TPD), tiller mass (TM), apical meristem height, and tiller half‐life during two summer rainy seasons in Piracicaba, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized complete block, with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The HAR was not affected by treatments in the first year, averaging 100 kg dry matter ha−1 d−1, but was greater under lenient than standard grazing (146 and 81 kg dry matter ha−1 d−1, respectively) in the second year. In both years, there were no treatment effects on TPD and TM. The use of 95% LI associated with standard defoliation increased the variability in SI. Great tiller population renewal indicated by short tiller half‐life, varying from 31 to 75 d, classifies Zuri as an exploitative cultivar. Zuri guineagrass maintained tiller SI under the grazing treatments imposed but had greater HAR under lenient grazing. Core Ideas: The greater grazing intensity treatment did not hinder Zuri guineagrass tiller stability.Zuri guineagrass stand longevity likely relies on constant renewal of tillers.Meristem decapitation was not the reason for the reduced tiller half‐life for Zuri guineagrass.Lenient grazing intensity increases Zuri guineagrass herbage accumulation.
- Subjects
RANGE management; SURVIVAL rate; GRASSES; PATIENT compliance; GUINEA grass
- Publication
Crop Science, 2021, Vol 61, Issue 5, p3787
- ISSN
0011-183X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/csc2.20536