Morphogenic and structural traits of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu submitted to different levels of Nitrogen and frequency harvest

Abstract

Leaf appearance rate (LAR), leaf elongation rate (LER), average leaf size (ALS) and tillers density (TD) of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, submitted to different levels of nitrogen – (N) (0, 45, 90, 180 e 360 mg dm^-3) and frequency harvest (F1 = cuts every 14 days and F2 = cuts in every 28 days) were evaluated, in a randomized block experiment, disposed in pots in a greenhouse. There was no significant effect of the interaction between frequency harvest and the levels of N on LAR. However, it was increased according to the increase of the frequency harvest and to the nitrogen levels. The effect of nitrogen levels was significant on LAR. Only the effect of the interaction between the frequency harvest and the levels of nitrogen on ALS and TD was not significant, being the effect of the frequency harvest negative and the effect of the nitrogen levels positive on ALS. Defoliation in every two weeks was extremely stressor debilitating the plants, which was eased with high supply of nitrogen.