<b>Productivity and nutritional quality of Tobiatã grass as a function of NPK fertilization</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actasciagron.v32i2.1939

Abstract

The present study had as objective to study five N rates (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha^-1), two P₂O₅ rates (96 and 30 kg ha-1) as superphosphate triple, and two doses of K₂O (170 and 143 kg ha^-1) as potassium chloride, in the forage Panicum maximum cv. Tobiatã, with irrigation. The experiment was conducted using a randomized blocks design with four replicates. In the implantation of the experiment, P and K were applied based on theoretical doses required to reach values of 40 mg dm^-3 of P and K 5% of CTC. After three cuts, dry mass produced by the forage was estimated in order to obtain the values of the nutrients exported by the plant. Only after this procedure did the application of the doses of N take place. The production of dry mass - DM, crude protein - CP, neutral-detergent fiber – NDF, and acid-detergent fiber – ADF, were influenced by cuts; increasing N fertilization increased the production of DM, CP and decreased ADF and NDF, providing better forage quality. The fertilization with phosphorus and potassium can be done based on DM production or P and K content in soil.