<b>Productive traits of Brachiaria grass subject to cutting intervals and nitrogen fertilization over three seasons</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v32i4.8574

Abstract

The productivity of Brachiaria grass with different cutting intervals and nitrogen fertilization during summer, autumn and winter is evaluated. The experiment, undertaken in a region featuring Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk at the State University of Southwest Bahia, had a 5 x 2 factorial arrangement with five cutting intervals (21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 days) and two nitrogen levels (0 and 200 kg N ha^-1) in a randomized block design with four replications. The variables analyzed consisted of canopy height (cm), dry matter rate (%), dry matter production (ton ha^-1) and total daily production of dry matter (kg DM day^-1). Fertilization increased height of plant by 40.8 and 18.2% respectively during summer and autumn. Dry matter rate increased in the three seasons in proportion to increase in cutting intervals. Although Nitrogen fertilization increased TDM of Brachiaria grass by 96.8 and 10.3% respectively during the summer and winter, there was no significant (p > 0.05) in autumn. Variable cutting intervals (39 days in the summer and 21 days in autumn and winter) was more effective in daily forage production when compared to corresponding intervals.