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Herbage accumulation, canopy characteristics, and nutritive value of tropical grasses in the Amazon biome
Author(s) -
Tesk Cátia R. M.,
Abreu Joadil G.,
Pereira Dalton H.,
Sollenberger Lynn E.,
Matta Frederico de P.,
Pedreira Bruno C.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.1002/csc2.20202
Subject(s) - biology , guar , forage , agronomy , dry season , wet season , dry matter , fodder , canopy , pasture , zoology , botany , ecology
Abstract Forage species diversification reduces risk associated with forage–livestock production. In the Amazon biome, an alternative is needed to ‘Marandu’ palisadegrass [ Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster] because of Marandu death syndrome. Our objective was to compare herbage accumulation (HA), canopy characteristics, and nutritive value of Marandu with two alternative grasses, ‘Guará’ ( Paspalum regnellii Mez) and ‘Tupi’ [ Urochloa humidicola (Rendle) Morrone & Zuloaga]. During 2 yr, grasses were clipped to a 12‐cm stubble height every 28 (rainy season) or 42 d (dry season). Annual HA did not differ across years for Guará (13.7 Mg dry matter [DM] ha −1 ) and Tupi (12.2 Mg DM ha −1 ); however, Marandu HA was 30% less in the second than the first year. Marandu had greatest annual HA in the first year (15.5 Mg DM ha −1 ), and Guará was superior to the other grasses in the second year (13.5 Mg DM ha −1 ). Tupi had the least leaf proportion among grasses in both rainy and dry seasons, and its leaf proportion was greater in the dry than rainy season (715 vs. 610 g kg −1 ). Greatest stem proportion was observed in Tupi and the least stubble mass occurred in Guará (2000 kg DM ha −1 ). When differences in crude protein occurred, Tupi concentrations (80–130 g kg −1 ) were less than either Guará (97–157 g kg −1 ) or Marandu (81–139 g kg −1 ). Overall, Tupi and Guará HA and nutritive value support their recommendation as alternatives to Marandu monoculture in Amazon forage‐based livestock systems.