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The grass Panicum maximum cv. BRS Tamani is a hybrid high-quality, small-sized forage plant with intense tillering activity. This study was carried out to examine the potential of the grass Panicum maximum cv. BRS Tamani at different regrowth ages (49, 63, 77, and 91 d) for hay production, in the rainy period. The experiment was conducted at the Farm School of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul-Brazil, between October 2015 and April 2016. The treatments corresponded to four regrowth ages, with four replicates, distributed into 9 m2 plots. Regrowth ages influenced the morphogenetic characteristics of the grass, except for leaf senescence and final leaf length. Green (9.6–17.6 t ha-1) and dry-matter (2.6–5.9 t ha-1) yields, hay yield (3.4-6.9 t ha-1), and proportions of stem (91.6–455.9 g kg-1) and senescent material (34.8–98.4 g kg-1) increased with the regrowth ages, while the proportion of leaves (837.7-402.1 g kg-1) and the leaf: stem ratio (15.9–0.9) decreased (P

This study was carried out to evaluate the time for the establishment of tropical forage grasses in the “Cerrado” biome, based on morphogenetic and structural traits. Three Brachiaria brizantha (Syn. Urochloa brizantha) cultivars (Paiaguás, Ipyporã and Marandu) and two Panicum maximum (Syn. Megathyrsus maximus) cultivars (Quênia and Tamani) were distributed in a randomized-block design with four replicates. Morphogenetic and structural traits of the pasture were assessed from d 35 to d 65 after sowing, at seven-day interval. Canopy height rose linearly with the establishment period, in all cultivars. In the Megathyrsus cultivars, tiller density decreased as the experimental period progressed, whereas the number of tillers in the Urochloa cultivars increased. The cultivars Ipyporã and Marandu had the highest leaf appearance rates. The lowest leaf elongation rates occurred in the cultivars Paiaguás, Ipyporã and Tamani, and the highest elongation rates in cv. Quênia. As a result, cv. Quênia showed the highest values of final leaf length (64.9 cm) and leaf blade mass (3,352.9 kg DM ha-1). The higher senescence rate of cv. Tamani (2.1 cm tiller-1 d-1) resulted in the highest percentage of dead material (1,815.5 kg ha-1) being found in the herbage mass of this cultivar. Cultivars Paiaguás, Marandu and Tamani were established at 44 d, whereas cv. Quênia and Ipyporã were established at 51 and 58 d after sowing, respectively, in the Brazilian Cerrado.

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of three nitrogen (N) doses on the morphogenic and structural characteristics, root mass (RM) and distribution in the soil profile, and penetration soil resistance of Mombasa guineagrass pastures managed with rotational stocking. The experimental design used randomized blocks with three N doses (100, 200, and 300 kg ha-1) and three replicates. The criterion for interrupting the pastures’ regrowth was the height of 80 to 90 cm of the canopy (90–95 % of light interception by the canopy). The animals were removed from the paddocks when the canopy reached 50 % of the pre-grazing height. Forage mass and accumulation, canopy morphogenic and structural characteristics, RM and distribution in the soil profile, and soil resistance to penetration were evaluated. In pastures fertilized with 200 and 300 kg ha-1 of N, the highest leaf appearance (0.090 and 0.081 leaves-1 tiller-1 d-1), elongation rates (2.82 and 2.61 cm tiller-1 d-1) and highest daily forage accumulation (113.8 and 106.6 kg ha-1d-1) were observed. Using 300 kg ha-1 of N promoted greater soil resistance to penetration at 10 cm of depth in the post-grazing (3.3 MPa). No effect of N doses was observed for RM (P>0.05). The pre- and post-grazing height control of animals in the paddocks therefore helped to maintain the pasture structure and avoid the soil compaction process. According to the results, it is concluded that 200 and 300 kg ha-1 of N fertilization is a strategy for intensifying pastures.

The objective was to evaluate the productive and structural characteristics of tropical grasses and the performance of sheep supplemented during the dry season. The treatments consisted of Marandu, Piata, Massai and Aruana cultivars managed under intermittent stocking with seven occupation days and 35 d of rest, with a variable stocking rate. The evaluated variables were the forage masses, the morphological components, the chemical composition of the pasture and sheep performance. The forage mass was similar among the cultivars, while the leaf blade mass and percentage were higher in the Massai cultivar. There were differences between the cultivars for the NDF, ADF, ADL and ash contents in the two grazing cycles. The lowest gains per animal and gain per area were observed in the Aruana grass pastures, while there were no differences for these variables among the other cultivars. Massai, Marandu and Piata cultivars can be used as a forage option for the dry period when associated with protein supplementation for sheep being raised for meat.