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Resumo: Foram avaliados os efeitos de doses de suplemento (0, 1, 2 e 3 kg animal-1 dia-1) e períodos de pastejos (1, 28, 59, 89 e 103 dias) sobre a estrutura da Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk e a produção de bovinos em pastagens diferidas. O delineamento foi em blocos casualizados com duas repetições. A altura do pasto e as massas de forragem total e de colmo diminuíram com o período de pastejo. A proteína bruta (8,12%) e a digestibilidade in vitro da matéria orgânica (52,74%) não foram influenciadas pelo período de pastejo. Os teores de fibras em detergente neutro e ácido aumentaram linearmente com o período de pastejo. O ganho médio diário dos bovinos variou de 0,419 a 1,019 kg animal-1 dia-1; a taxa de lotação variou de 2,7 a 3,9 UA ha-1; e o ganho médio por área variou de 2,7 a 7,9 kg ha-1 dia-1, sendo os maiores valores obtidos com a dose mais alta de concentrado. A suplementação com concentrado aumenta a produção de bovinos em pastagens diferidas. Durante a utilização do pasto diferido no inverno há decréscimos na quantidade e na qualidade da forragem, bem como limitação em sua estrutura. Palavras-chave: Brachiaria decumbens; Ecofisiologia; Manejo do pastejo

This study aimed to evaluate the initial heights (10, 20, and 30 cm) and deferment periods (171, 141, and 109 days in 2010; and 131, 100, and 71 days in 2011) of Urochloa decumbens cv. Basilisk (signal grass). The factors were arranged in split plot, in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Pastures deferred for a short period had lower masses of forage (5,977 and 6,904 kg/ha of DM in 2010 and 2011, respectively). In 2010, pastures deferred for a short period had lower mass of live stem (942 kg/ha of DM), dead leaf blade (785 kg/ha of DM), and dead stem (1282 kg/ha of DM), higher number of vegetative tillers (797 tillers/m²), fewer reproductive tillers (2 tillers/m²), less falling index (1.4), higher mass of live leaf blade (655 kg/ha of DM). The higher pastures had fewer vegetative tillers (495 and 431 tillers/m² in 2010 and 2011, respectively), larger masses of forage (5,285 and 5,942 kg/ha of DM in 2010 and 2011, respectively), dead leaf blade (968 kg kg/ha of DM in 2010) and dead stem (1,902 kg/ha of DM in 2010). Based on the results obtained in the two years, for use in July, the signal grass can be deferred for 71-109 days with an initial height of 20 to 30 cm. The initial height of 10 cm is recommended when a deferral period above 130 days is adopted.Keywords: Brachiaria decumbens; forage mass; sward height; tiller.

Avaliaram-se as alturas iniciais (10, 20 e 30 cm) e os períodos de diferimento (171, 141 e 109 dias em 2010; e 131, 100 e 71 dias em 2011) da Urochloa decumbens cv. Basilisk (capim-braquiária). Os fatores foram arranjados em parcelas subdivididas e em delineamento de blocos completos casualizados, com três repetições. Os pastos diferidos por curto período apresentaram menores massas de forragem (5.977 e 6.904 kg/ha de MS em 2010 e 2011, respectivamente). Em 2010, os pastos diferidos por curto período apresentaram menor massa de colmo vivo (942 kg/ha de MS), de lâmina foliar morta (785 kg/ha de MS) e de colmo morto (1.282 kg/ha de MS), maiores números de perfilhos vegetativos (797 perfilhos/m²) e menores de reprodutivos (2 perfilhos/m²), menor índice de tombamento (1,4) e superior massa de lâmina foliar viva (655 kg/ha de MS). Os pastos mais altos apresentaram menor número de perfilhos vegetativos (495 e 431 perfilhos/m² em 2010 e 2011, respectivamente), maiores massas de forragem (5.285 e 5.942 kg/ha de MS em 2010 e 2011, respectivamente), de lâmina foliar morta (968 kg/ha de MS em 2010) e de colmo morto (1.902 kg/ha de MS em 2010). Com base nos resultados obtidos nos dois anos, para utilização em julho, o capim-braquiária pode ser diferido por 71 a 109 dias, com altura inicial de 20 a 30 cm. A altura inicial de 10 cm é recomendada quando se adota período de diferimento acima de 130 dias.Palavras-chave: estrutura do pasto; massa de forragem; perfilho; Urochloa decumbens.

The knowledge of interdependence between defoliation patterns and morphogenesis of grasses allows the identification of the effects of feces deposition by cattle on the pasture. Thus, this work was developed to estimate regression equations for morphogenetic characteristics in function of grazing patterns of the same Brachiaria decumbens pasture under influence of feces deposited by cattle. The pasture was managed under continuous stocking with variable stocking rate to maintain the average height of 25 cm. The increases in defoliation frequency (DF) and grazing intensity (GI) reduced linearly the rates of senescence and leaf and stem elongation, but increased linearly the leaf appearance rate. The DF and GI also linearly reduced the number of dead leaves per tiller and the leaf and stem lengths. The forage loss resulted in adverse effects on the morphogenetic and structural characteristics of B. decumbens. The lowest grazing level near the feces increases forage loss on pasture, the size of leafs and stems, senescence and growth of B. decumbens tillers, and reduces leaf appearance.

The analysis of both morphogenetic and structural characteristics of pasture allows us to understand the response patterns of the plant to the environment. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the associations between the morphogenetic and structural characteristics of Brachiaria decumbens under continuous grazing by cattle. The development of individual tillers in pastures was evaluated under two grazing management strategies during three seasons (winter, spring and summer). Pearson correlations between variables were estimated. The lengths of leaf and stem, number of tillers and leaves per tiller, rates of leaf appearance and elongation of leaf and stem of B. decumbens were positively correlated. There was a negative relationship between appearance and lifespan of leaves (r = -0.89). However, positive correlations between leaf appearance rate and number of tillers (r = 0.64) and between length of stem and leaf senescence rate (r = 0.63) were determined. The B. decumbens modifies its morphogenesis to better adapt to climate and grazing management.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the number oftillers with different levels of defoliation and theircharacteristics on the Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk pasture. Three different areas on the pasture (undergrazed, with proper grazing and overgrazed) and three tiller categories (without defoliation, withdefoliation and without shoot apical meristem) were evaluated. Randomized block design with three repetitions was used. The B. decumbens pasture was managed under the continuous stocking system with cattle, and the grass height was kept at about 25cm. Thenumber of tillers showing defoliation was higher (1,333 tillers/m²) for the overgrazed area compared to the area with proper grazing and the undergrazed area. Inverse response pattern was observed for the tillers without defoliation. On the other hand, the number of tillerswithout the shoot apical meristem was higher in the areas with proper grazing (395 tillers/m²). Tillers without defoliation showed a lower pseudoculm length (10.3cm)and a smaller number of dead leaves (0.22) when compared to the other categories. The length of the leafblade did not change for the tiller categories evaluated. The number of grazed leaves was lower for tillers without the shoot apical meristem in relation to the ones showing or not defoliation. Lower leaf area for the tillers that had the shoot apical meristem removed was observed. Tillers without the shoot apical meristem showed a lowerpercentage of green leaf blade (GLB), higher percentages of both live culm (LC) and dead leaf blade (DLB) as well as a lower relation of the GLB/LC and weight comparing to the tillers showing or not defoliation. Those last ones did not differ regarding their morphological composition. There is indeed spatial variability of the vegetation andtiller diversity with varying levels of defoliation on Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk pastures under continuous grazing.

The aim of this work was to compare the structural characteristics of vegetative and reproductive tillers on Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk pastures diferred for 73, 95 and 116 days. Randomized block design in a split plot scheme with three replications was used. The stockpiling period did not influence (P>0.10) the number of vegetative tillers (VT) but increased (P0.10) by the deferring period. The RT revealed (P