TITLE:
Potential Use of Tropical Grass for Deferment in Semi-Arid Region
AUTHORS:
Ana Clara R. Cavalcante, Jucivânia F. Araújo, Maria do Socorro Carneiro, Henrique A. Souza, Rafael G. Tonucci, Marcos Cláudio P. Rogerio, Elayne Cristina G. Vasconcelos
KEYWORDS:
Enriched Caatinga; Crude Protein; Digestibility; Pasture Quality; Guineagrass Panicum maximum cv. Massai
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.5 No.7,
March
24,
2014
ABSTRACT:
Management evaluation of Panicum maximum cv.
massai (Massai guineagrass) under deferment contributes as a strategic reserve
of forage in the Brazilian semi-arid
region. The objective of this study was to evaluate biomass production and
nutritive value of massai guineagrass in an area of thinned caatinga vegetation in two deferment
periods (60 and 90 days after plot-leveling cut) and four use periods (30, 60,
90 and 120 days after the end of the rain season), in a random blocks design
arranged in a split-plot (2 × 4), with three replications. Extending the
deferment period of massai guineagrass promoted elevation of the biomass
components, but compromised the pasture quality due to increasing stem biomass.
The massai guineagrass deferred 30 days after raining season started and should use 90 days after raining season ended to ensure a forage supply
of appropriate nutritional value. The increase in relative air humidity and the
occurrence of rainfall after water restriction stimulate regrowth, resulting in
improved nutritional value of the grass.