Componentes da biomassa e estrutura do capim-aruana sob duas frequências e duas intensidades de desfolhação

Abstract

This study evaluated the components of biomass and the canopy structure of aruana grass managed under two frequencies (FD, interception of the photosynthetically active radiation at 85 and 95% incident on the top of the canopy) and two intensities (ID, residual leaf area index of 1.0 and 1.8) of defoliation in a completely randomized design in a 2x2 factorial arrangement with five replications (paddocks). The experiment was conducted at the advanced field of Teaching and Study Center Forage, located in the municipality of Pentecoste, Ceará State. The times of entry and exit of animals were determined using the PAR/LAI Analyzer in Agriculture DECAGON PAR-80 for reading photosynthetically active radiation interception (PARI) and leaf area index (LAI). At the beginning and end of the rest period of each of the five experimental paddocks, the following structural characteristics were evaluated: sward height (cm); height of the first ligule, the oldest below the canopy; grazing horizon and tiller population density. The components of total forage biomass (TFB ha-1 cycle-1) were also quantified at the beginning and end of the rest period, from the collection using two frames of 0.25 m², and sent to the laboratory to separate the components: leaf, stem and dead material. After separation of the TFB components, samples were dried to constant weight in a forced ventilation oven at 55°C to constant weight to estimate the following parameters: total forage biomass (TFB kg ha-1 cycle-1), dead forage biomass (DFB kg ha-1 cycle-1), green forage biomass (GFB kg kg ha-1 cycle-1), green leaf biomass (GLB kg ha-1 cycle-1), green stem biomass (GSB kg ha-1 cycle-1), and green/dead material ratio (GM/DM) and leaf/stem ratio (L/S). The longest rest period was observed in pastures managed with lower rLAI and lower defoliation frequency (95% PARI), with average of 24 days. Biomass components and structural characteristics in the pre-grazing condition were affected (P <0.05) by FD, where the lower defoliation frequency resulted in higher production with considerable contribution of biomass of green stems and dead forage. The pre-grazing height showed a high correlation with the %PARI in the pre-grazing condition (r = 0.9285, P = 0.0001). Pastures managed with lower FD had low L/S, with average of 1.65, while those managed with higher FD, an average of 2.40. With increasing %PARI, we verified higher grazing horizons, with averages of 20.2 and 14.2 cm, for 95 and 85 %PARI, respectively. The components of the residual biomass were affected (P <0.05) by ID, with higher residual forage biomass observed for pastures managed with rLAI of 1.8. Pastures managed with 95x1.8 exhibited higher rGSB ¬and rDFB (P <0.05) compared to the other managements. Pastures managed with 95x1.0 showed an increase in TFB (P <0.05) over successive grazing cycles. Aruana grass supplied to sheep should be managed under 85% PARI frequency and defoliation intensity equal to 1.0 rLAI.