Productivity and nutritive value of Urochloa brizantha cultivar Piatã, Megathyrsus maximus cultivar Zuri and cultivar Tamani in Silvipastoral Systems in the Central Region of Minas Gerais1

Abstract

Abstract To evaluate the forage yield Urochloa brizantha cultivar Piatã, Megathyrsus maximus cultivar Zuri and the Tamani cultivar, in silvopastoral systems (SSP) with different tree densities and in pasture in full sun (FS), an experiment was carried out in the municipality of Sete Lagoas located in the Cerrado biome in the central region of Minas Gerais. The experimental design was completely randomized, with split-plots in spaceand six replications. The plots corresponded to four spatial arrangements: three silvopastoral system arrangements (SSP) with Eucalyptus grandis GG100 (15×2, 15×4 and 15×8 m) and one grass monoculture. The subplots were composed of three grasses: U. brizantha cv. Piatã, M. maximus cv. Zuri and cv. Tamani. In the subplots, three cuts were made at 20 cm height from the soil surface, with six replications in each. The forage biomass yield and the proportion of leaf and stem components in the forage biomass were evaluated. At tree densities of 166 and 333 trees/ha in the SSPs, pastures suffered significant reductions in whole-plant biomass production, and in the leaves-to-stems ratio in forage when compared to full pasture. On the other hand, at the density of 84 plants per hectare, the production was similar to that in full sun.