Dry matter yield, growth index, chemical composition and digestibility of Marandu grass under nitrogen and organic fertilization

Abstract

A pasture composed of the forage Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, for more than 15 years and never fertilized, with an initial condition of degradation, was fertilized with nitrogen and humic substances, with the purpose Of recovering the vigor and productivity of the pasture. In the two years (December of 2012 to April 2013 and December 2014 to April 2015), analyses were made for dry matter production, plant height, light interception, leaf / stem ratio), chemical composition and digestibility of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. This was a completely randomized block experimental design, in a 5x4 arrangement, with five doses of nitrogen (0, 50, 100, 200, 400 kg N.ha-1), four doses of humic substances (0, 12.5, 25 and 50%), with 5 replicates. The forage presented lower means of dry matter production in the first year in relation to the second, but there was no difference for the chemical composition and digestibility between the years. There was a significant effect of Nitrogen levels on the production of dry matter, crude protein, silica, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (FDA), and in vitro dry matter digestibility (DVMS). The best response was obtained with 200 kg N.ha-1. The doses of humic substances influenced only reducing the leaf/stem ratio, but there was no effect of doses of humic substances on the other variables studied.