O trabalho foi realizado para avaliar a dinâmica do perfilhamento durante a rebrotação na primavera (setembro a dezembro de 2009) em pastos de capim-braquiária (Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk) diferidos no início de abril de 2009. Foram avaliadas quatro alturas do pasto no início do diferimento (10, 20, 30 e 40 cm). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos completos casualizados com duas repetições. A elevação na altura do pasto no início do diferimento diminuiu a taxa de aparecimento, aumentou a taxa de mortalidade e reduziu a taxa de sobrevivência, o balanço entre aparecimento e mortalidade e o índice de estabilidade da população de perfilhos no início da primavera. Pastos diferidos com altura inicial de 30 e 40 cm apresentaram taxa de aparecimento de perfilhos relativamente estáveis entre o início e final da primavera. Contudo, esses pastos apresentaram maior taxa de mortalidade, menor taxa de sobrevivência, menor balanço entre aparecimento e mortalidade e menor índice de estabilidade da população de perfilhos no início da primavera em relação ao final da primavera. Pastos manejados com menor altura inicial (10 e 20 cm) apresentam maior renovação de tecidos na estação de crescimento subsequente após utilização dos mesmos no inverno.

Tillering dynamics during regrowth in the spring (September to December 2009) on signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk) pastures deferred in the beginning of April 2009 is evaluated. Four pasture heights were evaluated at the beginning of deferment (10, 20, 30 and 40 cm). The experimental design consisted of completely randomized blocks with two replications. Rise in pasture height at the beginning of deferment decreased the appearance rate, increased the mortality rate and reduced the survival rate, the balance between appearance and mortality and the stability index of the tiller population at the beginning of the spring. Pastures deferred at initial height of 30 and 40 cm presented relatively stable tiller appearance rate between the beginning and end of spring. However, these pastures presented greater mortality rate, lower survival rate, lower balance between appearance and mortality and lower stability index of the tiller population at the beginning of spring when compared to rates at the end of spring. Pastures managed with shorter initial heights (10 and 20 cm) provided more tissue renewal in the subsequent growth season after their utilization in the winter.

We assessed the accumulation dynamics of forage and its components in Elephant grass cv. Napier (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) that were subjected to three post-grazing height treatments (30, 50, and 70 cm) from February through May 2009 (experiment one) and December 2009 through May 2010 (experiment two). In experiment one, the grazing events started when the light interception by the canopy reached 95%. The same was adopted for experiment two, except for the first grazing event, which was based on the height of the apical meristems of basal tillers. The experimental design for both experiments was a randomized complete block with three replications. The pastures that were managed at a post-grazing height of 30 cm exhibited lower rates of leaf and stem growth, total growth and forage accumulation than those that were managed at 50 or 70 cm, indicating that post-grazing height affects Elephant grass. The pastures that were managed at 50 cm exhibited relatively stable accumulation rates and less stem accumulation. Pastures managed at 70 cm of pos-grazing height presented more leaf and stem accumulation. Most apical meristems of Elephant grass should be removed in the first grazing when they reach the post-grazing target height of 50 cm. The elevation in the residual post-grazing height, especially in the summer, raises the regrowth vigor in the Elephant grass cv. Napier pasture. The post-grazing height of 30 cm reduces the growth of the Elephant grass cv. Napier.

Grazing management strategies affect not only herbage accumulation but also the efficiency of grazing. This study aimed to evaluate herbage accumulation (leaf, stem and dead material), grazing efficiency and losses of mulato grass (a Brachiaria ruziziensis × Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu hybrid) subjected to strategies of rotational stocking management. Treatments consisted of combinations between two post-grazing heights (15 and 20 cm) and two pre-grazing conditions (95 % and maximum canopy light interception (LI)) assigned to experimental units (1200-m² paddocks) according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement and a randomized complete block design, with four replications. The experiment was carried out from Jan 2008 to Mar 2009. Season of the year influenced almost all studied variables, resulting in a common pattern of response that was determined by pre- and post-grazing management targets. Herbage accumulation was greater on swards managed at 95 %, with higher accumulation of leaves and lower accumulation of stem and dead material in relation to those managed at maximum LI (99 %) during the entire experimental period. On the other hand, herbage removal by grazing was larger on swards managed at 99 % LI, which was compensated for by the smaller number of grazing cycles and larger losses due to grazing under those circumstances. Under rotational stocking, the pre-grazing LI of 95 % and post-grazing height of 20 cm resulted in efficient grazing and high producing leafy pastures, highlighting the potential of Mulato grass pastures for animal production.

Este trabalho foi conduzido para avaliar a densidade populacional de perfilhos e as características estruturais de perfilhos em Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatã submetida a períodos de diferimento (65, 85 e 105 dias) e alturas iniciais do dossel para o diferimento (20, 30 e 40 cm). Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos completos casualizados, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas com três repetições. A densidade populacional de perfilhos basais vegetativos e totais foi influenciada pela interação entre períodos e alturas iniciais de diferimento, com menores valores no período de 85 dias associado à altura inicial de 40 cm e no período de 105 dias associado às alturas de 30 e 40 cm. O comprimento de colmo e da lâmina foliar dos perfilhos basais vegetativos aumentou com o aumento nos períodos de diferimento. As alturas iniciais de diferimento tiveram pouco efeito sobre as características estruturais dos perfilhos. O emprego concomitante de plantas altas e longos períodos de diferimento reduz o perfilhamento do capim-piatã. Para otimizar o perfilhamento e a estrutura do pasto diferido na região de Viçosa, MG, o capim-piatã deve ser diferido com altura inicial de 20 a 40 cm, no início de maio e permanecer diferido por 65 dias.

This study was conducted to evaluate the tiller population density and its structural characteristics in Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piata subjected to deferment periods (65, 85 and 105 days) and initial sward heights for deferment (20, 30 and 40 cm). A completely randomized block design was used in a split-plot scheme with three replications. The population density of vegetative basal and total tillers was influenced by the interaction between periods and initial heights of deferment, with lower values in the period of 85 days associated with the initial height of 40 cm and the period of 105 days associated with initial heights of 30 and 40 cm. The length of the stem and leaf blade of vegetative basal tillers increased with the raise in the deferment periods. Initial deferring heights had little effect on the structural characteristics of the tillers. The concomitant use of tall plants and long deferring periods reduces tillering of piata palisade grass. To optimize the tillering and structure of the deferred pasture in the region of Viçosa, piata palisade grass should be deferred with an initial height from 20 to 40 cm in early May and remain deferred for 65 days.

This study was carried out to analyze the tillering profile of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania) pastures subjected to two grazing frequencies (time necessary to intercept 90 and 95% of the incoming light) and two post-grazing heights (30 and 50 cm) in the period from November 2005 to October 2006. The experimental design was of completely randomized blocks with three replications, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. At the end of the spring, pastures managed with 90% light interception showed greater tiller appearance rates in relation to pastures managed with 95%, regardless of post-grazing height. In the summer and fall, pastures managed with post-grazing height of 30 cm showed higher tiller appearance rates in comparison with pastures managed at 50 cm, regardless of grazing frequency. Concerning the tiller mortality rates, in the summer, higher values were found for pastures managed at 90/50 and 95/30 (interception/height), intermediate values at 90/30 and lower values in those managed at 95/50. Pastures managed at 90/30, 95/30 and 95/50 in the fall presented greater tiller mortality rates than those managed at 90/50. These differences do not occur in the winter/beginning of spring. The stability index remained above 1 all through the experimental period. All management strategies evaluated are adequate for Guinea grass.

The study was carried out between March 1st and July 1st, 2011, in order to evaluate the tillering pattern of the deferred Piata palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piata). Three sward heights were evaluated in the beginning of the period of deferment: lower (20 cm), medium (30 cm) and higher (40 cm). The experimental design was of completely randomized blocks with three replications. The Piata palisade grass deferred with low initial height presented lower leaf area index, lower light interception and higher leaf angle in relation to the ones deferred with medium and high heights. The advance in the period of deferment increased the leaf area index and the light interception by the sward, in a way that the highest values were recorded in the periods from 91 and 120 days. The leaf angle reduced linearly with the advance in the period of deferment. For basal and aerial tillers, the rates of appearance, mortality and survival of tillers, as well as the balance between appearance and mortality, and the tiller density stability index were not affected by the initial height of the sward. The stability index of the tiller density was lower in the period from 1 to 30 days of deferment in relation to the periods from 31 to 60, from 61 to 90 and from 91 to 120 days. The variation of the initial height of the Piata palisade grass does not influence the tiller density dynamics during the period of deferment. The reduction of the initial height of the Piata palisade grass improves the luminous environment inside the sward, but it does not stimulate the grass tillering during the period of deferment.

This study was conducted to evaluate the daily production of forage and its morphological components, as well as the potential of forage utilization in pastures of Pennisetum purpureum cv. Napier managed with three post-grazing heights (30, 50 and 70 cm). Two experiments were carried out: one from February to May 2009 and another from December 2009 to May 2010, characterizing months of summer and fall. The experimental design was of completely randomized blocks with three replicates. The grazing was performed by crossbred heifers of approximately 270 kg body weight, when the sward intercepted 95% of the incoming light. In both experiments, the pastures managed with post-grazing height of 30 cm, in the summer months (December to March), presented lower daily production of leaves and stems, as well as less daily leaf senescence, which resulted in lower daily forage production and accumulation in comparison with those managed at 70 and 50 cm. In the period from February to March 2009 (experiment 1) and December 2009 to March 2010 (experiment 2), pastures presented greater daily production of leaves and forage, greater daily forage accumulation and more daily leaf senescence in relation to the months of April and May 2009 and 2010. On the other hand, the daily production of stems was higher in the fall, in comparison with the summer. Therefore, elevation in the post-grazing height, especially in the summer, increases the regrowth vigor of elephant grass cv. Napier.

The objective of this study was to determine the deferment period and the most adequate initial sward height of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatã for deferment in the region of Viçosa, Minas Gerais. For so, the following characteristics were evaluated: masses and bulk density of forage and its morphological components, light interception by the sward, leaf area index, leaf angle, sward and extended tiller height and falling index of the deferred piatã grass. The three deferment periods assessed (65, 85 and 105 days) were randomized to the plots and the three sward heights (20, 30 and 40 cm), randomized in the subplots. The experimental design was of completely randomized blocks, with three replicates, in a subdivided plots arrangement. Masses of forage, green stem and dead tissue were higher in the piatã grass managed with deferment period of 105 days. The mass of green leaf blade was higher in the piatã grass deferred with 20 cm height associated to the deferment period of 85 days, which had, as consequence, greater bulk density of green leaf blade. The interception of light by the sward was greater in the piatã grass kept longer in deferment associated with the higher leaf area index, regardless of its initial height. The heights of the sward and extended tillers were greater in the piatã grass under periods of 85 and 105 days of deferment; however, the falling index was not affected by the factors studied. In the region of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, B. brizantha cv. Piatã fertilized with 75 kg/ha nitrogen and deferred with initial height of 20 cm and for a period of 85 days, from mid April, has adequate productivity and structure for animal production.

The objective of this research was to assess morphogenetic and structural characteristics of tillers of guinea grass cv. Tanzania at different ages. The pastures of guinea grass were managed in six pasture conditions related to the combination of three frequencies (90, 95, and 99% light interception) and two post-grazing heights (25 and 50 cm). In these six pastures conditions, three tiller ages were evaluated (young, mature, and old). The design was of completely randomized block with three replications. Young tillers exhibited higher leaf appearance rate and leaf elongation rate and, consequently, higher final leaf length and number of live leaves than mature and old tillers, regardless of the pasture condition. On pastures managed with 90 or 95% light interception associated with a post-grazing height of 25 cm, old tillers presented longer leaf lifespan than young and mature ones. There is a progressive reduction in the vigor of growth of pastures of guinea grass cv. Tanzania with advancing tiller age.

This experiment was conducted to estimate the effects of nitrogen fertilization associated with the initial height of the Piata palisade grass on the number and structural characteristics of individual tillers after the deferment period. An area with Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piata measuring approximately 288 m² was used. Combinations of levels of nitrogen fertilization (0, 75 and 150 kg/ha of nitrogen) and initial heights of the sward (low - 20 cm, medium - 30 cm and high - 40 cm) were evaluated. The experimental design was of completely randomized blocks in subdivided plots with three replications. The number of vegetative tillers, the stem length of the vegetative, reproductive and dead tillers, and the number of dead leaves of the reproductive and the dead tillers linearly increased with the elevation in the nitrogen level. The deferred Piata palisade grass with low initial height showed lower number of dead basal tillers, shorter length of stems and leaf blades in reproductive tillers and lower number of live and dead leaves in vegetative tillers in relation to the one managed with height considered medium and high. Nitrogen fertilization, in association with low initial height, provides the optimization of forage of Piata palisade grass in deferment conditions.

Foram avaliadas as características morfogênicas e estruturais de gramíneas forrageiras com o objetivo de agrupá-las, de acordo com seu padrão de desenvolvimento, em seus respectivos grupos funcionais. As gramíneas foram plantadas em parcelas de 1,0 m² com 24 plantas, em delineamento de blocos completos casualizados com três repetições. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de fatores, reduzindo as variáveis em quatro fatores: desenvolvimento de massa, mortalidade de perfilhos, estádio de desenvolvimento e longevidade foliar. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de agrupamento por otimização de Tocher adotando-se a distância euclidiana média como medida básica de dissimilaridade. As gramíneas foram agrupadas da seguinte forma: Verão - grupo I (Xaraés, Massai, Mombaça e Marandu); grupo II (Gordura e Aruana); e grupo III (Jaraguá). Outono - grupo I (Mombaça, Massai, Xaraés, Marandu e Gordura); grupo II - (Jaraguá); e grupo III (Aruana). Possivelmente a maior participação do fator mortalidade de perfilhos na formação dos grupos no período de outono influenciou na reorganização dos grupos. Os padrões de desenvolvimento de massa dos diferentes grupos de gramíneas diferiram entre si quanto à forma de utilização dos recursos disponíveis. Houve mudança nos escores de todos os fatores com a mudança do período do verão para o outono. O agrupamento funcional comprova que gramíneas de gêneros e/ou espécies diferentes podem ser enquadradas em um mesmo grupo.

Morphogenetic and structural characteristics of forage grasses were evaluated in order to group them according to their pattern of development in their respective functional groups. Grasses were planted in plots of 1.0 m² with 24 plants in a completely randomized block design with three replications. Data were submitted to factor analysis, reducing the variables to four factors: mass development, tiller mortality, developmental stage and leaf longevity. The data were submitted to cluster analysis by Tocher's optimization by adopting the mean Euclidean distance as a basic measure of dissimilarity. Grasses were grouped as follows: Summer - the group I (Xaraés, Massai, Mombaca and Marandu); group II (Molassa and Aruana); and group III (Jaraguagrass). Fall - group I (Mombaca, Massai, Xaraés, Marandu and Molassa); group II - (Jaraguagrass); and group III (Aruana). Possibly, the greater role of the tiller mortality factor in the formation of groups in the fall influenced the reorganization of the groups. The patterns of mass development of the different groups of grasses differ from each other as for the means of utilizing the resources available. There was a change in the scores of all factors with the change of the period from summer to Fall. The functional clustering of grasses demonstrates that gender and/or different species can be placed in the same group.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the mass of the forage and of the morphological components, and the sward structure in Piata palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piata) deferred in function of different initial heights and nitrogen levels. Two levels of nitrogen (75 and 150 kg/ha) and one control without fertilization associated to three initial deferring heights (20, 30, and 40 cm) were evaluated. The design was of completely randomized blocks with three replications in a subdivided plot scheme. A raise in the initial deferment height and in the fertilization elevated the sward and extended tiller heights, the leaf area index, and the light interception by the sward. The piata palisadegrass deferred with an initial height of 40 cm presented a higher forage mass with lower percentage of leaf blades, and higher stem and dead tissue quantity. Additionally, this management strategy resulted in lower bulk density of leaf blade and in higher bulk densities of stems and dead tissue. The utilization of 150 kg/ha of nitrogen raised the production and the bulk density of deferred piata palisadegrass forage and increased production and bulk density of leaves and stems. In the region of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, the piata palisadegrass deferred with an initial height of 30 cm and fertilized with 75 kg/ha of nitrogen in the beginning of the fall presents adequate mass and structure to animal production in the winter.

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the morphogenetic and structural characteristics of guinea grass cv. Mombasa under three post-grazing heights (intense - 30 cm, lenient - 50 cm and variable - 50 in spring-summer and 30 cm in autumn-winter) when sward light interception reached 95% during regrowth. Post-grazing heights were allocated to experimental units (0.25 ha) in a completely randomized block design with three replications. Post-grazing heights affected only leaf elongation rate and the number of live leaves. Pastures managed with variable post-grazing height showed higher leaf elongation rate in the summer of 2007. This management strategy also resulted in a higher number of live leaves. During the spring of 2006, plants showed lower leaf elongation rate, leaf appearance rate and number of live leaves, and greater phyllochron and leaf lifespan. In contrast, during the summer of 2007, the leaf appearance rate, leaf elongation rate, number of live leaves, and final leaf length were greater while phyllochron, stem elongation rate, and leaf senescence rate were lower. The management of the guinea grass cv. Mombasa with intense or variable post-grazing height throughout the year seems to represent an interesting management target, in terms of leaf appearance rate and number of live leaves.

This experiment was carried out to analyze the tillering dynamics of the species Panicum maximum cv. Mombaca subjected to three post-grazing heights: residue of 30 cm (30); residue of 50 cm (50); and residue of 50 cm during spring and summer, lowered to 40 cm in the first fall season grazing and to 30 cm in the following grazing cycle, resuming to 50 cm after the first grazing of the following spring season (50-30). Grazings were initiated whenever the swards intercepted 95% of the incident light. The post-grazing heights were allocated in the experimental units in a completely randomized block design with three replications. The density of basal tillers did not vary between the residual heights evaluated. Swards managed with variable residual height (50-30) presented higher rates of appearance and mortality of basal tillers during the summer of 2007, indicating high tiller renovation. Regardless of the post-grazing height evaluated, lower rates of appearance of basal tillers were found in the spring of 2006. The stability index of guinea grass cv. Mombaca was close to 1.0 throughout the experimental period. Swards managed with variable post-grazing present structural changes able to improve the regrowth vigor, which may be important to maximize the use of the forage species in the production system.

Objetivou-se estabelecer estratégias de manejo do pastejo, sob lotação contínua, que otimizem o padrão natural de perfilhamento da Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk. Duas estratégias de manejo do pastejo foram estudadas: em uma, o pasto foi mantido com 25 cm de altura média durante todo o período experimental; e na outra foi mantido em 15 cm de altura média durante o inverno, com aumento para 25 cm a partir do início da primavera. Adotou-se o esquema de parcelas subdivididas em delineamento em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições. Consideraram-se como fator primário as estratégias de manejo do pastejo, caracterizadas pelas alturas médias em que os pastos foram mantidos durante as estações do ano (inverno, primavera e verão) e, como fator secundário, as medidas ao longo do período experimental. A taxa de aparecimento de perfilho (4,7%), a taxa de mortalidade (4,7%) e o índice de estabilidade (0,998) foram menores no inverno. Nesta estação, contudo, a taxa de sobrevivência de perfilho foi maior (95,3%). Em comparação aos pastos mantidos com 25 cm, aqueles manejados com 15 cm de altura média no inverno apresentaram maiores taxas de aparecimento de perfilho (34,2%) e índice de estabilidade (1,065). O florescimento do capim-braquiária ocorreu apenas no verão e com pouca intensidade (0,5%). A otimização da renovação de perfilhos no pasto de B. decumbens cv. Basilisk sob lotação contínua ocorre com seu rebaixamento para 15 cm no início do inverno e seu posterior aumento para 25 cm no início da primavera.

The experiment was conducted to establish management strategies of grazing under continuous stocking that optimize the natural pattern of tillering of Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk. Two strategies of grazing management were studied: in one, the grass was maintained with 25-cm mean height throughout the experimental period, and in the other, 15-cm mean height during the winter, rising to 25 cm from beginning of spring. The split-plot in randomized block design with four replications was adopted. The strategies of grazing management corresponded to primary factor, characterized by average heights of pastures during the seasons of the year (winter, spring and summer). The seasons corresponded to secondary factor and consisted of measures over experimental period. The rates of tillers appearance (4.7%), death (4.7%) and stability index (0.998) were lower in winter. During this season, however, the tiller survival rate was higher (95.3%). Compared with pastures maintained at 25 cm, those managed with 15 cm in winter had higher tiller appearance rate (34.2%) and stability index (1.065). The signalgrass flowering occurred only in the summer and with low intensity (0.5%). Optimization for renewal of tillers in B. decumbens cv. Basilisk pasture under continuous stocking occurs with its decrease to 15 cm at the beginning of winter and subsequent increase to 25 cm in early spring.