AVALIATION OF SPECIES OF Paspalum under grazing

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to verify the outcome of the grazing above the productivity and the persistence of three accesses of Paspalum. The experiment was developed on Southeastern Cattle Embrapa, in São Carlos, SP, in the period of January to December 2005. Three genotypes of Paspalum (Paspalum. Guenoarum – BRA-006572, Paspalum malacophyllum - BRA-003077 and Paspalum atratum – BRA-011681) and two controls (Brachiaria decumbens and Paspalum atratum cv. Pojuca) were compared under two grazing intensities (1500 and 3000 kg MS/ha of post-graze residue). Plots were mob grazed (1-day grazing followed by 27-day rest (water period) and 1-day grazing followed by 55-day rest (dry period) and stocking rate was adjusted according to the herbage mass available and the treatment grazing intensity. The following variables have been evaluated: total herbage mass before and after grazing; proportion of leaf, stem and dead material; occurrence of weeds and tiller density and occurrence of diseases and symptoms of mineral toxicity or deficiency. For both grazing intensities the Paspalum atratum demonstrated positive characteristics of production and persistence indicating that these are promising genotypes for use in intensive systems of pasture.

KEY WORDS: Intensity of grazing, pasture, production of forage, tillers.