Development of cultivars Brachiaria brizantha in ecotone cerrado-pantanal under different periods

Abstract

In Pantanal South Matogrossense croplands pasture are around four million hectares, subject to flooding in the period of the waters. However, water deficit can lead to dehydration in the plant, reducing its growth and acceleration of senescence of tissues by decreasing the rate of leaf expansion and consequently showing less height and photosynthesis by reducing the leaf area. The objective of this research was to study the development of different cultivars of Brachiaria brizantha, which best thrives under two types of environments (conventional pasture and vereda-type of Cerrado vegetation formation) in periods of drought and rain. The experimental design was of randomized blocks with four repetitions in each environment in the two periods. Every 15 DAE (days after emergence) was rated the height of tiller, stem diameter and width of the leaf blade. Was employed Kruskal Wallis statistical method = {P (x>X2); (α = 0.05)} and for comparisons between the means obtained from the variables was carried out the Mann-Whitney test the probability 0.05. To cultivate larger values presented to Xaraés height of plant, stem diameter and width of the leaf blade in relation to the cultivars Marandu, Piatã and MG-4. Cultivating MG-4 presented the lower plant height, stem diameter, width of the leaf blade and a smaller thatched elongation in respect of other cultivars. Cultivating Xaraés was which adapted better to the region of the Cerrado-Pantanal ecotone, showing superior results to the other cultivars. © 2013 Asian Network for Scientific Information.