Production and bromatological composition of cultivars of Brachiaria brizantha and Campo Grande stylo monocropped and intercropped under different planting methods

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the production and bromatological composition of cultivars of Brachiaria brizantha (cvs. Marandu and Xaraés) and Campo Grande stylo (Stylosanthes ssp) monocropped and intercropped under different planting methods for a period of two years. The experimental design used consisted of randomized complete blocks, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of the following forage systems: monocropped Campo Grande stylo; monocropped Xaraes palisadegrass; monocropped Marandu palisadegrass; X. palisadegrass row-intercropped with Campo Grande stylo; X. palisadegrass mixed-intercropped with Campo Grande stylo; M. palisadegrass row-intercropped with Campo Grande stylo and M. palisadegrass mixed-intercropped with Campo Grande stylo. The evaluations were performed for two years, with evaluations for each season of the year (autumn, winter, spring and summer) in the same plots and repeated measures over time. The X. palisadegrass and M. palisadegrass showed similar results between the intercropping systems, indicating that both may be intercropped with Campo Grande stylo. Intercropping stylo with B. brizantha cultivars improves both pasture production and quality. However, the most efficient planting method was row intercropping because it maintains greater legume persistence in the forage system throughout the years assessed while also providing greater production and nutritional value.   Key words: Marandu palisadegrass, Xaraes palisadegrass, Stylosanthes spp.