Adaptive Responses of Paspalum oteroi Native Grass to Fertilization and Shading

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the Paspalum oteroi native grass and its adaptive responses to shading and foliar fertilization in two pasture systems in the Cerrado-Pantanal transition region. A completely randomized block design with factorial arrangement was adopted to this study: three types of fertilizers [no fertilization – control (C); Foliar fertilizer for pasture (FF) and Soil fertilizer + Foliar fertilizer (SF)] x two pasture systems (WS - with shading, wooded P. oteroi pasture; NS - no shading, exclusive P. oteroi pasture) with four repetitions. P. oteroi seedlings were transplanted in November 2015. Data collection was from May 2016 to September 2016, during dry season. There were differences (p<0.05) in the sward height variables (H), dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) content, dry matter production (DMP) and shoot: root ratio (S:R). In the WS system increased of 8,61% of the CP content and fertilizer SF increased of 8.81% of the CP content. However, in the WS system was observed reduced DM, DMP and S:R and in the FF and SF fertilizers increased leaf area index (LAI), in the latter months of the application. Probably, P. oteroi grass developed adaptation strategies to deal with the environmental conditions to which it was submitted during this study, such as variations in its morphophysiological traits: low shoot / root ratio, height, chemical composition, leaf area index e light interception. In conclusion, P. oteroi showed adaptation to wooded pasture systems, during dry period, however, the use of fertilization depends on economic viability studies.