The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the dry matter (DM) content and the percent participation of fractions that compose the plant in corn cultivars harvested at different maturity stages. A randomized block design with an 8 × 6 × 2 factorial scheme composed of eight harvesting times, six corn cultivars and two harvest years (2001/2002 and 2002/2003) was used. Cultivars CO 32, AG 5011, P 3041, DKB 333B, AG 1051 and Z 8550 were harvested when they reached […]

The population dynamics of tillers and tissue turnover were investigated in pastures of Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Cameroon submitted to different stocking rates under rotational stocking. Two experiments were carried out and the experimental area was characterized by a mean annual rainfall of 1,311 mm and average temperature of 25ºC. In the rainfall period the stocking rates were 3, 4, 5, and 6 steers/ha; in the dry period the stocking rates were 2, 3, 4, and 5 steers/ha. The most […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate grass responses to combined rates of nitrogen and calcium. Measured response variables included leaf number, tiller number, leaf area, and DM yield. Tanzaniagrass was grown in nutrient solution with ground quartz as substrate, in a greenhouse experiment. The experiment was carried out in randomized block design, with four replications. A fractionated 52 factorial was used, with combinations of five nitrogen rates (2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 mmol L-1) and five calcium […]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of combined rates of N and S on signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens) productive characteristics. This grass was collected in cylinders with soil + plants in a degrading pasture established in an Entisol. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, at Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, from November 2003 to March 2004. Five rates of N (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/dm3) were combined with five rates of S (0, 10, 20, […]

This experiment was carried out in a greenhouse during the spring to study combinations of nitrogen and sulphur rates on Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu growing in nutrient solution and using ground quartz as substrate. It was set in a fractionated 52 factorial arrangement, with five rates of nitrogen and five rates of sulphur. The resulting 13 combinations were, in mg L-1: 14 and 3.2, 14 and 32, 14 and 80, 126 and 12.8, 126 and 64, 210 and 3.2, 210 […]

The experiment was conducted with the objective to evaluate the agronomic production behavior of the plant and the chemical, qualitative and fermentation characteristics of silage from different corn (Zea mays, L.) hybrids: Agroceres AG-5011, Braskalb XL-344 and Cargill C-806. For the agronomic behavior of the hybrids a complete randomized experimental design was used, and for silages evaluation a randomized block design was used, where the silage utilization period was the blocking criterion. C-806 hybrid was the most precocious with an […]

The morphogenetic and structural characteristics of Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça were evaluated in response to different levels of nitrogen supply and cutting regimes. The study was conducted in a glasshouse with natural conditions of light and temperature. Treatments corresponded to four levels of nitrogen supply (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg/dm3) and three cutting heights (5, 10 and 20 cm). The morphogenetic evaluations included leaf appearance and elongation rate, phyllochron and leaf lifespan. The structural measurements were: number of leaves, […]

The experiment was conducted with the purpose to evaluate the qualitative traits of the plant components and fermentation characteristics of silages from different sorghum hybrids AGX-213, AG-2002 (forage) and AGX-217, AG-2005E (double purpose). The panicle component showed higher percentages of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), mineral material (MM) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and lower percentages of plant cell wall than the stems and leaves. No differences were observed among the sorghum silages for MM and IVDMD […]