R. Bras. Zootec.24/abr/2026;55:e20250019.
Structural characteristics and forage biomass accumulation of dwarf elephant grass genotypes at two stubble heights
Rafael Bolina da Silva
, Karina Guimarães Ribeiro
, Carlos Augusto de Miranda Gomide
, Domingos Sávio Campos Paciullo
, Francisco José da Silva Lédo
, Laura Eliza Fontes Paiva
, Eduardo Moreira Barradas de Souza
, Paulo Roberto Cecon
ABSTRACT
The objective was to evaluate the structural traits and forage accumulation of elephant grass genotypes under two stubble heights. The experiment was conducted in a factorial scheme, with five genotypes (P 2022 S1, 1810, 2111, 2035 and BRS Kurumi) and two stubble heights (25 and 45 cm), in a randomized block design, with three replications, considering the rainy and dry periods. Forage accumulation of the rainy period was higher for genotype 2111 (P<0.05) compared to P 2022 S1 and BRS Kurumi. The 1810 and 2035 genotypes showed forage accumulation similar to 2111. In the dry period, forage accumulation values were approximately 35% of those observed in the rainy period, with the BRS Kurumi and P 2022 S1 genotypes presenting lower values (P<0.05) compared to the others. The stubble height of 25 cm resulted in lower canopies (82 cm) than that at 45 cm (96 cm). The genotypes P 2022 S1 and 2111 had a higher percentage of leaves and a lower percentage of stem at the stubble height of 45 cm. The genotypes 2111 and 1810 were superior to BRS Kurumi for the percentage of leaf blade and stem at the defoliation height of 45 cm. In the dry season, the genotype 2111 showed the highest leaf-stem ratio. The genotypes 1810, 2111, 2035 and BRS Kurumi showed the highest leaf and lowest stem percentage. The defoliation height of 45 cm resulted in higher forage density. The genotypes 2035, 2111 and 1810 stood out for the high forage accumulation and leaf percentage at both stubble heights during the rainy season. Management with a defoliation height of 45 cm increases the leaf blade percentage and the leaf-stem ratio and reduces the proportion of stem in the forage harvested above the residue.
Palavras-chave: canopy height; forage density; leaf blade percentage; leaf/stem ratio
