Valéria X. O. Apolinário

Genótipos de capim-elefante sob pastejo no período de seca na Zona da Mata de Pernambuco: fatores relacionados à eficiência de pastejo

The experiment was carried out to evaluate factors related to the grazing efficiency of five Pennisetum sp. genotypes (CE 08 A.D., Venezuela, HV-241, Elephant B and Hexaploide) during the dry period in the Forest Zone of Pernambuco. Genotypes were managed under rotational stocking (44 days of resting and four days of grazing period). It was used a split-plot arrangement in a complete randomized block design (genotypes represented the plots; grazing cycles, the subplots). Six replications were used to determine pre-grazing total leaf blade mass and green and senescent leaf blade mass. Four replications were used for leaf blade accumulation and grazing efficiency and, for these variables, it was used a complete randomized blocks design. The CE 08 A.D. and Elephant B presented greater pre-graze total leaf blade mass, green leaf blade, green leaf blade accumulation, and grazing efficiency, with averages of 1,374 kg DM/ha, 737 kg DM/ha, 654 kg DM/ha/44 days and 80% of the green leaf blade accumulation, respectively. The highest grazing efficiency (100% of the green leaf blade accumulation) occurred at the HV-241 pastures. This high grazing efficiency was associated to the low green leaf blade accumulation (155 kg of MS/ha/44 days). The lowest grazing efficiency was observed for the Hexaploide (59% of the green leaf blade accumulation), possibly due to high losses under grazing (30% of the pre-grazing total leaf blade mass). The green leaf blade mass decreased mostly until the second grazing day, while the losses of total leaf blade were higher in the second and third grazing days. The genotypes CE 08 A.D. and Elephant B presented potential to be used under rotational stocking, in the Pernambuco Forest Zone.