Response of tropical forages to irrigation in Cerrado/Pantanal ecotone

Abstract

This work aimed to evaluate the irrigation influence on the forage production of Panicum maximum, Pennicetum pupureum, Urochloa brizantha and Urochloa ruziziensis during the rainy and dry seasons in Cerrado-Pantanal ecotone. Trial was conducted at experimental area of irrigated agriculture of Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Unit of Aquidauana. We assessed the interaction between irrigation versus tropical forage species in the rainy and dry seasons. The first factor is the irrigation or non-irrigation, while the second factor comprises the species. Experimental design used was randomized complete with four replications in factorial scheme 2x4. There were two forage collections during the dry the rainy" interval for standardization cutting and harvest at 45 days after. Traits evaluated dry matter of leaves (DML), dry matter of stems (DMS), total dry matter (DMT) and leaf/stem ratio (L/S) were assessed. Irrigation management influences the production of the assessed forage species only in dry seasons. Urochloa brizantha is the most recommended forage for the Cerrado-Pantanal ecotone region, due to its high forage production, especially when it comes to sheets. In dry seasons, P. purpureum has increased DMT under an irrigated system, but with lower L/S ratio.