Defoliation patterns in signal grass tillers with varying heights in the same pasture - doi: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v35i3.14376

• Published in: Acta scientiarum. Animal sciences 2013-07, Vol.35 (3)
• Main Authors: Santos, Manoel Eduardo Rozalino, Fonseca, Dilermando Miranda da, Silva, Guilherme Porte, Braz, Thiago Gomes dos Santos, Gomes, Virgilio Mesquita, Silva, Simone Pedro da
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brachiaria decumbens; forage losses; grazing; horizontal pasture sward
• ISSN: 1806-2636; 1807-8672
• DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v35i3.14376

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the patterns of defoliation in plants of various heights in the same pasture of Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk under continuous stocking with cattle. Four plant heights were evaluated (10, 20, 30 and 40 cm) in the same managed sward, with mean height equal to 25 cm. A randomized blocks design was used, with two replications. Defoliation frequency increased linearly along with plant height in the same pasture. Defoliation intensity, number of defoliations in leaf blade and percentage of leaf blade grazed per tiller also increased linearly along with plant height. The defoliation interval decreased linearly according to plant height. The quadratic model was adequately fitted into grazing efficiency data, reaching the highest value (98%) at the sward site with 35 cm plants. The percentage variation in signal grass height showed a negative linear response with initial plant height. The structure of the pasture, characterized by the diversity in plant heights, is simultaneously the cause and consequence of the variability in defoliation patterns in individual tillers, which occur on the horizontal plane of the pasture.