Growth and nutrient accumulation in elephant grass crop

• Published in: Caatinga 2024, Vol.37
• Main Authors: Morais, Éric G., Oliveira, Fábio H. T. de, Silva, Gualter G. C. da, Bezerra, Márcio G. da S., Sá, Francisco V. da S., Grangeiro, Leilson C., Danino, Giovana S., Costa, Romualdo M. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE; AGRONOMY; FISHERIES; FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY; FORESTRY; VETERINARY SCIENCES
• ISSN: 0100-316X; 1983-2125; 1983-2125
• DOI: 10.1590/1983-21252024v3712385rc

ABSTRACT Elephant grass fertilization is performed more efficiently by analyzing growth curves and nutrient accumulation. This study evaluated elephant grass's growth, dry matter production, and nutrient accumulation. A sampling design was used, with plant collections over time. Elephant grass was cultivated in four plots of 27 m2 during two cultivation cycles. Destructive sampling of four plants was carried out per collection to evaluate dry matter production and nutrient accumulations. In the first cycle, plants were collected at 21, 35, 49, 63, 77, 91, 105 and 119 days after planting. After the last collection of the first cycle, a standardization cut was made, eliminating the remaining plants in the experimental plots. The second cycle of collections was carried out at 21, 35, 49, 63, 77, 91, and 105 days after the uniformity cut. In all collections, the number of tillers per linear meter was counted, and the height of the plants was evaluated. The data were subjected to nonlinear regression analysis. The accumulation of nutrients by elephant grass accompanied the production of dry matter. The highest rates of dry matter production occurred around 70 days. The greatest height growth occurred from 18 to 102 days in the 1st cycle and 8 to 61 days in the 2nd cycle. Nutrient accumulation showed the following decreasing order: K>N>Mg>Ca>P>S>Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu (1st cycle); and K>N>Mg>Ca>P>S>Fe>Zn>Mn>Cu (2nd cycle). RESUMO A adubação do capim-elefante é realizada de forma mais eficiente ao analisar as curvas de crescimento e acúmulo de nutrientes. Com isso, objetivou-se avaliar o crescimento, a produção de matéria seca e os acúmulos de nutrientes do capim-elefante. Foi utilizado um delineamento de amostragem, com coletas de plantas ao longo do tempo. O capim-elefante foi conduzido em quatro parcelas de 27 m2, durante dois ciclos de cultivo. Foram realizadas amostragens destrutivas de quatro plantas por coleta, para avaliar a produção de matéria seca e os acúmulos de nutrientes. No primeiro ciclo, as plantas foram coletadas aos 21, 35, 49, 63, 77, 91, 105 e 119 dias após o plantio. Após a última coleta do primeiro ciclo, foi realizado um corte de uniformização, eliminando as plantas restantes nas parcelas experimentais. O segundo ciclo de coletas ocorreu aos 21, 35, 49, 63, 77, 91 e 105 dias após corte de uniformização. Em todas as coletas foi realizada a contagem do número de perfilhos por metro linear e avaliada a altura das plantas. Os dados foram submetidos à aná