Title: Dinamycs of defoliation in kikuyu grass pastures under intermittent stocking

 

Abstract: Recent studies have shown that, in rotational stocking, post- grazing target should not exceed 40% of severity of defoliation of pre-grazing height. Although there is some evidence that from that level of defoliation animals start to graze undesirable horizons, there is not such evidence how these processes occurs at plant level. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of defoliation during the grazing down of kikuyu grass pastures (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. Ex. Chiov.), testing the hypothesis that the transition between the grazing horizons occurs when animals defoliate around 40% of initial height. The experiment was conducted using a pre-grazing height of 25 cm combined with levels of defoliation of 40, 50, 60 and 70% of the initial height. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four treatments and three replications. Pastures were grazed down in 24 hours and assessments related to the dynamics of defoliation were conducted in four times during this period of occupation by using marked tillers technique. Were evaluated aspects of the frequency and intensity of defoliation by leaf category, tiller, extended tiller and stem, and the total grazed area, grazed area only once, grazed area two to three times and total regrazed area. It was found that the frequency of defoliation of individual tiller increased linearly with the stocking density and the technique of extended tiller underestimate the magnitude of frequency of defoliation regardless of severity of defoliation. From 40% of severity of defoliation, the probability of defoliation of senescent leaves and stems increased from two to three times, respectively. Both leaf and extended tiller were grazed, on average, with a relatively constant intensity. The transition between grazing horizons begins before 40% of severity of defoliation and to this severity is inevitable that approximately 25% of the grazed area suffer a second or third defoliation. It was concluded that, from the 40% of severity of defoliation, the exploration of lower horizons exceed the limit of 25% of the previously grazed area.

 

Keywords: Frequency of defoliation. Severity of defoliation. Intensity of defoliation. Grazed area. Grazing horizons.

 

Author: Cauby de Medeiros Neto

Leader: André Fischer Sbrissia

Dissertation (Masters in Animal Science)

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Title: Forage accumulation during the occupation period in kikuyu grass pastures under intermittent stocking.

 

Abstract: The pastures regrowth is a continuous event-dependent and leaf area, as this characteristic affects the growth processes. Accordingly, removal of the leaf area (frequency and magnitude) over a period occupancy must provide forage accumulation effects. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of defoliation on concomitant herbage accumulation of grass-Kikuyu swards (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. Ex. Chiov.) Under intermittent stocking, testing the hypothesis that there is a reduction in herbage accumulation during the lowering of pastures. The objective of Experiment II was to evaluate the effect of removing leaves fully expanded at the stretching expanding leaves testing the hypothesis that the leaf elongation expanding terminates immediately when all fully expanded leaves are defoliated in oat pastures (Avena strigosa). Treatments consisted of four proportions of defoliation (40, 50, 60 and 70% relative to the initial height) combined at the same height in pregrazing (20 cm). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications. Each paddock was busy for heifers and dry cows of the Dutch race in the form of daily strip (2), with periods of occupation of 24 hours and supply of 3 kg DM / 100 kg BW above the desired residue. The rates of growth processes and herbage accumulation were determined by tillers technique marked (20 tillers / track), and the field of readings taken at four moments during the occupation (08:00, 12:00, 18:00, 8:00). In addition, 10 tillers / track were excluded from grazing (using exclusion cages) and evaluated in their morphogenetic rhythms, for the derivation of some data. The variables studied were: elongation rate; proportion of fully expanded leaves and leafless expansion; forage accumulation rate. The effects (linear, quadratic and cubic) of defoliation severity were assessed with the help of orthogonal polynomial contrasts generated by the IML procedure of SAS statistical package for treatments not equidistant. The significance level was 5%. The severity of defoliation targets were not achieved effectively, but a contrast between them was established (40, 46, 10 48, 54% of initial height) having some effect on the viable analyzed (P <0.05). It was found that there was a linear effect between the proportion of leaf area index removed and elongation of leaf blades a day and that consequently the greater leaf area removal negatively affect forage accumulation of pickets with the presence of animals. The percentage of leaf blades bare in treatments with higher proportion kneeling directly affected forage accumulation rate per day. It was concluded that the main determinant that affects the forage accumulation during the occupation period is the rate of IAF removed, and that the occupation reduces forage accumulation. Already with the second experiment it concluded that with the removal of all tiller leaves the fully expanded leaf elongation reduces instantly expanding leaves.

 

Keywords: Accumulation of forage; Leaf area index; Defoliation intensity; Tillers.

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Author: Jaciara Diavão

Leader: André Fischer Sbrissia

Dissertation (Masters in Animal Science)