Growth dynamics and nutrient uptake of panicum maximum under nitrogen fertilisation

ABSTRACT

We investigated the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilisation levels on structural, productive and morphogenetic traits, chlorophyll content, tiller number (TN) and macronutrient uptake capacity of three Panicum maximum cultivars (BRS Zuri, BRS Quênia and BRS Tamani). The experiment was laid out in a completely randomised design with five N doses (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg dm⁻³). The concentration of chlorophyll increase linearly with increasing N doses in BRS Zuri. There was a significant interaction effect between cultivars and N doses on forage mass (FM), forage yield (FY), TN and the uptakes of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and sulfur. The BRS Zuri had the highest FY and FM independent of the applied N dose. In the dose range of 200 and 400 mg dm⁻³ of N, there was no increase in the productive performance of BRS Tamani and BRS Quênia, which were similar to each other. N fertilisation increased TN. Higher N doses in the soil translated into greater N uptake by the grasses. Nitrogen application to the soil can increase the production and structural indices of Panicum maximum cultivars and increases grass growth, but its concentration must consider the productive capacity of the plant for this nutrient.

KEYWORDS:

• Plant height
• potassium
• Zuri
• morphogenesis
• forage mass

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Embrapa Beef Cattle, the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), the Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination (CAPES, Finance Code 001) and Education, Science and Technology Development Support Foundation (FUNDECT).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).