FORRAGEIRAS DOS GÊNEROS Brachiaria e Panicum maximum NA INTEGRAÇÃO LAVOURA-PECUÁRIA

Abstract

The integrated crop-livestock system has proved efficient in diversifying crops in areas with lower environmental impact. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the production, fodder quality and performance of Brachiaria and Panicum maximum cattle fodder after the intercropping with soybean in integrated crop-livestock, as well as biomass production, nutrient accumulation and soybean productivity in fodder biomass and corn in the second crop. The experiment was conducted in the experimental design of randomized blocks with four repetitions. The treatments consisted of the following cropping systems: Xaraes palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraes), Congo grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis), Mombaça guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv. mombaça), Tamani grass (Panicum maximum cv. BRS tamani), implanted in the oversowing of soybean and corn (Zea mays) in succession to soybean. The results showed that Mombaça guinea grass grass and Xaraes palisadegrass had higher fodder production, however the highest quality was obtained in tamani grass. The Mombaça guinea grass, Xaraes palisadegrass and Tamani grass obtained higher animal performance at pasture, being more recommended for crop-livestock integration systems. The Congo grass showed lower production and fodder quality during the pasture cycles, which reflected in a lower total weight gain. The formation of pastures in succession in soybean culture, showed with efficient technique for food supply in the inter-crop, promoting performance to the animals, with reduction in the environmental impact of livestock, due to greater use of soil nutrients, with greater sustainability. For biomass production, the results showed that the Congo grass obtained better desiccation efficiency, however, lower biomass production and nutrient accumulation. The cultivation systems on the biomass of Xaraes palisadegrass and tamani grass compared to corn biomass in the inter-crop period, proved to be a promising cultivation technique, with greater accumulation of nutrients in the soil, consequently favoring soybean productivity and contributing to the sustainability of agricultural systems. Therefore, the adequate choice of forage crops for the integrated system promotes the success of this system, diversifying the area and increasing profitability.