POTENCIAL DE FORRAGEIRAS DO GÊNERO Brachiaria CONSORCIADAS COM SORGO GRANÍFERO EM SISTEMA INTEGRADO

Abstract

Despite the launch of new forages on the market, little is known about the potential in systems integrated with the grain sorghum crop in the second harvest. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance (agronomic characteristics) of grain sorghum and the production and nutritional characteristics of forage plants of the genus Brachiaria in an integrated agricultural production system in the second season. The experiment had a randomized block design with four replicates. The treatments consisted of the intercropping of sorghum with forage plants of the genus Brachiaria (Brachiaria ruziziensis, Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés, Brachiaria brizantha cv. BRS Piatã, Brachiaria brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguás, Brachiaria cv. BRS Ipyporã), in addition to an extra treatment with sorghum in monoculture. The results showed that intercropping of sorghum with Marandu palisadegrass and Xaraes palisadegrass led to lower grain yield. The Xaraes palisadegrass, Piata palisadegrass, and Paiaguas palisadegrass displayed higher forage production in intercropping. However, the Paiaguas palisadegrass, Piata palisadegrass, and Ipypora grass have better nutritional value and may be more strongly recommended in an integrated system with sorghum, and they are promising alternatives for grain and forage production in the off-season. The right forage grass combined with sorghum in an integrated system can intensify agricultural production, optimizing the use of the area and increasing sustainability.