CRESCIMENTO INICIAL DE BRAQUIÁRIA MARANDU EM HIDROGEL

Abstract

Tropical forage species play a fundamental role in Brazilian livestock systems, serving as the primary feed base for most pasture-based cattle production systems. However, the initial establishment of these species can be limited by soil water availability, especially during pasture establishment periods. In this context, the use of water-retaining polymers, such as hydrogel, has been studied as an alternative to increase soil water retention and availability, promoting early plant development. The present study evaluated the effect of hydrogel application on the initial growth of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu. For this purpose, an experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at IF Goiano – Urutaí Campus using a completely randomized design. The treatments consisted of soil without hydrogel (control), dry hydrogel incorporated into the soil, and pre-hydrated hydrogel. The variables assessed were seedling emergence percentage (%), shoot height (cm), root length (cm), and total plant length (cm). Data were subjected to analysis of variance, and when significant differences were detected, means were compared using Tukey’s test (α = 5%). The results indicated that for cv. Marandu, dry hydrogel significantly enhanced early growth, particularly shoot height and root length, although it did not influence seedling emergence. Further studies under field conditions are suggested to evaluate the benefits of hydrogel.