PRODUÇÃO E QUALIDADE DA SILAGEM DE MILHETO E CAPIMINTEGRA EM MONOCULTIVO E CONSORCIADO SOB DIFERENTES ESTÁGIOS DE DESENVOLVIMENTO

Abstract

Integrated systems are efficient technologies for intensifying production systems, as they provide several ecosystem services, such as the production of high-quality forage during the off-season, increased ensiled mass production, and improved silage quality. Pearl millet has already been used in intercropping systems; however, it is necessary to investigate the best crop development stage for silage production. In addition, results on the performance of pearl millet when grown with the new Brachiaria ruziziensis cv. BRS Integra remain scarce. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of intercropping pearl millet with BRS Integra grass, harvested at two development stages, on agronomic traits, dry mass production, fermentative parameters, and silage quality, compared with the monocultures of these crops. The experiment was carried out at the Instituto Federal Goiano, Rio Verde Campus, Goiás, Brazil. A randomized complete block design was used, with four replicates, in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, comprising three cropping systems — pearl millet monoculture (Pennisetum glaucum L.); BRS Integra grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis cv. BRS Integra) monoculture; and pearl millet intercropped with BRS Integra grass — and two development stages (70 and 90 days after sowing, DAS). The results showed that intercropping pearl millet with BRS Integra grass, when harvested at 90 DAS, increased dry mass production and improved the fermentative characteristics of the silage. Furthermore, it enhanced the nutritional value of the silage, with increases of 30.17% in crude protein and 19.11% in dry matter, in addition to balancing the fibrous fractions of the silage, when compared with the silage of BRS Integra grass in monoculture. Based on these results, the pearl millet hybrid BRS 1501 showed high forage yield and favorable fermentative characteristics when harvested at different development stages, and is therefore considered a promising crop for silage production under tropical conditions.