Effect of a grass-legume association on the dry matter yield and protein concentration of the prairie fertilized with phosphorus DRY MATTER AND PROTEIN OF GRASS-LEGUME ASSOCIATION

Abstract

Objective: to determine the seasonal variation of the dry matter yield (DMY) and protein of the Brachiaria humidicola-Arachis pintoi association with and without phosphate
fertilization.
Design/methodology/approach: DMY, protein, and leaf ratio in the plant were evaluated. Statistical analysis was on repeated measures in a completely randomized
design with four replications.

Results: humidicola in monoculture (H) and humidicola-fertilized (HF) decreased their DMY by 0.90 t ha -1 DM in november, averaging 0.89 t ha -1 from November to June. From June 9 to July 14, H increased his DMY by 1.22 t ha -1 . Humidicola-cacahuatillo (HC) and humidicola-cacahuatillo-fertilized (HCF) registered an average RMS from October to February of 0.96 and 1.2 t ha -1 DM, respectively. HCF registered higher DMY in January (1.27 t ha -1 ) with respect to the average (0.71 t ha -1 ) of the rest of the treatments. During the dry season HC and HCF were higher in DMY than monocultures. The humidicola of the association registered 19.21 g kg -1 DM more protein, than the humidicola of the monoculture, being higher HCF than the rest of the treatments in rains.
Limitations on study/implications: a limitation in the time of the humidicola- cacahuatillo association could be the persistence of the legume, therefore monitoring is required to determine its permanence.
Findings/conclusions: the association when registering a higher RMSP in the dry
season, confers less seasonal variation, in addition to granting a higher protein
concentration to the associated humidicola vs. the humidicola in monoculture.