CARACTERÍSTICAS BIOMÉTRICAS DO CAPIM SUDÃO (BRS ESTRIBO) SOB DIFERENTES LÂMINAS SUPLEMENTARES DE IRRIGAÇÃO

Abstract

The cultivation of pastures is the most economically viable form for cattle feed, however, it is necessary to intensify production to meet the food demand of herds. The leaf/stem ratio, stem diameter, stem and plant height are determining factors of production and forage quality. The irregularity of rainfall is one of the main factors that alter production and quality, requiring supplementary irrigation to adequately supply the crop's water demand. The objective of this study was to evaluate the leaf/stem ratio, stem diameter, height of stem and Sudan grass plants, cultivate BRS Estribo, under cuts and different irrigation depths. The experiments were carried out in the agricultural years of 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 in the municipality of Santa Maria - RS, and the variables were analyzed in six different water conditions: without irrigation, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% and 125% of ETo, in three periods of uniform cutting, at 50, 80 and 110 days after sowing, the experimental design was in randomized blocks. There were statistically significant differences between the treatments tested, for all variables analyzed, in the three periods of cuts. The highest values were found in the treatment with full replacement of water demand.