Soil bulk density and biomass partitioning of Brachiaria decumbens in a silvopastoral system

Authors

  • Domingos Sávio Campos Paciullo Embrapa Gado de Leite
  • Carlos Renato Tavares de Castro Embrapa Gado de Leite
  • Carlos Augusto de Miranda Gomide Embrapa Gado de Leite
  • Priscila Beligoli Fernandes Embrapa Gado de Leite
  • Wadson Sebastião Duarte da Rocha Embrapa Gado de Leite
  • Marcelo Dias Müller Embrapa Gado de Leite
  • Roberto Oscar Pereyra Rossiello UFRRJ; Inst. de Agronomia; Depto. de Solos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162010000500014

Keywords:

forage mass, root mass, soil compaction, shading, shoot/root ratio

Abstract

Shade in silvopastoral systems improves the thermal comfort of animals, but it may also affect the pasture productivity and can contribute to soil compaction in the shaded areas due to the increase in the number of animals looking for comfort. The effect of grazing at various distances from tree rows (under the tree canopy, at 6 and at 12 m away from the trees) on the soil bulk density and on the aerial and root biomass of Brachiaria decumbens was evaluated in both the dry and the rainy seasons. The study was carried out on an Orthic Ferralsol in a randomized block design with two replications. Tree rows were composed of Eucalyptus grandis and Acacia mangium species, and the paddocks were submitted to a rotational stocking management, using Holstein (Bos taurus) × Zebu (Bos indicus) heifers. The shade intensity in the pasture decreased with an increasing distance from the tree row. Soil bulk density did not vary with the distance from the tree row, but varied seasonally, being greater in the rainy season (1.47 g cm-3) than in the dry season (1.28 g cm-3). Green forage and root mass, expressed as dry matter, were lower under the tree canopy and were greater in the rainy season. There were decreases of 22.3 and 41.4% in the aerial and root biomasses, respectively, in the tree rows. The greatest shoot/root ratio for B. decumbens under moderate and intensive shading indicates a modification in the forage biomass allocation pattern that favours the aerial development in detriment of the root system.

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Published

2010-10-01

Issue

Section

Soils and Plant Nutrition

How to Cite

Soil bulk density and biomass partitioning of Brachiaria decumbens in a silvopastoral system . (2010). Scientia Agricola, 67(5), 598-603. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162010000500014