African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6900

Full Length Research Paper

Sources and rates of nitrogen fertilizer used in Mombasa guineagrass in the Brazilian Cerrado region

Juliana Carla Fernandes
  • Juliana Carla Fernandes
  • Department of Plant Protection, Rural Engineering and Soils, Universidade Estadual Paulista ?Julio de Mesquita Filho?, Ilha Solteira, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Salatier Buzetti
  • Salatier Buzetti
  • Department of Plant Protection, Rural Engineering and Soils, Universidade Estadual Paulista ?Julio de Mesquita Filho?, Ilha Solteira, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Elisangela Dupas
  • Elisangela Dupas
  • Department of Plant Protection, Rural Engineering and Soils, Universidade Estadual Paulista ?Julio de Mesquita Filho?, Ilha Solteira, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho*
  • Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho*
  • Department of Plant Protection, Rural Engineering and Soils, Universidade Estadual Paulista ?Julio de Mesquita Filho?, Ilha Solteira, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Marcelo Andreotti
  • Marcelo Andreotti
  • Department of Plant Protection, Rural Engineering and Soils, Universidade Estadual Paulista ?Julio de Mesquita Filho?, Ilha Solteira, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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  •  Received: 24 October 2014
  •  Accepted: 15 April 2015
  •  Published: 07 May 2015

Abstract

Brazilian Cerrado is constituted largely by extensive grazing. In this region, livestock production indices are low, because the producers do not perform a soil amendment. The aim of this work was to study a pasture with high production potential using sources and rates of nitrogen (N). Nitrogen sources used were: Ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium sulphonitrate, sulfammo and urea applied on the basis of 100 kg ha-1 per harvest, and N rates (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1 per harvest), using urea as source, in five harvests. The forage used was [Panicum maximum (syn. Megathirsus panicum) cv. Mombaça], and were evaluated:  Dry matter yield (DMY), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Dry matter yield increased on the second harvest, as a function of N rates. Acid detergent fiber and NDF concentrations there were no significant to the sources, and no adjustment with increasing of N rates. Crude protein content showed no adjustment for the N rates, as well as the N sources were not significant. Because the N performance, we recommend the urea, as this is more affordable and the application of 50 kg ha-1 of N for the maintenance of the Mombasa guineagrass.

 

Key words: Acid detergent fiber, crude protein, dry matter yield, neutral detergent fiber, Panicum maximum.