Structural Traits, Production, Biomass Allocation, and Changes in Leaf Investment in <i>Megathyrsus maximus</i> cv. MG12 Paredão Under Nitrogen Fertilization and Cutting Intervals
Nitrogen (N) deficiency in soil limits the development of forage grasses, while its application can significantly increase productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of increasing N doses and cutting intervals on structural and productive traits, biomass allocation, leaf chlorophyll inde...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Nitrogen |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3129/6/1/12 |
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| Summary: | Nitrogen (N) deficiency in soil limits the development of forage grasses, while its application can significantly increase productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of increasing N doses and cutting intervals on structural and productive traits, biomass allocation, leaf chlorophyll index, and specific leaf area in <i>Megathyrsus maximus</i> cv. MG12 Paredão. The experiment was conducted with a randomized block design in the field, using a 5 × 2 factorial scheme, with five N fertilization levels (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>) and two cutting intervals (either 28 or 56 days). Our measurements included plant height, number of tillers, dry mass production, fresh shoot weight, root dry mass, leaf and stem biomass, SPAD readings, and specific leaf area. The results indicated a significant increase in SPAD values associated with higher N fertilization levels, so that the 300 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> year<sup>−1</sup> dose resulted in the most significant changes compared to the control, with SPAD values increasing from 38.2 in the control group to 54.7. Dry mass production (DMP) was higher at the 28-day cutting interval compared to 56 days, particularly with 400 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>. The 400 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> year<sup>−1</sup> dose resulted in a 68% increase in DMP compared to the control at 28-day intervals. Additionally, fertilization enhanced the number of tillers, leading to greater biomass accumulation. Significant differences in plant height were observed between cutting intervals, with taller plants recorded at 56 days. N fertilization promoted increased plant height, particularly at doses of 200, 300, and 400 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>year<sup>−1</sup>. Therefore, our study suggests the use of 400 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> year<sup>−1</sup> dose at 28-day intervals. Thus, cutting frequency directly influenced plant growth. |
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| ISSN: | 2504-3129 |