Forage nutritive value of Marandu palisade grass under clipping in a silvopastoral system

Canopy adaptation to shade can make forage nutritive value in a silvopastoral system similar or even greater than of open pasture. Our objective was to evaluate the shading effect on nutritive value of Marandu palisade grass [Urochloa brizantha (Hochst A. Rich) Stapf] under clipping in a silvopastoral system (SPS) with Eucalyptus urograndis (hybrid of Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden x Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake) compared with an open pasture system, in the Amazon biome. The SPS plots were evaluated for 2 growing seasons at four distances from the Eucalyptus grove (3, 6, 10, and 15 m), on the north and south of the grove. Each grove consisted of 3 rows of trees planted in an east-west direction. Total herbage (3450 kg DM/ha) and leaf accumulation (2760 kg DM/ha) did not differ between systems. Forages growing north of tree rows (i.e., under greater shade) had lesser leaf proportions (81 vs. 78%) and greater accumulated stems, however, was offset by the greater SLA, not affecting the leaf accumulation. Crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentrations were 14.8, 4.9, and 10.9% greater in the SPS. The CP concentration was greater at 3 m (16%) than 10 and 15 m (14.6%), regardless of the face. The Marandu palisade grass grown in SPS had similar total herbage accumulation and greater nutritive value compared with an open pasture, which associated with a shaded environment may potentialize animal performance, making this system an interesting option for sustainable forage-livestock systems.