PRODUCTION AND MORPHOGENESIS OF BRS TAMANI GRASS UNDER DIFFERENT NITROGEN RATES AND DEFOLIATION INTENSITIES

The objective of this work was to evaluate the forage production, and the morphogenic and structural characteristics of Panicum maximum cv. BRS Tamani, as a function of nitrogen doses and cut intensities. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions. Four nitrogen doses (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg/dm(3)) and two cut intensities (5 cm and 15 cm) were evaluated in a 4x2 factorial in a completely randomized design with four replicates. The leaf elongation rate of the Tamani grass was influenced by nitrogen fertilization, with a linear and positive response. No effect of defoliation intensity was observed for this variable. The leaf life had a negative linear influence of the nitrogen fertilization without effect of the defoliation intensity. The morphogenic characteristics of the Tamani grass are influenced by nitrogen fertilization. Plants with greater nitrogen supply lengthen more leaves, with a shorter appearance interval. In absence of nitrogen fertilization the BRS Tamani grass keeps the leaves alive longer and in smaller numbers. More intensely cut BRS Tamani grass plants have a greater number of tillers. Nitrogen fertilization increased forage yield of BRS tamani grass, with no effect on root production. Plants submitted to more intense cuts (5 cm) presented greater dry matter production of the aerial part.