Intermittent stocking strategies for the management of Marandu palisade grass in the Brazilian Cerrado biome

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of pre- and post-grazing targets on the forage accumulation and canopy characteristics of Marandu palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha [Hochst. ex A. Rich.] Stapf. syn. Urochloa brizantha) to define grazing management strategies in Brazil's Cerrado biome. The experimental design comprised a randomized complete block with four replicates in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: two grazing frequencies (95% of light interception (LI95%) and maximum (LIMax) light interception of the forage canopy) and two grazing intensities (10 and 15 cm of post-grazing canopy height). Pastures were sampled to quantify forage mass and morphological components at pre- and post-grazing. The tillers population density and forage nutritive value were estimated at pre-grazing. Pastures managed with the LI95% target demonstrated greater basal (1,341 versus 1,193 tillers/m²) and aerial tillers (101 versus 53 tillers/m²) population densities, a greater leaf:stem ratio (3.8 versus 2.0), and a lower canopy height (33 versus 55 cm), forage mass (3,225 versus 4,320 kg/ha), stem proportion (30.6% versus 44.5%), and leaf (2.5% versus 2.8%) and stem (3.4% versus 3.8%) acid detergent lignin content than those managed with the LIMax target. In the Cerrado, Marandu palisade grass must be grazed when the canopy height reaches 33 cm. Furthermore, animals must be removed from the paddocks when the canopy height reaches 15 cm.