Correlations among structural characteristics and nutritional value of tillers on deferred and nitrogen-fertilized signalgrass pastures

Abstract

Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk tillers were sampled on deferred and nitrogen-fertilized pastures (0, 40, 80 and 120kg/ha of N), in order to evaluate correlations among its structural characteristics, morphological composition and nutritional value. Randomized block design with three repetitions was used. It was not observed correlation between the number of tillers and weight. However, positive correlations among the tiller weights, stem length, dead leaf number, and percentage of 0green stem were found; p- negative correlation was found for the number of green leaf and percentage green leaf. Correlations among the number of tillers, crude protein, potentially digestible neutral detergent fiber and potentially digestible dry matter were positive; correlations between neutral detergent fiber and indigestible neutral detergent fiber were negative. On the other hand, the tiller weights showed positive correlation with the neutral detergent fiber and indigestible neutral detergent fiber rates and negative association with the potentially digestible dry matter. The number of green leaf showed positive correlations with crude protein, potentially digestible neutral detergent fiber and potentially digestible dry matter; negative correlations were found for the neutral detergent fiber and indigestible neutral detergent fiber. Morphological composition of tillers and nutritional value of Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk were determined by its structural characteristics. On deferred Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk pastures, it happened compensation between the tiller size and nutritional value.