Root biomass and organic reserves of coastcross intercropping or not with “Arachis pintoi”, with or without nitrogen, under grazing

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the non-structural carbohydrates and root biomass in pastures of Coastcross + Arachis pintoi; Coastcross + Arachis pintoi with 100kg/ha of nitrogen (N); Coastcross + Arachis pintoi with 200kg/ha of N; and Coastcross with 200kg/ha of N, in the seasons of winter, spring, summer and autumn. In the experimental was used a complete randomized block design with subdivided parcels, with two repetitions (blocks) was used. The use of nitrogen fertilization (100kg/ha) associated to the Arachis pintoi provided the highest content of non-structural carbohydrates (0,3942g/hg) in the roots and greater root biomass (0,4483kg/m3). The content of non-structural carbohydrates and the root biomass were higher in the summer and autumn. The concentration of 63%, 24 % and 13% of the root biomass occurred in the layer of 0 - 15; 15 - 30 and 30 - 45cm of the ground, however, it did not have difference in the root biomass between the treatments with or without intercropping, in the studied depths. The concentrations of the non-structural carbohydrates were similar in the different depths of the root.