Botanical and chemical composition of Coastcross intercropped or not with “Arachis pintoi”, with and without nitrogen

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the botanical and chemical composition of pasture Coastcross + Arachis pintoi; Coastcross + Arachis pintoi with 100kg/ha of nitrogen (N); Coastcross + Arachis pintoi with 200kg/ha N, and Coastcross with 200kg/ha N, in the of winter, spring, summer and fall. The experimental design was randomized blocks with treatments in a split-plot with two replications (blocks). We evaluated the percentage of green leaf, stem green, dead material and Arachis pintoi as well as the ratio leaf / stem (RL: S), in addition to crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and in vitro digestibility dry matter. The use of 200kg/ha N gave the highest percentages of leaf green (32%) and stem + sheath green (58%), but with a reduction in the percentage of dead material (10%). In the autumn and summer there were higher percentages of leaf and reduced dead material. In the spring there was a higher percentage of legume in the forage mass. Nitrogen fertilization exclusively or associated with Arachis pintoi increased in vitro digestibility of dry matter and crude protein content and reduced content of Coastcross neutral detergent fiber. The association between legume nitrogen and favorable climatic conditions, provides improved botanical composition and nutritive value of pasture intercropping.