Correo Electrónico
DNINFOA - SIA
Bibliotecas
Convocatorias
Identidad U.N.
Published
Fertilization and defoliation drive the structure and productivity of Kikuyu grass Cenchrus clandestinus (Hochst. ex Chiov.) Morrone
La fertilización y la defoliación determinan la estructura y la productividad del pasto Kikuyo Cenchrus clandestinus (Hochst. ex Chiov.) Morrone
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15446/rfnam.v79.116927Keywords:
Nitrogen fertilization, Residual height, Stoloniferous, Tiller density (en)Fertilizaci´´on nitrogenada, Altura residual, Estolonífero, Densidad de macollos (es)
Downloads
Forage management practices, such as defoliation intensity and fertilization, have the potential to modify forage structure and productivity, thereby enhancing the sustainability of forage-based systems. This study examined how defoliation intensity (residual height, RH) and fertilization affect the growth and structure of Kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus) in the Colombian highlands. The experiment design was a split-plot with three blocks. Residual height (6 or 12 cm) was the main plot, fertilization level (control, medium, and high) was the subplot, and time was a continuous factor (accumulated days of the test). Kikuyu grass plots were defoliated at a five-leaf stage for 14 months. The following variables were measured: interval between defoliation (IBD), leaf length (LL), the number of dead leaves (NDL), undisturbed plant height (UPH), tiller density (TD), quantity (QST) and length (LST) of secondary tillers, daily growth rate (DGR), leaf area index (LAI), and plant composition (leaves, stems, and dead material). Fertilization reduced TD, QST, dead material and leafiness when Kikuyu grass was cut at 6 cm but not 12 cm. Plants required a longer regrowth period (+8 d) to reach five leaves, had fewer NDL (-0.2) and shorter LL (-1.5 cm), but grew faster (+19%) and had more stems and a lower (-46%) leaf-stem ratio when cutting at 6 cm compared to 12 cm. Fertilization reduced defoliation interval (-2.4 days) and increased UPH (+4.7 cm) and DGR (+13 kg DM per day). In conclusion, defoliation of Kikuyu grass at 12 cm, combined with nitrogen applications (274 and 462 kg N ha-1 per year), produces leafy plants and reduces defoliation intervals.
El manejo de los pastos como son, la intensidad de la defoliación y la fertilización tienen el potencial para modificar la estructura, la productividad y la sostenibilidad de los pastos. Este estudio examinó cómo la intensidad de la defoliación (altura residual, AR) y la fertilización modifican el crecimiento y la estructura del Cenchrus clandestinus (pasto Kikuyo) en el trópico alto colombiano. El experimento utilizó un diseño de parcelas divididas con tres bloques. La altura residual de defoliación (6 o 12 cm) fue la parcela principal, el nivel de fertilización (control, medio y alto) fue la subparcela y el tiempo fue un factor continuo (días acumulados del ensayo). Las parcelas de Kikuyo fueron defoliadas en el estado de cinco hojas durante 14 meses. Se midió el intervalo de defoliación (ID), la longitud de las hojas (LH), el número de hojas muertas (NHM), la altura de la planta (AP), la densidad de los macollos (DM), la cantidad y longitud de los macollos secundarios (CMS) (LMS), y la tasa de crecimiento diario (TDC), índice de área foliar (IAF) y la composición vegetal (hojas, tallos y material muerto). La fertilización redujo la DM y la CMS, el material muerto y la frondosidad cuando el Kikuyu se cortó a 6 cm, pero no a 12 cm. Las plantas cortadas a 6 cm tardaron más (+8 días) en alcanzar cinco hojas, tuvieron menos NHM (-0,2) y LH más cortos (-1,5 cm), pero crecieron más rápido (+19%) y tuvieron más tallos y una menor relación hoja-tallo (-46%), con respecto a las cortadas a 12 cm. La fertilización redujo el intervalo de defoliación (-2,4 días), aumentó la AP (+4,7 cm) y mejoró la TDC (+13 kg MS por día). En conclusión, la intensidad de la defoliación y la fertilización a lo largo del tiempo generan cambios en variables estructurales como DM, CMS, acumulación de tallos y proporción de hojas de las pasturas de Kikuyo.
References
Acero-Camelo A, Pabón ML, Fischer G and Carulla JE (2020) Optimum harvest time for Kikuyu Grass (Cenchrus clandestinus) according to the number of leaves per tiller and nitrogen fertilization. Revista Facultad Nacional de Agronomía Medellín 73(3):9243-9253. https://doi.org/10.15446/rfnam.v73n3.82257
Arango-Gaviria J, Echeverry-Zuluaga J and López-Herrera A (2019) Diversity Kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus): A review. Respuestas 24(2):81-88. https://doi.org/10.22463/0122820X.1834
Balocchi O, Niklitschek M and Loaiza P (2021) Dinámica de crecimiento y calidad nutritiva de una pradera de Lolium perenne L. sometida a dos frecuencias de defoliación y dosis crecientes de nitrógeno. Agro Sur 49(2):7-20. https://doi.org/10.4206/agrosur.2021.v49n2-02
Benvenutti MA, Barber DG, Mayer DG et al (2019) Comparison between a laser sensor and mechanical tools to estimate pasture mass in strata of Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) pastures. Animal Feed Science and Technology 249: 31-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2019.01.013
Cardoso Sanchês SS, Rodrigues RC, Alves de Araújo R et al (2020) Morphogenetic and structural characteristics of gamba grass subjected to nitrogen fertilization and different defoliation intensities. Bioscience Journal 36(5):1676-1686. https://doi.org/10.14393/BJ-v36n5a2020-47944
Carulla E and Ortega E (2016) Sistemas de producción lechera en Colombia: retos y oportunidades. Archivos Latinoamericanos de Producción Animal 24(2):83-87.
Correa HJ, Escalante LF and Jaimes LJ (2018) Efecto de la época del año y la altura remanente posterior al pastoreo sobre el crecimiento y calidad nutricional del pasto Kikuyo (Cenchrus clandestinus) en el norte de Antioquia. Livestock Research for Rural Development 30(6). http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd30/6/hjcor30097.html
Cruz P and Boval M (2000) Effect of nitrogen on some morphogenetic traits of temperate and tropical perennial forage grasses. pp. 151-168. In: Lemaire G, Hodgson J, Mraes A, Nabinger C and Carvalho PCF. (eds.). Grassland ecophysiology and grazing ecology. Cabi Wallingford, London, UK. 436 p.
Delevatti LM, Cardoso AS, Barbero RP et al (2019) Effect of nitrogen Application rate on yield, forage quality, and animal performance in a tropical pasture. Scientific reports 9(1): 7596. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44138-x
Fathi A (2022) Role of nitrogen (N) in plant growth, photosynthesis pigments, and N use efficiency: A review. Agrisost 28:1-8. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7143588
Ferri CM, Sáenz AM and Jouve VV (2015) Términos de uso frecuente en producción y utilización de pasturas. Semiárida Revista Facultad Agronomía UNLPam 25(1): 41-61. https://www.produccion-animal.com.ar/glosarios/02-pasturas.pdf
Gastal F and Lemaire G (2015) Defoliation, shoot plasticity, sward structure and herbage utilisation in pasture: Review of the underlying ecophysiological processes. Agriculture 5(4):1146-1171. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture5041146
Marín Gómez A, Laca EA, Baldissera TC et al (2022) Determining the pre-grazing sward height of Kikuyu Grass (Cenchrus clandestinus - Hochst. Ex Chiov.) for optimizing nutrient intake rate of dairy heifers. PLoS ONE 17(7):e0269716. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269716
Martins CDM, Schmitt D, Duchini PG, Miqueloto T and Sbrissia AF (2020) Defoliation intensity and leaf area index recovery in defoliated swards: implications for forage accumulation. Scientia Agricola 78(2). http://doi.org/10.1590/1678-992X-2019-0095
Mayel S, Jarrah M and Kuka K (2021) How does grassland management affect physical and biochemical properties of temperate grassland soils? A review study. Grass and Forage Science 76(2):215-244. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12512
Miqueloto T, Bernardon A, Winter FL and Fischer Sbrissia A (2020) Population Dynamics in mixed canopies composed of Kikuyu-grass and Tall Fescue. Agronomy 10(5): 684. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050684
Molina MRE (2018) Altura de defoliación y recuperación de la pastura de kikuyo (Cenchrus clandestinus) en la provincia de Ubaté (Tesis de Maestría). Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Bogotá, Colombia. 72 p.
Paiva HS, Sousa SVD, Conceição ECDAD et al (2023) Recommended fertilization and timing of nitrogen fertilization influences the morphogenesis, structural characteristics, and production efficiency on Mombaça grass. Acta Scientiarum. Animal Sciences 45:e60704. https://doi.org/10.4025/actascianimsci.v45i1.60704
Pereira LET, Paiva AJ, Geremia EV and Silva SC (2014) Components of herbage accumulation in elephant grass cvar Napier subjected to strategies of intermittent stocking management. Journal of Agricultural Science 152(6):954-966. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859613000695
Pereira LET, Herling VR, Avanzi JC and Silva SC (2018) Morphogenetic and structural characteristics of signal grass in response to liming and defoliation severity. Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical 48(1):1-11. https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-40632018v4849212
Pezo D and García FJ (2018) Uso Eficiente de Fertilizantes en Pasturas. Boletín técnico No. 98. 1a ed. CATIE, Turrialba Costa Rica. 56p.
SAS (2017) Institute Inc. Online Doc 9.4. SAS Institute Inc., NC, USA.
Sbrissia AF, Euclides V, Barbosa RA et al (2013) Grazing management flexibility in pastures subjected to rotational stocking management: herbage production and chemical composition of Kikuyu grass swards. In: Proceedings of the 22nd International Grassland Congress. The Ecology of Grassland and Forage Ecosystems 22(1):1038-1040. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/22/2-1/2
Sbrissia AF, Duchini PG, Zanini GD, Santos GT, Padilha DA and Schmitt D (2018) Defoliation strategies in pastures submitted to intermittent stocking method: Underlying mechanisms buffering Forage accumulation over a range of grazing heights. Crop Science 58:945-954. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2017.07.0447
Schmitt D, Padilha DA, Medeiros-Neto C et al (2019) Herbage intake by catlte in kikuyugrass pastures under intermittent stocking method. Revista Ciȇncia Agronȏmica 50(3):493-501. https://doi.org/10.5935/1806-6690.20190058
Sousa CCC, Montagner DB, de Araújo AR et al (2021) La interfaz suelo-planta en Megathyrsus maximus cv. Mombasa sometida a diferentes dosis de nitrógeno en pastoreo rotacional. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Pecuarias 12(4):1098-1116. https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v12i4.5904
UPRA - Unidad de Planificación Rural Agropecuaria (2019) Noticias: Por primera vez en Colombia se identifican las áreas aptas para el cultivo de pastos. Zona UPRA, No. 8. https://www.agronet.gov.co/Noticias/Paginas/Por-primera-vez-en-Colombia-se-identifican-las-%C3%A1reas-aptas-para-el-cultivo-de-pastos.aspx
Vargas J, Sierra A, Mancipe E and Avellaneda Y (2018) El Kikuyo, una gramínea presente en los sistemas de rumiantes en trópico alto colombiano. Revista CES Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia 13(2):137-156. https://doi.org/10.21615/cesmvz.13.2.4
Viljoen C, van der Colf J and Swanepoel PA (2020) Benefits are limited with high Nitrogen fertiliser rates in Kikuyu-Ryegrass Pasture Systems. Land 9(6):173-. https://doi.org/10.3390/land9060173
How to Cite
APA
ACM
ACS
ABNT
Chicago
Harvard
IEEE
MLA
Turabian
Vancouver
Download Citation
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Revista Facultad Nacional de Agronomía Medellín
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The journal allows the author(s) to maintain the exploitation rights (copyright) of their articles without restrictions. The author(s) accept the distribution of their articles on the web and in paper support (25 copies per issue) under open access at local, regional, and international levels. The full paper will be included and disseminated through the Portal of Journals and Institutional Repository of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and in all the specialized databases that the journal considers pertinent for its indexation, to provide visibility and positioning to the article. All articles must comply with Colombian and international legislation, related to copyright.
Author Commitments
The author(s) undertake to assign the rights of printing and reprinting of the material published to the journal Revista Facultad Nacional de Agronomía Medellín. Any quotation of the articles published in the journal should be made given the respective credits to the journal and its content. In case content duplication of the journal or its partial or total publication in another language, there must be written permission of the Director.
Content Responsibility
The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and the journal are not necessarily responsible or in solidarity with the concepts issued in the published articles, whose responsibility will be entirely the author or the authors.
