Effects of Fertilization and Legume Introduction on the Forage Production of Brachiaria decumbens Pastures

Effects of Fertilization and Legume Introduction on the Forage Production of Brachiaria decumbens Pastures

A grazing experiment was conducted to examine the effects of P and K fertilization and legume introduction on the forage production of Brachiaria decumbens (BD) pastures. Amount of biomass, dry matter production and forage quality were evaluated on BD pastures where three treatments were applied: without maintenance fertilizer (BD-N), with maintenance fertilizer (BD-F), and BD and Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirao (SG) mixture with maintenance fertilizer (BD-FL). The fertilizer application increased an annual average of biomass and the contents of P and K in the leaves. On the other hand, the legume introduction had a positive influence on crude protein and digestibility, and the effect was obvious in the rainy season. The introduction of legume also increased litter decomposition constants, although the difference in the constants among the treatments was not significant.