Effect of nitrogen fertilization on productivity and quality of 
Mombasa forage (Megathyrsus maximum cv. Mombasa)

Carolina  Munari Escarela; Marizane  Pietroski; Renato  de Mello Prado; Cid Naudi  Silva Campos; Gustavo  Caione

Effect of nitrogen fertilization on productivity and quality of Mombasa forage (Megathyrsus maximum cv. Mombasa)

Autores

Carolina Munari Escarela

Marizane Pietroski

Renato de Mello Prado

Cid Naudi Silva Campos

Gustavo Caione

Editor

Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Descripción

Mombasa grass is very demanding and responsive to soil fertility. The objective of the present study was to evaluate forage prod uction and the correlation among crude protein and the green color index of leaves of Megathyrsus maximum cultivar Mombasa in function of nitrogen levels. The study was conducted using 5 dm -3 pots in a greenhouse at the Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, São Paulo. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with five treatments and four replications. Treatments were nitrogen rates (0, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg dm -3 of N), corresponding to 0, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 kg ha -1 of N. We evaluated the production of grass dry matter, the green color index, the accumulation of nitrogen and crude protein content in the shoot. Nitrogen fertilization increased forage production, crude protein, nitrogen accumulation and green color index of Mombasa grass. There is high correlation of the green color index with the crude protein content.