Pasture diversification through selection of new Panicum maximum cultivars in Brazil.
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Cattle rearing in Brazil depends almost exclusively on pastures, of which, 35 °/o consist of cultivated introduced species. Guineagrass, Panicun maximum Jacq. is the main introduced forage grass species in cattle finishing, because of its ease of propagation, fast establishment after sowing and rapid and abundant growth of high quality forage during the rainy season. About 10 cultivars are commercialized in the country, the most important being « Colonião » : a tall. tufted perennial plant (up to 3.5 m) with erect stems and long leaves (up to l.0 m). It presents management problems however; when allowed to grow excessively, leaf/stem ratio decreases reducing quality, and stems are rejected by cattle. Excessive extraction of nutrients from the soil to permit this growth, and little or no regrowth in the dry season result in pasture degradation after a few years.
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Capim Colonião, Melhoramento Vegetal, Panicum Maximum, Pastagem, Seleção, Cultivars, Pastures