Tiller dynamics of ryegrass managed under two stocking rates

Sheila Cristina  Bosco Stivanin; Marta  Gomes da Rocha; Luciana  Potter; Viviane  da Silva Hampel; Marcos  Bernardino Alves; Paulo  Roberto Salvador

Tiller dynamics of ryegrass managed under two stocking rates

Autores

Sheila Cristina Bosco Stivanin

Marta Gomes da Rocha

Luciana Potter

Viviane da Silva Hampel

Marcos Bernardino Alves

Paulo Roberto Salvador

Editor

Universidade Estadual de Maringá

Descripción

This study investigated the tiller dynamics of Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam) under low and high stocking rates. These rates were determined by heifers exclusively on pasture or grazing and supplemented with oats and corn grain. The experimental design was completely randomized with repeated measurements over time, with two stocki ng rates, three and six rep lications of area for low and high stocking rates, respectively. The appearance rate (1.0 tillers tiller -1 m -2 ), survival rate (0.8 tillers tiller -1 m -2 ), population stability index (1.6) and site occupation (0.3) were similar for high and low stocking rates. The tiller density was similar for different stocki ng rates. The first generati on of tillers was 56% of the tiller population at end of the ryegrass cycle. The increase by 22.5% in the st ocking rate derived from the use of supplements for grazing heifers did not alter the tiller dynamics of ryegrass.