Resposta de urochloa mosambicensis aos intervalos de corte

Abstract

Grasses are plants traditionally used in animal feed, with a view to livestock production. Pasture production is cyclical, alternating periods of high availability and quality (in the growing phase during the wet period of the year) with a continuous drop in production (in the maturation phase during the dry season). Livestock activity in Mozambique, and more particularly in the south of the country, presents good conditions for the practice of this activity. However, seasonality and the cyclical regime of pasture production can limit this practice, as producers and/or cattle breeders lack resources for the production of hay and silage to correct this cyclical regime of pastures. Soil conservation against erosive agents has also been one of the concerns of livestock farmers. On the other hand, soil compaction and loss of fertility is seen by many as a consequence of intensive grazing. Several studies have shown that cutting intensity has an effect on forage yield and quality, but studies on the matter are not common in Mozambique. The present work is the result of a study on the effect of the cutting interval of a natural grass of Urochloa mosambicensis, in order to verify the influence on forage yield and quality. For this purpose, a trial was set up at the Estação Zootécnica de Chobela, Magude District, Maputo Province in southern Mozambique, approximately 150 km from Maputo City. The design used was a randomized complete block (DBCC), with four treatments replicated four times, being (D2s, D4s, D6s and D8s), cuts every 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 in 8 weeks respectively