Forage production of Panicum maximum cultivars under different growing seasons and seed types

Abstract

The species Panicum maximum is major forage grown worldwide and is highly valued for its ability to dry matter yield and forage quality. The present work was development of the experimental unit of the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Unit Aquidauana University, aiming to evaluate the forage yield of cultivars of P. maximumunder different growing seasons and types of seed. The types of seeds used were conventional seeds and encrusted seeds, cultivars of P. maximum were Mombaça, Tanzânia and Massai, and sowing dates were summer and autumn, respectively. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in a 2x3 factorial design with four replications. The variables analyzed were: mass fresh green shoots (MVPA) and dry mass (MSPA) with cutoff at 60 days after sowing. The seed type had no effect on forage production in the three cultivars evaluated. Cultivars Mombaça and Massai obtained higher values of MSPA, than the cultivar Tanzânia. The sowing during summer allowed higher forage production to the cultivars of P. maximum in the region of Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.