Gramíneas do gênero Cynodon manejadas sob alturas de corte

Abstract

Brazil plays an important role in the global milk and beef market. Much of this production is conducted on pastures, including grasses of the genus Cynodon. These pastures are widely used in tropical and subtropical regions and stand out in terms of dry matter production and forage quality. The present work evaluated four Cynodon cultivars established in Western Paraná, managed under two cutting heights, throughout the 2023 agricultural year. For the evaluations, an area of approximately 150 m² was used. Four grass cultivars of the Cynodon genus were used (Jiggs, Tifton 68, Tifton 85 and Florakirk), established in 3 x 3m plots, under a randomized block design with three replications. For the study, the 9 m2 plots were divided into two subplots (4.5 m2), the first managed at a cutting height of 20 cm and the other at a cutting height of 40 cm. The mass of forage produced was quantified, as well as the structural composition of the pasture, in the autumn and winter seasons of the 2023 agricultural year for each cutting height. In autumn, the cutting height did not impact the forage production of the Cynodon cultivars, the Tifton 68 cultivar has the largest mass of leaf blades, while Jiggs has the smallest. In winter, Tifton 68 has the highest total dry mass, while Tifton 85 has the lowest dry mass of culms+sheath at 20 cm of cut. Furthermore, Tifton 68 to 20 cm has a higher dry mass of leaf blades, and both cultivars (Tifton 85 and Tifton 68) have a lower amount of dead material, regardless of the cutting height.