Abstract

MUNARI-ESCARELA, Carolina et al. Effect of nitrogen fertilization on productivity and quality of Mombasa forage (Megathyrsus maximum cv. Mombasa). Acta Agron. [online]. 2017, vol.66, n.1, pp.42-48. ISSN 0120-2812.  https://doi.org/10.15446/acag.v66n1.53420.

Mombasa grass is very demanding and responsive to soil fertility. The objective of the present study was to evaluate forage production and the correlation among crude protein and the green color index of leaves of Megathyrsus maximum cultivar Mombasa in function of nitrogen levels. The study was conducted using 5 dm-3 pots in a greenhouse at the Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, São Paulo. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with five treatments and four replications. Treatments were nitrogen rates (0, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg dm-3 of N), corresponding to 0, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 kg ha-1 of N. We evaluated the production of grass dry matter, the green color index, the accumulation of nitrogen and crude protein content in the shoot. Nitrogen fertilization increased forage production, crude protein, nitrogen accumulation and green color index of Mombasa grass. There is high correlation of the green color index with the crude protein content.

Keywords : Chlorophyll; forage; plant nutrition; protein; urea.

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