MORPHOLOGICAL, PRODUCTIVE, AND NUTRITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DUNAMIS GRASS UNDER TECHNOLOGICAL FERTILIZATION LEVELS

Resumo

Nutrient availability directly affects forage growth, productivity, and quality. This study evaluated the morphological, productive, and nutritional characteristics of Dunamis grass- a hybrid Brachiaria- cv.) under technological fertilization levels. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Federal University of Piaui, Bom Jesus, Brazil, under a completely randomized design with 16 treatments (combinations of manure, limestone, NPK, and micronutrients) and 4 replicates, over four cuts across one year. Biometric traits (plant height, leaf and tiller number, fresh and dry biomass of leaf, stem and root, and senescent material) and nutrient content (Ca, Mg, K, P, Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe) were assessed and compared by ANOVA and the Scott-Knott test (p<0.05). The combination of manure, limestone, NPK, and micronutrients provided the highest productivity, especially in the first two cuts, while successive cuts reduced yield due to continuous nutrient extraction without replenishment. Complete fertilization combinations consistently outperformed isolated nutrient sources, confirming the synergistic role of organic and mineral fertilization in sustaining Dunamis grass productivity.