Stem Population and Tissue Replacement of <i>Urochloa</i> in Different Phenological Stages

Abstract

The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the Urochloa Insurgent, Piata and Signal grasses by varying the phenology in the attributes: stem population dynamics, tissue replacement, leaf:stem relation and weight per stem. The data were analyzed using a completely randomized block design with arrangement in divided plots and four replications, the procedure used was PROC GLM from SAS. The Signal grass presented higher stem density with an average of 450 m ?2 stems, while the meadow with Insurgent grass registered the lowest stem density throughout the investigation, with an average of 320 m -2 stems; furthermore, in this treatment, the stem density tended to increase slowly over time (P = 0.05). The Insurgente and signal grasses showed rapid leaf elongation from day 21 of regrowth with 123 and 104 cm stem ?1 , while in Piata the accelerated leaf elongation was on day 14 with 113 cm stem ?1 where it remained active its growth until day 56 (P > 0.05). As the regrowth age was increasing, the population dynamics of stems and weight per stem were increasing; in Insurgent and signal the leaf elongation and net growth increased to a maximum point to start declining; however, in Piata grass was increasing without decreasing. The trend of the leaf:stem relation was decreasing as the test progressed and senescence increased from day 21 of regrowth.