Método de plantio e supressão hídrica sobre o desenvolvimento e a produção de biomassa do capim-elefante brs capiaçu

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance of seedlings of the elephant grass cultivar BRS Capiaçu propagated by three planting methods: pre-sprouted seedlings, conventional (horizontal) and vertical (layering) and two water conditions (full irrigation and water restriction during the growth phase). At 82 days after planting, plant height, stem diameter, number of tillers, chlorophyll index, transpiration, stomatal conductance, and photosynthesis were evaluated. At 120 days after planting, the production of leaf, stem, and total dry biomass, as well as the leaf/stem ratio, were determined. Plants propagated by the pre-sprouted seedlings method showed higher tillering rates and smaller stem diameters compared to the conventional and vertical methods. Chlorophyll index, transpiration rates, stomatal conductance, and photosynthesis were higher in plants under full irrigation conditions than in those under water restriction for all planting methods. The results demonstrated that leaf, stem, and total dry biomass production were higher in the treatment under full irrigation than in the treatment under water restriction. The leaf-to-stem ratio of plants propagated by the conventional method was higher in the treatment under full irrigation than in the treatment under water restriction. Conversely, the leaf-to-stem ratio observed in the vertical propagation method was higher in the treatment under water restriction than in the treatment under full irrigation.