Dry matter production of Tanzania grass as a function of agrometeorological variables

The objective of this work was to develop and validate linear regression models to estimate the production of dry matter by Tanzania grass (Megathyrsus maximus, cultivar Tanzania) as a function of agrometeorological variables. For this purpose, data on the growth of this forage grass from 2000 to 2005, under dry‑field conditions in São Carlos, SP, Brazil, were correlated to the following climatic parameters: minimum and mean temperatures, degree‑days, and potential and actual evapotranspiration. Simple linear regressions were performed between agrometeorological variables (independent) and the dry matter accumulation rate (dependent). The estimates were validated with independent data obtained in São Carlos and Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. The best statistical results in the development and validation of the models were obtained with the agrometeorological parameters that consider thermal and water availability effects together, such as actual evapotranspiration, accumulation of degree‑days corrected by water availability, and the climatic growth index, based on average temperature, solar radiation, and water availability. These variables can be used in simulations and models to predict the production of Tanzania grass

Eficiência biológica e econômica de pasto de capim-tanzânia adubado com nitrogênio no final do verão Biological and economic efficiency of Panicum maximum fertilized with nitrogen in the end of summer

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o ganho de peso vivo, a capacidade de suporte e a eficiência bioeconômica em pastos de Panicum maximum, cultivar Tanzânia, com aplicação de uma segunda dose de adubação nitrogenada no final do verão. Anualmente foram aplicados em cobertura: 50, 17,48, e 33,2 kg ha-1 de N, P e K, respectivamente, em novembro. A metade da área recebeu 50 kg ha-1 de N adicional em março. Os tratamentos foram pastos de capim-tanzânia com 50 e 100 kg ha-1 de N. Os piquetes foram submetidos ao pastejo rotacionado. Foram utilizados quatro animais por piquete, e animais adicionais foram colocados e removidos para manter resíduos semelhantes pós-pastejo. Não houve efeito da adubação nitrogenada sobre o ganho médio diário. No entanto, o pasto adubado com 100 kg ha-1 de N (1,8 UA ha-1) resultou em maior capacidade de suporte e maior produtividade (780 kg ha-1 por ano de PV) do que o adubado com 50 kg ha-1 de N (1,5 UA ha-1) e com 690 kg ha-1 por ano de PV, em média. A eficiência da conversão do N em produto animal foi de 1,8 kg de PV por hectare para cada quilograma adicional de N aplicado. O uso da adubação nitrogenada no final do verão é uma alternativa bioeconomicamente viável para a produção sustentável de carne.<br>The objective of the work was to estimate animal live weight gain, the pasture carrying capacity, and the bioeconomic efficiency of Panicum maximum, cultivar Tanzânia pastures, with a second application of nitrogen fertilizer in the end of summer (March). Maintenance fertilizer was 50, 17.5 and 33.2 kg ha-1 of N, P and K, respectively, applied annually in November. Besides, in half of the area, an additional 50 kg ha-1 of N was applied in March. Treatments were tanzânia pastures with two levels of nitrogen fertilization, 50 and 100 kg ha-1. The paddocks were submitted to a rotational grazing. Four steers were kept in each paddock, and additional steers were allocated and removed to assure similar postgrazing residues. There was no effect of N fertlization on average daily gain. However, the pasture fertilized with 100 kg ha-1 de N (1,8 UA ha-1) resulted in greater carrying capacity and productivity (780 kg ha-1 of liveweight per year) than that observed in the one fertilized with 50 kg ha-1 de N (1,5 UA ha-1) and productivity of 690 kg ha-1 per year of liveweight, on average. The efficiency of N conversion into animal product was 1.8 kg LW ha-1 for each additional kilogram of N applied. Additional N fertilization in March, is a bioeconomically viable alternative for producing sustainable beef