Types and rates of lime and the agronomic characteristics of Tobiatã grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) as a function of application methods

Abstract

Agronomic characteristics of pastures depend on soil quality. This work studies the effects of types and rates of limestone, with or without incorporation, on the physiological aspects (botanic composition and tillering) and productivity of a degraded Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tobiatã) pasture, on an Hapludox. Samples stem from four consecutive cuttings during the 1995/96 summer and one cutting from the winter of 1996. Types and rates of limestone had no effect on dry matter yield; however, incorporation into the soil with harrow was effective. The soil cover increased in summer cuttings, and decreased in the winter, but the highest value was observed for the 4º cutting in the beginning of the summer, while the uncovered soil area presented an opposite behavior, without changes for weeds plants. Tiller evaluation did not present response to liming, but for incorporation with harrow, being consistent with yield data of productivity.