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Tillering dynamics and population stability of three tropical forage grasses cultivated as pure or mixed stands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2025

Larissa Fernanda Garcia-Carvalho Open the ORCID record for Larissa Fernanda Garcia-Carvalho [Opens in a new window] ,
Guilhermo Fracklin Congio ,
Gislaine Cristina Barro ,
Alex Marciano Silva ,
Emanoella Sariava Otaviano ,
Caio Macret Gomes ,
Alexandre Fameli Mamana ,
André Fischer Sbrissia ,
Paulo Gonçalves Duchini  and
Rodrigo Amorim Barbosa
...Show all authors
Larissa Fernanda Garcia-Carvalho
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
Guilhermo Fracklin Congio
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
Gislaine Cristina Barro
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
Alex Marciano Silva
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
Emanoella Sariava Otaviano
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
Caio Macret Gomes
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
Alexandre Fameli Mamana
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
André Fischer Sbrissia
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production and Food Science, Santa Catarina State University, Lages, SC, Brazil
Paulo Gonçalves Duchini
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production and Food Science, Santa Catarina State University, Lages, SC, Brazil
Rodrigo Amorim Barbosa
Affiliation:
Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Beef Cattle, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
Carlos Tadeu dos Santos Dias
Affiliation:
Department of Math, Chemistry and Statistics, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
Sila Da Silva*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
*
Corresponding author: Sila Da Silva; Email: siladasilva@usp.br
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Abstract

Studies on tillering dynamics are essential to understand the aspects underlying the persistence and adaptation pathways of grass communities, especially in more complex multispecific pastures. This study aimed to assess the tillering dynamics and population stability of Andropogon gayanus cv. Planaltina (PG), Megathyrsus maximus cv. Massai (MG) and Urochloa brizantha cv. BRS Piatã (PP) grown as monocultures and as a mixture. The treatments corresponded to three grasses described above. Sixteen 180 m2 plots were randomly assigned and managed intermittently under manual harvest at pre- and post-harvest heights of 35 and 17.5 cm, respectively, for two years. During autumn/winter/early spring, when resource availability is limited by abiotic factors, pasture population stability was ensured by the conservation strategy of all species, mainly through the high tiller survival rate (85.5 ± 0.32). In late spring and summer, the capture strategy was prioritized for all species, with stability ensured through high tiller appearance rates (30.3 ± 0.80 and 40.4 ± 1.47, respectively), which compensated for the high tiller death rate (28.7 ± 1.10) and resulted in greater species turnover during these both seasons. The association among PG, MG and PP in a mixture allows species to coexist with relatively stable populations and tillering dynamics, similar to their monocultures. These findings represent a step forward in our understanding of mixed swards stability and indicate that such associations could be viable alternatives to palisadegrass monocultures in tropical regions. Further research should test this mixed sward under grazing, during medium to long-term.

Keywords

Massai guineagrassmultispecific swardspasture stabilitypersistence pathwaysPlanaltina gambagrass Piatã palisadegrasswarm-season grasses

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Type
Crops and Soils Research Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , First View , pp. 1 - 10
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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