An experiment was carried out with the objective to evaluate growth pattern of tropical forage grass under free growth by using morphogenetic and structural characteristics with the expectation of using this study for forage grass evaluation protocol. The experimental area was established with two cultivars of Panicum maximum Jacq. (Mombaca and Aruana), a hybrid cultivar of P. maximum Jacq. and P. Infestum BRA-7102 (Massai), two cultivars of Brachiaria brizantha (A. Rich.) Stapf (Marandu and Xaraes) and Molasses grass (Melinis minutiflora Beauv.) and jaragua grass (Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf.). The grasses were planted in 1.0-m² experimental units with 24 plants arranged in a completely randomized block design with three replications. Growth pattern of the grasses was evaluated through mass development, tiller mortality, development stage and leaf longevity. Development patterns differed significantly among groups of grasses, indicating that the same available resources can be used in different manners by grasses from the same genus and/or species.
ecophysiology; grass evaluation; morphogenesis; multivariate analysis
