The objective of this trial was to evaluate morphogenic response of Lolium multiflorum Lam. and Paspalum urvillei Steud., under levels of nitrogen fertilization (100, 200 and 300 kg/ha of N). Steers grazing this pasture received different energy levels supplementation (0.0, 0.4 and 0.8% of live weight [LW]), respectively, for the fertilization levels. A completely randomized design was used, where 90 tillers were evaluated by treatment (45 of each specie by replicate). Marked tillers were used to evaluate elongation, appearance and defoliation rates and the phyllochron of leaf laminas of the species. Supplementation provided a substitutive effect for L. multiflorum, with lower defoliation rates in the 300 kg/ha of N + 0.8% LW treatment. For P. urvillei, the defoliation rate was higher, independently of its contribution in forage mass. The higher elongation rates of L. multiflorum was observed with 300 kg/ha of N, motivates the application of higher dosis in the earlier stages. In the first period, it was observed the higher leaf appearance rate for the 100 kg/ha of N treatment, with 12.5 days for the appearance of a new leaf. In the second one, the rates was similar and, in the third one, 200 kg/ha of N treatment presented the higher rate, being necessary 14.1 days, in average, for a new leaf to rise. As the end of the growing season is reached, the appearance rate was shortened. Nitrogen fertilization didn't affected phyllochron of both species. The elongation rate of P. urvillei in 300 kg/ha of N treatment was higher than the lower level of N in all periods. The leaf appearance rate of P. urvillei was of 0.07 leaves/day. The average interval for a new leaf to appear was of 14.1 days, being affected by the accumulated thermal total amount.
marked tillers; phyllochron; leaf elongation rate; leaf appearance rate; defoliation rate
