The biomass flow of Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania under intermittent stocking with four concentrate supplementation levels, with three grazing periods and 21 rest periods was evaluated. A split plot design, with supplementation level (0.0, 0.6, 1.2 and 1.8% of live weight) and grazing cycles as sub-parcels, with three replicates (paddocks) by treatment was used. There was no effect between supplementation levels and grazing cycles on the leaves 1 and 2 TAlF ratio, averaging 0.69. There was a square effect of the supplementation level on the leaf elongation rate, estimating 5.04, 4.95 (estimated minimum point) and 5.70 cm/tiller × day to the levels of 0.0, 0.46 and 1.8% LW, respectively. No effect of the supplementation levels on the culm elongation rate and culm height was observed. The supplementation levels and grazing cycles did not affect the senescence rate of leaves remaining after grazing, of the new emerged leaves, the total senescence rate. No effect of the supplementation levels and grazing cycles on the phylochron was observed. There was no effect of the supplementation levels and grazing cycles on the herbage growth and herbage accumulation rates. A residual leaf area index of 2.00 and 2.72 was estimated for supplementation levels of 0.0 and 1.8% LW. No effects of the supplementation levels on the tiller population density were observed. In relation to the cycles, cycle 4 was higher than cycle 2 and similar to the others. The biomass flows of tanzania grass are little affected by the supplementation levels.
culm elongation rate; leaf area index; leaf elongation rate; leaf senescence rate; Panicum maximum; tiller population density
