The experiment was conducted to establish management strategies of grazing under continuous stocking that optimize the natural pattern of tillering of Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk. Two strategies of grazing management were studied: in one, the grass was maintained with 25-cm mean height throughout the experimental period, and in the other, 15-cm mean height during the winter, rising to 25 cm from beginning of spring. The split-plot in randomized block design with four replications was adopted. The strategies of grazing management corresponded to primary factor, characterized by average heights of pastures during the seasons of the year (winter, spring and summer). The seasons corresponded to secondary factor and consisted of measures over experimental period. The rates of tillers appearance (4.7%), death (4.7%) and stability index (0.998) were lower in winter. During this season, however, the tiller survival rate was higher (95.3%). Compared with pastures maintained at 25 cm, those managed with 15 cm in winter had higher tiller appearance rate (34.2%) and stability index (1.065). The signalgrass flowering occurred only in the summer and with low intensity (0.5%). Optimization for renewal of tillers in B. decumbens cv. Basilisk pasture under continuous stocking occurs with its decrease to 15 cm at the beginning of winter and subsequent increase to 25 cm in early spring.
Brachiaria decumbens; grazing management; sward height; tiller appearance; tiller mortality
