The study aimed to evaluate the soil cover and plant height of six grasses under different seasons and irrigation depths. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with two replications, in a split-split plot design. Six grasses (Xaraes, Mombaça, Tanzania, Pioneiro, Marandu and Estrela) constituted the plots, six irrigation depths (0, 18, 45, 77, 100 and 120% of the reference) the split-plots, and two seasons (autumn/winter and spring/summer) the split-split-plots. In order to vary the application of irrigation depths, a line source sprinkler system was used. The effect of the cultivars, annual seasons and irrigation depth in the two studied characteristics were analyzed. The Pioneiro grass presented the greatest height, while Estrela provided the largest soil cover. The higher temperature in the spring/summer season provided an increase in the height and did not affect soil cover. The soil cover answered positively to the increase in irrigation depth. During the autumn/winter season, the increase in irrigation depth provided an increase in height, and during the spring/summer season, and did not affect or reduce the height of the grasses.
line source sprinkler system; soil conservation; B. brizantha; P. maximum; P. purpureum; C. nlemfuensis
