The effect of topdressed N on the dry matter production of no-till oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) planted onto native pasture, without desiccation with herbicides, in soil classified as Dark-Red Latosol (Haplorthox), was studied in three experiments. Experiment 1 was carried out in 1994 to evaluate the effect of rates of nitrogen (0, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 kg ha-1 ), split into three applications (1/3, 30 days after emergence of plants-DAE, 1/3 after the first cutting, and 1/3 after the second cutting), on the dry matter production of oat. Experiment 2 was carried out in 1996 with the objective of determining the effect of time of N application on the production of dry matter of oat. Experiment 3 was carried out in 1996 to evaluate the effect of N applied 27 DAE, and after the first and second cuttings, with rates of 0, 40, 80, and 160 kg ha-1. The treatments applied after the first cutting received 40 kg ha-1 of N at 27 DAE and those applied after the second cutting received 40 kg ha-1 of N at 27 DAE + 40 kg ha-1 of N after the first cutting. In all cases the experimental design was completely randomized blocks, with four replications. The results showed considerable N limitation for the introduction of oat under no-till into native pasture, economically supporting its application at levels exceeding the recommended amounts when this forage is grown under conventional tillage system. Splitting the rate of N before the first cutting did not increase the efficiency of fertilization for the production of oat forage, under no-till onto native pasture. Residual effect of topdressed N was observed, especially on dry matter production of the second cutting after N application.
Avena strigosa; native pasture improvement