Integrated crop-livestock systems are an alternative to the traditional model of land use, which seeks to promote the technical, ecological and socio-economic viability of the area used. The aim was to evaluate the morphogenetic and structural responses of two established cultivars of Urochloa brizantha at two times of the year, using conventional and integrated crop-livestock systems. The experimental design was of randomised blocks in a 2 x 3 x 2 triple factorial scheme consisting of two forage plants (Marandu and Piata), three management systems (conventional and intercropped with corn and sorghum) and two seasons (summer and autumn), with four replications. Morphogenetic and structural characteristics were evaluated. The integration of tropical forage grasses with grain crops resulted in no negative impacts on the morphostructural characteristics of the cultivars of Urochloa brizantha; the seasons of the year promoting major changes, such as a reduction of 33.8% in the lifespan of leaves in the summer. However, in that season there was an increase of 39.3 and 30.9% in the rate of leaf emergence and elongation respectively. It can be seen that an integrated agricultural system is efficient in creating pasture, and that Marandu grass and Piata are alternatives to this type of system.
Leaf elongation; Cereals; Morphological composition; Vegetable Consortium; Crop-livestock integration
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