Sward structure and relationship between canopy height and light interception for tropical C4 grasses growing under trees
Tiago Celso Baldissera A B F , Laíse da Silveira Pontes C , André Faé Giostri B , Raquel Santiago Barro D , Sebastião Brasil Campos Lustosa E , Aníbal de Moraes A and Paulo César de Faccio Carvalho D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Epagri—Company of Agricultural Research and Rural Extension of Santa Catarina, Estação Experimental de Lages, Rua João José Godinho s/n, Bairro Morro do Posto, CEP 88502-970, Lages, SC, Brazil.
B UFPR—Federal University of Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários 1540, Juvevê, CEP 80035-050, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
C Estação Fazenda Modelo, IAPAR—Agronomic Institute of Paraná, Avenida Euzébio de Queirós s/n, Caixa Postal 129, Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil.
D Faculty of Agronomy, UFRGS—Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves 7712, CEP 91501-970, Caixa Postal 776, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
E UNICENTRO—State University of Midwest, Rua Simeão Varela de Sá 03, Vila Carli, CEP 85040-080, Guarapuava, PR, Brazil.
F Corresponding author. Email: tiagobaldissera@epagri.sc.gov.br
Crop and Pasture Science 67(11) 1199-1207 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP16067
Submitted: 26 February 2016 Accepted: 6 September 2016 Published: 13 October 2016
Abstract
The canopy height (CH) at 95% light interception (LI) is a valuable defoliation frequency strategy used to handle variability in herbage accumulation throughout the year, mainly in C4 grasses. Such a strategy has been adopted as an open pasture management index, but defoliation frequency and intensity remain unsolved issues for shade-grown forages. A field experiment was conducted for 2 years to determine the influence of tree canopy (Eucalyptus dunnii) shading and nitrogen availability (0 and 300 kg N ha–1 year–1) on CH at 95% LI of six perennial tropical forage species. The plots were cut at 95% LI, and the height of the residual sward was kept at 50% of the corresponding CH at 95% LI. The shade level ranged from ~40% at the beginning of the experiment to ~60% at the end of summer 2013. Variations in CH at 95% LI occurred because of shading and across seasons. The range of these variations was species-dependent. Overall, species growing under trees showed higher CH, except for Paspalum notatum and Megathyrsus maximus in the first year. There was a significant increase in the length of the sheaths and leaves, as well as a decrease in tiller density and leaf : stem ratio in plants growing under trees. Nitrogen also had an impact on CH; however, its application did not compensate the shade effect on CH. Therefore, our results suggest that greater CH should be considered in case of defoliated, shade-grown plants and that such strategy might change throughout seasons.
Additional keywords: environmental preservation, forage species, integrated crop–livestock systems, plant competition, shade avoidance syndrome.
References
Alexandrino E, Nascimento D, Mosquim PR, Regazzi AJ, Rocha FC (2005) Características morfogênicas e estruturais da Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu submetida a diferentes doses de nitrogênio e freqüências de cortes. Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy 27, 17–24.| Características morfogênicas e estruturais da Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu submetida a diferentes doses de nitrogênio e freqüências de cortes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Aphalo P (1999) Plant–plant signalling, the shade-avoidance response and competition. Journal of Experimental Botany 50, 1629–1634.
| Plant–plant signalling, the shade-avoidance response and competition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXntlyhu74%3D&md5=03010cf09640bf71961228104b142749CAS |
Ballaré CL, Casal JJ (2000) Light signals perceived by crop and weed plants. Field Crops Research 67, 149–160.
| Light signals perceived by crop and weed plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ballaré CL, Sánchez RA, Scopel AL, Casal JJ, Ghersa CM (1987) Early detection of neighbour plants by phytochrome perception of spectral changes in reflected sunlight. Plant, Cell & Environment 10, 551–557.
Ballaré CL, Scopel AL, Sanchez RA (1997) Foraging for light: photosensory ecology and agricultural implications. Plant, Cell & Environment 20, 820–825.
| Foraging for light: photosensory ecology and agricultural implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beaudet M, Harvey BD, Messier C, Coates KD, Poulin J, Kneeshaw DD, Brais S, Bergeron Y (2011) Managing understory light conditions in boreal mixedwoods through variation in the intensity and spatial pattern of harvest: a modelling approach. Forest Ecology and Management 261, 84–94.
| Managing understory light conditions in boreal mixedwoods through variation in the intensity and spatial pattern of harvest: a modelling approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Belesky DP, Burner DM, Ruckle JM (2011) Tiller production in cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) growing along a light gradient. Grass and Forage Science 66, 370–380.
| Tiller production in cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) growing along a light gradient.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carnevalli RA, Da Silva SC, Oliveira AA, Uebele MC, Bueno FO, Hodgson J, Silva GV, Moraes JP (2006) Herbage production and grazing losses in Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça pastures under four grazing managements. Tropical Grasslands 40, 165–176.
Carvalho PCF (2013) Harry Stobbs Memorial Lecture: Can grazing behaviour support innovations in grassland management? Tropical Grasslands 1, 137–155.
| Harry Stobbs Memorial Lecture: Can grazing behaviour support innovations in grassland management?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carvalho PCF, Moraes A, Pontes LS, Anghinoni I, Sulc RM, Batello C (2014) Definitions and terminologies for integrated crop–livestock system. Revista Ciência Agronômica 45, 1040–1046.
| Definitions and terminologies for integrated crop–livestock system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Casal JJ (2000) Phytochromes, cryptochromes, phototropin: photoreceptor interactions in plants. Photochemistry and Photobiology 71, 1–11.
| Phytochromes, cryptochromes, phototropin: photoreceptor interactions in plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXltFChtA%3D%3D&md5=0cd213bec3d61445db252a0efa39f791CAS | 10649883PubMed |
Crestani S (2015) Respostas morfogênicas e dinâmica da população de perfilhos e touceiras em Brachiaria brizantha cv Piatã submetida a regimes de sombra em área de integração lavoura-pecuária-floresta. PhD Thesis, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Da Silveira MCT, Nascimento Júnior D, Da Cunha BAL, Difante GS, Pena KS, Da Silva SC, Sbrissia AF (2010) Effect of cutting interval and cutting height on morphogenesis and forage accumulation of guinea grass (Panicum maximum). Tropical Grasslands 44, 103–108.
da Trindade JK, da Silva S, de Souza S, Giacomini AA, Zeferino CV, Guarda VD, Carvalho PCF (2007) Composição morfológica da forragem consumida por bovinos de corte durante o rebaixamento do capim-marandu submetido a estratégias de pastejo rotativo. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira 42, 883–890.
| Composição morfológica da forragem consumida por bovinos de corte durante o rebaixamento do capim-marandu submetido a estratégias de pastejo rotativo.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dale JE (1988) The control of leaf expansion. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology 39, 267–295.
| The control of leaf expansion.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dong M, Pierdominici G (1995) Morphology and growth of stolons and rhizomes in three clonal grasses, as affected by different light supply. Vegetatio 116, 25–32.
Duru M, Ducrocq H (2000) Growth and senescence of the successive leaves on a cocksfoot tiller. Effect of nitrogen and cutting regime. Annals of Botany 85, 645–653.
| Growth and senescence of the successive leaves on a cocksfoot tiller. Effect of nitrogen and cutting regime.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fagundes JL, Silva SC, Pedreira CGS, Sbrissia AF, Carnevalli RA, Carvalho CAB, Pinto LFM (1999) Índice de área foliar, interceptação luminosa e acúmulo de forragem em pastagens de Cynodon spp. sob diferentes intensidades de pastejo. Scientia Agrícola 56, 1141–1150.
| Índice de área foliar, interceptação luminosa e acúmulo de forragem em pastagens de Cynodon spp. sob diferentes intensidades de pastejo.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
FAO (2010) Sete Lagoas consensus. In ‘An international consultation on integrated crop–livestock systems for development’. pp. 1–3. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Rome)
Fernández ME, Gyenge JE, Schlichter TM (2004) Shade acclimation in the forage grass Festuca pallescens: biomass allocation and foliage orientation. Agroforestry Systems 60, 159–166.
| Shade acclimation in the forage grass Festuca pallescens: biomass allocation and foliage orientation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Garcez Neto AF, Garcia R, Moot DJ, Gobbi KF (2010) Aclimatação morfológica de forrageiras temperadas a padrões e níveis de sombreamento. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia 39, 42–50.
| Aclimatação morfológica de forrageiras temperadas a padrões e níveis de sombreamento.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gastal F, Nelson C (1994) Nitrogen use within the growing leaf blade of tall fescue. Plant Physiology 105, 191–197.
Gastal F, Belanger G, Lemaire G (1992) A model of the leaf extension rate of tall fescue in response to nitrogen and temperature. Annals of Botany 70, 437–442.
Gobbi KF, Garcia R, Garcez Neto AF, Pereira OG, Ventrella MC, Rocha GC (2009) Morphological and structural characteristics and productivity of Brachiaria grass and forage peanut submitted to shading. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia 38, 1645–1654.
Hammer GL, Kropff MJ, Sinclair TR, Porter JR (2002) Future contributions of crop modelling—from heuristics and supporting decision making to understanding genetic regulation and aiding crop improvement. European Journal of Agronomy 18, 15–31.
| Future contributions of crop modelling—from heuristics and supporting decision making to understanding genetic regulation and aiding crop improvement.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
IUSS Working Group WRB (2015) ‘World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014, update 2015. International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps.’ World Soil Resources Reports No. 106. (FAO: Rome)
Kebrom TH, Brutnell TP (2007) The molecular analysis of the shade avoidance syndrome in the grasses has begun. Focus 58, 3079–3089.
Laca EA, Lemaire G (2000) Measuring sward structure. In ‘Field and laboratory methods for grassland and animal production research’. (Eds L ’t Mannetje, RM Jones) pp. 103–122. (CAB International: Wallingford, UK)
Lajús CR, Scheffer-Basso SM, Miranda M, Denardin RBN, Valls JFM (2011) Morphophysiological characterization of giant missionary grass accessions. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia 40, 2302–2307.
Lemaire G, Chapman D (1996) Tissue flows in grazed plant communities. In ‘The ecology and management of grazing systems’. (Eds J Hodgson, AW Illius) pp. 3–36. (CAB International: Wallingford, UK)
Lemaire G, van Oosterom E, Sheehy J, Jeuffroy MH, Massignam A, Rossato L (2007) Is crop N demand more closely related to dry matter accumulation or leaf area expansion during vegetative growth? Field Crops Research 100, 91–106.
| Is crop N demand more closely related to dry matter accumulation or leaf area expansion during vegetative growth?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lemaire G, Franzluebbers AJ, Carvalho PCF, Dedieu B (2014) Integrated crop–livestock systems: Strategies to achieve synergy between agricultural production and environmental quality. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 190, 4–8.
| Integrated crop–livestock systems: Strategies to achieve synergy between agricultural production and environmental quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lin CH, Mcgraw RL, George MF, Garrett HE (2001) Nutritive quality and morphological development under partial shade of some forage species with agroforestry potential. Agroforestry Systems 53, 269–281.
| Nutritive quality and morphological development under partial shade of some forage species with agroforestry potential.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Malézieux E, Crozat Y, Duparz C, Laurans M, Makowski D, Valantin-Morison M (2009) Species in cropping systems : concepts, tools and models. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 29, 43–62.
| Species in cropping systems : concepts, tools and models. A review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Medinilla-Salinas L, Vargas-Mendoza MDLC, López-Ortiz S, Ávila-Reséndiz C, Campbell WB, Gutiérrez-Castorena MDC (2013) Growth, productivity and quality of Megathyrsus maximus under cover from Gliricidia sepium. Agroforestry Systems 87, 891–899.
| Growth, productivity and quality of Megathyrsus maximus under cover from Gliricidia sepium.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mesquita P, Silva SC, Paiva AJ, Caminha FO, Pereira ET, Guarda VD, Nascimento D (2010) Structural characteristics of marandu palisadegrass swards subjected to continuous stocking and contrasting rhythms of growth. Scientia Agrícola 67, 23–30.
| Structural characteristics of marandu palisadegrass swards subjected to continuous stocking and contrasting rhythms of growth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moraes A, Carvalho PCF, Lustosa SBC, Lang CR, Deiss L (2014) Research on integrated crop–livestock systems in Brazil. Revista Ciências Agronômica 45, 1024–1031.
| Research on integrated crop–livestock systems in Brazil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
O’Mara FP (2012) The role of grasslands in food security and climate change. Annals of Botany 110, 1263–1270.
| The role of grasslands in food security and climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC38bptlClsQ%3D%3D&md5=40ecf1a28e09f57674f4345c7533a3d8CAS | 23002270PubMed |
Paciullo DSC, Campos NR, Gomide CAM, Castro CRT, Tavela RC, Rossiello ROP (2008) Crescimento de capim-braquiária influenciado pelo grau de sombreamento e pela estação do ano. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira 43, 917–923.
| Crescimento de capim-braquiária influenciado pelo grau de sombreamento e pela estação do ano.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Paiva AJ, Silva SC, Pereira LET, Guarda VD, Pereira PM, Caminha FO (2012) Structural characteristics of tiller age categories of continuously stocked marandu palisade grass swards fertilized with nitrogen. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia 41, 24–29.
| Structural characteristics of tiller age categories of continuously stocked marandu palisade grass swards fertilized with nitrogen.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Peri PL, Moot DJ, Jarvis P, McNeil D, Lucas R (2007a) Morphological, anatomical, and physiological changes of orchardgrass leaves growth under fluctuating light regimes. Agronomy Journal 99, 1502–1513.
| Morphological, anatomical, and physiological changes of orchardgrass leaves growth under fluctuating light regimes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Peri PL, Lucas RJ, Moot D (2007b) Dry matter production, morphology and nutritive value of Dactylis glomerata growing under different light regimes. Agroforestry Systems 70, 63–79.
| Dry matter production, morphology and nutritive value of Dactylis glomerata growing under different light regimes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sanderson MA, Archer D, Hendrickson J, Kronberg S, Liebig M, Nichols K, Schmer M, Tanaka D, Aguilar J (2013) Diversification and ecosystem services for conservation agriculture: Outcomes from pasture and integrated crop–livestock systems. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 28, 129–144.
| Diversification and ecosystem services for conservation agriculture: Outcomes from pasture and integrated crop–livestock systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smith H, Whitelam GC (1997) The shade avoidance syndrome : multiple responses mediated by multiple phytochromes. Plant, Cell & Environment 20, 840–844.
| The shade avoidance syndrome : multiple responses mediated by multiple phytochromes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Soares AB, Sartor LR, Adami PF, Varella AC, Fonseca L, Mezzalira J (2009) Influência da luminosidade no comportamento de onze espécies forrageiras perenes de verão. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia 38, 443–451.
| Influência da luminosidade no comportamento de onze espécies forrageiras perenes de verão.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stamm P, Kumar PP (2010) The phytohormone signal network regulating elongation growth during shade avoidance. Access 61, 2889–2903.
Valladares F, Niinemets Ü (2008) Shade tolerance, a key plant feature of complex nature and consequences. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 39, 237–257.
| Shade tolerance, a key plant feature of complex nature and consequences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Varella C, Moot DJ, Pollock KM, Peri PL, Lucas RJ (2011) Do light and alfalfa responses to cloth and slatted shade represent those measured under an agroforestry system? Agroforestry Systems 81, 157–173.
| Do light and alfalfa responses to cloth and slatted shade represent those measured under an agroforestry system?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wherley BG, Gardner DS, Metzger JD (2005) Tall fescue photomorphogenesis as influenced by changes in the spectral composition and light intensity. Crop Science 45, 562–568.
| Tall fescue photomorphogenesis as influenced by changes in the spectral composition and light intensity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zanini GD, Santos GT, Sbrissia AF (2012) Frequencies and intensities of defoliation in Aruana Guineagrass swards : accumulation and morphological composition of forage. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia 41, 905–913.
| Frequencies and intensities of defoliation in Aruana Guineagrass swards : accumulation and morphological composition of forage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zhu J, Vos J, van der Werf W, van der Putten PEL, Evers JB (2014) Early competition shapes maize whole-plant development in mixed stands. Journal of Experimental Botany 65, 641–653.
| Early competition shapes maize whole-plant development in mixed stands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXhs1Chs7o%3D&md5=972c2af448586b805e998c4942649889CAS | 24307719PubMed |
