ORGANIC FERTILIZER: EFFECT ON YIELD AND QUALITATIVE TRAITS OF BRACHIARIA BRIZANTHA CV. MARANDU AFTER THE THIRD HARVEST

Resumo

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of a commercial organic fertilizer on the structural, productive, and qualitative characteristics of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu after three consecutive harvests. The experiment was conducted under controlled condition in a greenhouse. A randomized-block design with four treatments, four blocks, and two replications per block was adopted. The following treatments were assessed: T1 – no application of organic fertilizer (Control); T2 – one application of organic fertilizer; T3 – two applications of organic fertilizer; and T4 – three applications of organic fertilizer. The highest number of tillers and leaves was observed in the plants that received two and three applications. Likewise, the shoots fresh and dry masses were statistically higher in the treatments that received more organic fertilizer applications, than the control treatment. As regards the forage quality, the highest percentage of dry matter was observed in control treatment, whereas the lowest result was found in plants that received three applications of the organic fertilizer. This treatment also achieved the highest percentage of fiber and crude protein, as compared with the other treatments. The use of organic fertilizer increased the forage yield and the crude fiber and crude protein rates of the Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu