Soil management and planting spacing effects on establishment of mixed swards of purple stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis cv. BRS Lua) and forage peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte) in an area of degraded Brachiaria brizantha

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of soil management and planting spacing on establishment performance of mixed swards of purple stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis cv. BRS Lua) and forage peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte). The treatments comprised two methods of soil management (conventional tillage, with desiccation followed by harrowing; and no-tillage, with sequential desiccation with glyphosate) and two planting spacing (50 and 100 cm between rows). The experimental design was in randomized blocks, arranged in split-plot. Both methods of soil management ensured rapid pasture establishment, with canopy cover greater than 94 % at 84 d after planting, with the no-tillage surpassing the conventional tillage, and at a cost of no-tillage 7 % lower. Reducing planting spacing from 100 cm to 50 cm accelerated canopy cover and reduced weed incidence. The initial contribution of forage peanut in the botanical composition was relatively small, declining by 3.8 % on average at 36 d after planting to less than 1.2 % at 84 d. No-tillage was as efficient in establishing mixed swards as conventional tillage.

Keywords

• arachis pintoi
• cynodon nlemfuensis
• no-tillage
• stolon planting
• pasture renovation