Resumen

DAVILA, Ciro; CASTRO, Fernando  y  URBANO, Diannelis. Grazing pressure and NPK fertilization on the kikuyo-forage peanut association in Merida state. Pasture production. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2004, vol.22, n.2, pp.15-166. ISSN 0798-7269.

A grazing field trail was carried out in "Las Mesas" farm (1.950 masl), Jají, Mérida state, with the purpose of selecting the best grazing pressure and fertilization of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels on the pasture production of the kikuyu-forage peanut association. A complete randomized block design with three replications in a split-plot arrangement was used. Main plots (0.6 ha) were grazing pressures (HGP: 800, and LGP: 1.600 kg residual MS), and as subplots the combinations of fertilizer: nitrogen (0 and 200 kg N/ha), phosphorus (0, 150, and 300 kg P₂0₅/ha), and potassium (0 and 200 kg K₂0/ha). Offered and residual pasture were estimated with an equation for this association (Y = -422,66 + 225,11X, were X = disk height, with r² = 0.904). The experimental period was 280 days. Grazing pressure did not show significant differences for the estimated variables. For blocks in flat areas pastures, more forage was consumed (12.629,6 kg DM/ha) than on the inclined ones (5.848,3 kg DM/ha). Nitrogen affected offered pasture with 314,9 kg DM/ha per grazing, and for almost all forage consumed the increments were positive with an efficiency of 9,03 kg DM consumed/kg N applied. For the residual DM, there were not significant differences. Maximum N influence was obtained when this element was applied during the raining season. The effects of phosphorus and potassium were not significant for the association, but it was a positive tendency on the offered and consumed pasture in almost all the treatments.

Palabras clave : Pennisetum clandestinum; Arachis pintoii; Association; Pennisetum clandestinum; Arachis pintoii; grazing pressure; NPK fertilization; dry matter yield.