Correlações entre as características produtivas e nutricionais do capim-BRS capiaçu manejado na região semiárida

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlations between the productive and nutritional characteristics of BRS capiaçu grass (Pennisetum purpureumSchum) managed at different heights in the semiarid region of Northern Minas Gerais. Five cutting heights (1.03, 1.93, 3.43, 4.50 and 4.98 meters) following a completely randomized design with ten replications were evaluated. The means dry matter production (DMP) of BRS -Capiaçu grass in the summer period was 24.14 t/ha with 3.65 meters in height. There was a positive correlation between plant height and DMP (r = 0.8499; P <0.01), PMS and dry matter content (DM; r = 0.9373; P <0.01), DMP and neutral detergent fiber content (NDF; r = 0.6245; P <0.01) of BRS capiaçu grass with the increase in cutting height. DMP was negatively correlated with crude protein content (r = -0.7007; P <0.01), ash (r = -0.7216; P <0.01) and dry matter digestibility (r = -0.7598; P <0.01). In the semiarid region of the North of Minas, it is recommended to cut the BRS capiaçu grass at a height of 1.93 meters for daily forage cutting and from 3.43 to 4.50 meters for silage.