Plantation distances and fertilization levels on the production of vegetative seed of Pennisetum purpureum cv. Cuba CT-115 by the plowing method

Resumen

The effect of the plantation distance and the chemical fertilization levels on the vegetative seed production and quality of Cuba CT-169 pasture, sown by the plowing method, was studied in a split plot design with five replicates. The principal plots were the plantation by the plowing method at 90 and 180 cm between furrows. The subplots corresponded to the application of 0 and 500 kg/ha of the formula 8-6-10 in the first cut. The height (289.25 cm), the length of the internodes (12.75 cm), and the number of buds/stem were higher in the plowing method at 180 cm, with fertilization. However, the differences were not significant in the second cut (October 2006). The yield of green biomass (148.269) in the first cut was obtained in the plowing method at 90 cm, with fertilization. In this cut, the yield of stems (123.7 t/ha) and their capacity of multiplication (20.6) was higher (P < 0.001) with the plantation by the plowing method, with fertilization. In the second cut, the yield of vegetative stems (45.7 t/ha) and the capacity of multiplication (7.6) were obtained with the plowing method at 180 cm, not being affected by the fertilization. The cost of plantation of the CT-169 was 127.66 pesos/ha lower with the plowing method at 180 cm. It was concluded that for the vegetative seed production the pasture Cuba CT-169 should be planted at 180 cm and be fertilized with 500 kg/ha of complete formula because it is the best technical and economic alternative. It should not be discarded the possibility of using the first cut as seed in areas with plantation at 90 cm and fertilization.
Key words: Cuba CT-169 pasture, vegetative seed, costs.