The objective of this study was evaluate the leaf appearance, extension and senescence rates in ‘Napier’ elephant grass after uniformized graze. The study consisted of two experiments, for the evaluate the effect of four manuring treatments (T1: 100 kg of N and 80 kg of K, T2: 200 kg of N and 160 kg of K, T3: 300 kg of N and 240 kg of K and T4: 400 kg of N and 320 kg of K), on the an irrigated and no irrigated area , in a randomized block desing, with three replicates. The plants of the irrigated area reached a larger number of green leaves (5 leaves) in a smaller growth interval (51.5 days) that the plants not irrigated (4.3 leaves in 68 days). The average leaf appearance rates were 0.14 and 0.07 leaf/day for the basal and aerial tillers, respectively. Linear and positive answer was observed among degrees-day (DD) accumulation and the index of Haun, being considered phyllochron of 84.0 and 150.8 DD for the basal and aerial tillers, respectively, in the irrigated area. For the area not irrigated the values were of 105.4 DD to the basal tillers and 173.3 DD for the aerial tillers. The leaf extension rate in the basal tillers varied with the manuring; his largest value was of 11.6 cm/day regarding the combination of 200 kg/ha of N and 160 kg/ha of K. The plants of irrigated area shown a larger leaf extension rate (11.58 cm/day) in relation to that of the area not irrigated (7.99 cm/day). The irrigation resulted in larger leaf senencence in both types of tillers.
leaf appearance rate; leaf extension rate; leaf senescence rate; phyllochron
