EVALUATION OF FERTILIZATION IN AGRONOMIC MORPHO RESPONSES OF Cenchrus purpureus VARIETIES AT DIFFERENT AGES OF REGROWTH

Abstract

Background: It was noted in 2012 that the Cenchrus genus absorbed the Pennisetum genus, within which grass varieties that accumulate a large amount of standing dry matter (DM) are currently included, which is favored by the rainfall regime and assistance with fertilizers. Objective: To evaluate the effect of different fertilization variants (NPK, ferti-forage and without fertilization (control)) on the agronomic morpho response in varieties of Cenchrus purpureus (King grass verde, Elefante, Morado, Maralfalfa and Cuba CT-115) in different regrowth ages (45 and 60 days) in the conditions of the Santo Domingo Canton, Ecuador. Methodology: A study was carried out in a randomized block design with factorial arrangement, and its interaction (5x3x2) with five replicates. Yield of green biomass (t YG ha-1), total dry matter, leaves and stems (t DM ha-1) and morphological variables were considered. Results: The interaction of the second degree affected (P≤0.001) the performance of YG in favor of the Maralfalfa variety at 60 days of regrowth with the application of complete formula (83.60 t YG ha-1), also this variety in this same age and fertilizer, provided the highest (P≤0.001) values in the total DM and stem yield (20.90 and 11.71 t DM ha-1, respectively), the highest (P≤0.001) dry leaf yield was provided by the Cuba CT-115 at 60 days with application of ferti-forage (9.49 t DM ha-1). Implications: The use of fertility provides greater accumulation of DM at the leaf level, where, under the conditions in which the study was carried out, it was the CT-115 that showed the best response to this alternative. All the varieties showed at the age of 60 days the greater accumulation of DM. Conclusion: The varieties Maralfalfa, Morado and CT-115 stood out in the productive response and morphology during growth under the combination of the factors of interest in this investigation.