Recovery of degraded “Brachiaria decumbens” pasture with the introduction of Stylosanthes and phosphorus fertilization

SUMMARY This work aimed at evaluating the possibility of recovery of a degradedBrachiaria decumbens pasture with the introduction ofStylosanthes legumes and phosphorus fertilization. The experiment consisted of different input methods in a randomized complete block design with split plots (fertilized with and without phosphorus), with four repetitions and composed by the following treatments: control Brachiaria decumbens; partial drying with 1.5L ha-1 glyphosate; total drying with 3.0L ha-1 glyphosate; tillage; scarifying the soil; rome harrowing and plowing more harrowing. In the rome harrowing and plowing more harrowing treatments , the legume sowing was made by throwing, and the others by direct seeding. Six cuts were made to separate the morphological components of fodder and botanical composition. The highest total dry mass accumulation was found for partial drying with 1.5 L ha-1 glyphosate, rome harrowing, plowing more harrowing and total drying with 3.0 L ha-1 glyphosate in relation to tillage and control groups. The chemical composition was better in the springtime, CP and ADF showed significant differences between all treatments (P<0.05). The phosphate fertilizer took effect to ADF in the spring and fall seasons. The introduction of legumes through harrowing and plowing more harrowing, promoted the highest productivity in the total biomass and the partial and total drying increased the legume participation. The phosphorus fertilization only showed positive results in productivity and legume participation during the summer season.