Growth Analysis of Chloris elata

ABSTRACT: In Brazil, in agricultural areas where there is no establishment of cover crops in the off season, as well as in citrus orchards in the state of São Paulo, an increase in the infestation of Chloris elata has been observed. This is a perennial species, propagated by seeds and short rhizomes, erect and slightly caespitose. With the objective of evaluating the growth and development of plants from two accessions of C. elata, a greenhouse experiment was conducted. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 2 (accessions of C. elata) x 15 (evaluation periods) factorial arrangement, with four replications. Fifteen destructive evaluations were performed 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84, 91, 98, 112 and 126 days after sowing (DAS) both accessions of C. elata (Itaberaí from Goiás and Matão from São Paulo State). At each evaluation, four plants (replications) were randomly sampled and the height of the main culm, the number of tillers and inflorescences (flower+seed) per plant, the leaf area and dry matter of leaves, culms, roots, inflorescences and total (leaves+culms+roots+ inflorescences) were analyzed. The two accessions showed a slow initial development and growth (up to 63 DAS), mainly in root growth; however, the development of new tillers increased rapidly in the initial phase. During the first 63 DAS, the percentage distribution of dry matter was higher in the foliage, followed by culms and roots. In the final evaluation, the relation was culms followed by leaves, roots and inflorescences. Plants of Matão formed denser clumps, with culms of greater mass, while those from the Itaberaí showed higher height and greater foliage.