Productivity and nutritional value of Brachiaria brizontha cv. Marandu in a silvopostoral system

The experiment was carried out in a Silvopastoral system (Sps) located in Brazilian Savannah, Lagoa Santa county, Minas Gerais State, during the agricultural year of 2004-2005. It was studied the influence of Sps formed by Bolso de Pastor (Zeyheria tuberculosa) on the production, morphogenic attributes, bromatological composition and nutritional value of the graminaceous Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu as well as on the microclimatic aspects. The Sps was established in 1982, in a red-yellow latossol by the natural regeneration process. The experiment was based on a randomized block design, with 5 blocks (cutting times), 2 treatments (T1 - B. brizantha cv. Marandu shaded by Z. tuberculosa and T2 - B. brizantha cv. Marandu at open sky and three repetitions (plots). Although the DM production of the graminaceous in the Sps with Z. tuberculosa has reduced the level of crude protein (CP) has increased and the production of CP per ha and the Sps NDF concentration have remained unchanged. However, the levels of ADF were higher in the shaded area, which probably resulted in lower in vitro DM and organic matter degradability, but similar effective DM degradability.