Spatial variability of the horizontal structure and production of biomass in Massai grass in an agropastoral system

Abstract

In Brazil, 60% to 80% of cultivated pastures show some degradation level. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the variability of the horizontal structure and biomass of Massai grass in an agropastoral system as a diagnosis of degraded pasture. We performed the georeferencing in a 12m × 13m mesh, totaling 48 sampling stations, and evaluated grass's biomass and structural characteristics at each station. We submitted the data to descriptive statistics and geostatistical analysis. We observed a process of degradation of pasture in the experimental area. Under these conditions, most of the characteristics of the pasture's horizontal structure and the production of biomass showed spatial dependence with high variability. Geostatistics efficiently represented and understood the variability of the studied attributes, enabling developing a specific pasture recovery management plan.