Métodos de introduçao de leguminosas em pastagens degradadas de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu

The effect of introducing the legume Desmodium ovalifolium on the rehabilitation of degraded pastures of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu was evaluated on a dystrophic Yellow Latosol of clayey texture (pH = 4.8, P = 1 mg/dm3, Al = 1.4 cmol/dm3, Ca + Mg = 2.2 cmol/dm3, K = 0.04 cmol/dm3, and OM = 30.2 g/kg) in Porto Velho (RO, Brazil). Five methods of introduction were used: surface cleaning of vegetation, plowing, harrowing, and a combination of these two with manual planting and application of phosphorus (P) at a dose of 50 kg P2O5/ha. The introduction of the legume, regardless of P application, is a perfectly viable practice for recovering pastures under these study conditions. However, the application of P increased pasture DM yields significantly. The planting of the legume by manual cleaning of original vegetation and the application of P produced best results in terms of biomass production and grass/legume ratio in pastures of B. brizantha cv. Marandu. spa