Water deficit is the most constraining factor on crop yield, reducing both plant photosynthesis and growth. Because of the economical importance of tropical grasses, which also are affected by water shortage, the objective of this study was to test the effects of phosphorus supply (24, 50, 100 and 150 mg P dm-3) in Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG-5 Vitória plants cultivated under water deficit. Plants were evaluated taking into account leaf gas exchanges and crop yield parameters. The study was carried out under greenhouse conditions, and the water deficit was imposed by irrigation withholding until the first sign of leaf wilting in 50-days-old plants. A control treatment was maintained, with plants under daily irrigation and the same P concentrations. Phosphorus supplying caused positive effects on plant growth parameters, mainly in leaf area and new shoot formation. Water deficit reduced stomatal conduction and net CO2 assimilation in all treatments. However, a significant improvement was observed in gas exchange recovering after re-hydration in the plants with additional P supplying, which could support faster growth improvements after a dry season.
Brachiaria brizantha; growth; phosphorus; water deficit; leaf gas exchange
