The experiment was carried out in Cáceres, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, aiming to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N) on forage production and chemical composition of Tifton 85 bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.). A randomized complete block design was used, with five treatments (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 kg ha-1) and four replications in 4.0 x 5.0 m plots. Four cuts were made at intervals of 30 days, at the height of 5 cm above ground level. N was applied after each cut, in the form of urea. For each kg ha-1 of N applied, we observed increases of 22.67 kg ha-1 in the production of total dry mass, 11.37 kg ha-1 in the production of green leaf blade, 0.052 cm in sward height, and 0.00955 dag kg-1 in crude protein content, and a reduction of 0.0142 dag kg-1 in NDF content. There was an increase in the extraction of N at a rate of 0.537 kg kg-1 of N, and sharp decline in the efficiency of N utilization from the estimated dose of 155 kg ha-1 of N.
efficiency of N use; green forage; nutritive value