The objective of this research was to evaluate morphological and productive characteristics of forage legumes under two harvest frequencies (28 and 56 days) and 10 cm harvest intensity. The following legume species were evaluated: Arachis pintoi (cv. Amarillo), Clitoria ternatea, Calopogonium mucunoides, Desmodium ovalifolium (cv. Itabela) and Stylosanthes guianensis (cvs. Bandeirante, Cook, Mineirão). A randomized complete design was used in a factorial arrangement (07 legumes × 02 harvest frequencies), with four replications per treatment and the following variables were analyzed: biomass accumulation, number of branches per plant, number of live leaves/plant, root dry matter, nodule number, and nodule matter. Shoot and root dry matter accumulation per unit time was similar for the harvests at every 28 or every 56 days, except for Arachis, Clitoria, and Desmodium, which showed greater shoot and root biomass when harvested every 56 days. Nodule number and nodule mass differed among legumes, but a greater nodule number was observed when the legumes were harvested every 56 days. Live leaf number per plant was greater at 56 days, except for Arachis and Calopogonium which showed similar values for both frequencies. Harvest frequency affected differently the morphologic and productive characteristics of the studied legumes that indicated the need for different management among the varieties tested.
biomass; morphology; nodulation; persistence; production; root
