This work aimed to evaluate the tilling and tiller structural characteristics on Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk pasture fertilized with nitrogen (N) under different deferring periods. The treatments had 73, 95 and 116-day deferring periods, and 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg/ha N doses. A randomized block design with three replicates and subdivided plots was used. The number of vegetative tillers (VT) reduced as the deferring period increased. Interaction between the deferring period and N doses on the VT population density was verified. The longest deferring period increased the number of reproductive tillers (RT) on the B. decumbens cv. Basilisk pasture; however, N doses did not affect the number of RT. The number of dead tillers was not influenced by the studied factors. Both deferring periods and nitrogen fertilization increased the weight of all tiller categories of B. decumbens cv. Basilisk. The tiller structural characteristics found on deferred pastures were altered by the deferring periods and N doses. Reducing the deferring period and nitrogen fertilization are appropriate handling strategies for increasing the number of vegetative tillers on Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk pastures.
Brachiaria decumbens; deferring period; morphological composition; structural characteristic; tiller population density; tillers weight
