The research was conducted in an native pasture area of 1.5ha at the UFSM "Campus" (Santa Maria, RS). Using the Botanal Method, surveys were made in February, in May, in October 1985 and in May 1986. The aim of this work was the determination of the whole disponibility of the pasture (in DM.kg/ha), the contribution of its main components for this disponibility and the determination of the pasture quality through the founded rates of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and lignin. Regarding to the pasture components, Paspalum notatum distinguished it self by its contribution that kept constaint in the four sampling periods. Axonopus affinis showed a drop in contribution values to dry matter, in the survey after the long period of drough (May, 1986), while Setaria geniculata recorded an inverse behavior in the same period. Among the legume species, Desmodium incanum distinguished itself by its persistence even during the unfavourable periods. Regarding to crude protein, in October 1985 and May 1986, spring and autumn, respectively, tha pasture showed the largest rates, the inverse happened with NDF. In October 1985 (autumn) was found the minor rate of ADF while the minorrates of lignin were found in February 1985 (summer).
native pasture; survey pasture quality; botanic composition; pasture production
