The aim of this work was to evaluate the growth of brachiaria (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) intercropped with maize, sorghum, pearl millet and rice and its regrowth after cereals harvest. The presence of cereals caused reduction of tillers number, foliar area index, total dry matter of leaves, dry matter of green leaves and stems, and growth rate of brachiaria up to harvest of cereals. Number of tillers m-2 reached higher values than those of sole cropped brachiaria after the cereals harvest. The leaf area indices of intercropped brachiaria were low, when compared to those of the cereals; and the low competition in the leaf area favoured the good grain yield of the crops. Sixty to seventy days after cereals harvest, brachiaria regrowth showed phytomass similar to that of sole cropped brachiaria 70 days after emergence.
Brachiaria brizantha; pasture renovation; regrowth; growth rate; intercropping; cereal crops; grain; productivity
