The experiment was accomplished in a greenhouse from May to August of 2005, with the objective of to evaluate the effect of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilization on morphogenetic and structural characteristicas of Tanzania grass. The morphogenetic evaluations included leaf appearance, leaf elongation rate, and stem elongation rate. The structural evaluations measurements were: number of leaves, number of green leaves, number of tillers per plant, and final leaf length. It was used a complete randomized experimental design in 4 x 2 factorial scheme, being four phosphorus doses (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg of P2O5/ha) and two doses of nitrogen (0 and 100 kg of N/ha), with four replicates. It was utilized pots with 6.3 liters capacity each, leaving four plants per pot after staging. The N and P combination affected leaf elongation rate, stem elongation rate, number of tillers per plant, and number of green leaves per tillers. Nitrogen supply had a positive effect on leaf appearance rate, number of leaves, and final leaf length of tanzaniagrass. The majority of the studied variables were affected by the use of phosphorus when associated to N fertilization.
fertilizer; leaf appearance; morphogenesis; Panicum maximum; tillering
