NITROGEN REQUIREMENT OF BRACHIARIA HYBRID CV. IPYPORA

Ipypora grass, a Brachiaria interspecific hybrid was developed by crossing a genotype of Brachiaria ruziziensis (syn. Urochloa ruziziensis) and an access of Brachiaria brizantha (syn. Urochloa brizantha), which have different nitrogen requirements. Therefore, the objective with work was to verify the nitrogen requirement of the interspecific hybrid of Brachiaria hybrid cv. Ipypora. Experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in a randomized block design, with twelve treatments and four replications. Treatments consisted of a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement, with four nitrogen doses (0; 100; 200 and 300 mg/dm(3)) and three forages (Brachiaria hybrid cv. BRS Ipypora, Brachiaria humidicola cv. Llanero and Panicum maximum cv. Zuri). Each experimental plot consisted of a 3 dm(3) pot with three plants. Three evaluation harvest were done. B. hybrid had greater response to nitrogen fertilization for number of tillers and leaves than the other forages. However, for the total dry mass, B. hybrid was less responsive to nitrogen than P. maximum grass (high demand) and more responsive than B. humidicola (low demand), which shows that this hybrid has medium nitrogen requirement.