Recovery methods of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. pastures in the agreste region of Pernambuco State

In order to identify methods of recuperation of degraded pastures in the Agreste of Pernambuco, an experiment was conducted in the Fazenda Riacho do Papaguaio, municipial district of Sao Joao. It was used a split-plot feature within a confounded randomized block design. The experimental treatments were four recovery managements (deferment, deferment + harrowing, deferment + harrowing + corn as a companion crop, deferment + corn as a companion crop), two levels of nitrogen (0 and 100 kg/ha of N), two levels of phosphorus (0 and 100 kg/ha of P2O5), totalizing 16 experimental treatments with three replications. The harvesting evaluation was taken after 138 days from implementation of the experimental treatments. A significant N and P2O5 interaction was observed with marked increase in forage dry matter mass corresponding to the combination of,100 kg/ha of N and P2O5. The deferment and deferment + corn treatments resulted in higher forage mass yield as compared to the harrowing ones. After 138 days of growth, there was an increase in the percentage of uncovered soil with plow use, while the opposite was true without the use of a plow. Plowing did not demonstrate agronomic viability as a degraded pasture recuperation practice. Allowing the pasture to rest for 138 days during the rainy season promoted its recuperation, primarily with the combined application of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers. The recovery of nitrogen and phosphate fertilized Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. was associated with decrease of other species.