Root system of six irrigated grasses under different nitrogen fertilization and management.

Root system of six irrigated grasses under different nitrogen fertilization and management. This study aimed to evaluate the root density and root depth of six irrigated grasses under different nitrogen fertilization and management. The experiment was analyzed in a split-split plot design. Two management (grazed and cut) constituted the plots, six grasses (Estrela, Marandu, Mombaca, Pioneiro, Tanzania and Xaraes) the split-plots, and four nitrogen fertilization (100, 300, 500 and 700 kg ha(-1) year(-1)) the split-split-plots. The root density was obtained by the medium density of all the samples and root depth was based on the first 80% root weight. Effects of the grasses, nitrogen fertilization and management were observed in the appraised characteristics. Marandu, followed by Xaraes, presented larger root density. In general, Marandu and Pioneiro provided larger and smaller root depth, respectively. The cut provided larger root density, even though it did not influence root depth. Nitrogen fertilization depended on the grass and management to have an effect in the parameters.