Aerial Phytomass Production and Growth Performances of Five Common Tall Species in Andean Grasslands at Harvesting and Application of Natural Fertilizers

Abstract

The objective of the research was to evaluate: aerial cover, canopy height and aerial phytomass production in five of the most common tall species in the area, in order to articulate it to a plant fiber production project. For the evaluation, 5 plots of 900 m2 were fenced, including 50 subplots of 32 m2, which were fertilized with cattle manure and phosphate rock. Monthly measurements were made from October 2020 to June 2021. At the end of the control, significant differences were observed for P = .01. Between plots they ranged from 1533±508 to 2909±192 cm2 in canopy cover (CC), from 36.9±0.89 to 38.3±2.31 cm in canopy height (CH) and 44±9.11 to 129±9.11 g DM/plant in Aerial Phytomass Production (AFP). Between species, they ranged from 2067±876 to 2975±200 cm2 in CC, from 33.2±3.86 to 40.3±1.24 cm in CH, and from 49.4±11.52 to 162.4±8.49g DM/plant in AFP. By fertilization effect the AFP varied as follows: those fertilized with phosphate rock reached 109.5±6.72 g DM/plant (14.7%), with cattle manure 88.8±6.72 g DM/plant (-5.3%), and finally the control plants with 93.5±15.03 g DM/plant, which means. A high canonical correlation was also observed between biological variables (canopy cover, canopy height, and dry matter production) and climatic variables (maximum temperature, minimum T. in °C, and rainfall in liters/m2). It was shown that tussock species respond quickly to cutting and natural fertilization has beneficial effects on biological indicators, despite the altitudinal difference between the plots and the particular species.