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Developed by Embrapa, BRS Oquira is a forage peanut cultivar recommended for pasture intercropping in the Amazon, Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes. Rich in protein and with high forage production, the technology is an alternative to intensifying meat and milk production and enabling more sustainable pasture-based livestock farming. Studies have shown that, in fertilized and irrigated crops, the crude protein content in the plant reaches 29%, a value that guarantees quality food for the herd and improves animal productivity.
The result of evaluation and selection of genetic materials, the new cultivar was tested in the climate and soil conditions of the three biomes and, among other aspects, stands out, mainly, for its high forage productivity and greater tolerance to drought. The 15-year research was carried out in partnership with Embrapa Cerrados (DF), Embrapa Amazônia Oriental (PA), Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste (SP) and Embrapa Gado de Corte (MS).
Embrapa Acre researcher Giselle de Assis, coordinator of the Forage Peanut Genetic Improvement Program, explains that, unlike other legumes that concentrate protein in the leaves, forage peanuts also have a high protein content in the stalks, a characteristic that allows for high-quality forage. high quality. In experiments without fertilization and irrigation, the BRS Oquira cultivar presents 22% of crude protein, fiber content around 43% and 68% of dry matter digestibility (forage).
“When fertilized and irrigated, the percentage of protein in the plant can reach 29%, with digestibility of 75%, values similar to those of alfalfa (Medicago sativa), one of the most used legumes in the world due to the excellence of the forage produced. Pastures combined with this legume provide animals with the nutrients necessary for the production of meat or milk on pasture, increase the productivity of the herd and help make these livestock systems more efficient and competitive”, highlights Assis.
More feed for livestock
Because it is nutritious and palatable, forage peanuts can be used in the diet of cattle, horses and sheep, under direct grazing, in pastures intercropped with grasses, in pure plantations that function as protein banks or supplied in the trough as chopped green forage, hay and silage. BRS Oquira also demonstrated high performance in forage productivity, in relation to other forage peanut cultivars.
In crops without the use of fertilization and irrigation, the cultivar produced between 13 and 16 tons of forage dry mass per hectare/year in the Amazon, while, in the Cerrado, production ranged from 10 to 13 tons per hectare/year. In the Atlantic Forest biome, fertilized and irrigated experiments produced between 15 and 20 tons of dry matter per hectare/year. “This performance represents an increase ranging from 10% to 44% in forage productivity, capable of providing real gains in herd productivity”, he highlights.
High resistance and longevity
In addition to the high nutritional value and high performance in forage production, studies revealed high superiority of BRS Oquira in other aspects that influence the efficiency of the technology. “In all comparative evaluations, the cultivar showed greater tolerance to drought. In areas of the Cerrado, where the drought period is longer, around five months, and severe, it lost leaves and showed drying of the stems, but it re-sprouted vigorously with the return of the rains. This high capacity for vegetative reproduction means that the plant remains in the pasture for many years, without the need for replanting”, says the researcher.
Another characteristic that gives perenniality to pastures intercropped with the cultivar is that, even when associated with larger grasses, in shady conditions, it develops well. Furthermore, as it is a stoloniferous species (it has a stem with several rooting points), it is able to multiply quickly in pasture and completely cover the soil, an aspect that prevents erosion processes and provides persistence when it comes to grazing and trampling by livestock.
The research results also showed that the new forage peanut cultivar is also tolerant to waterlogged soils. This characteristic makes it possible to intercrop with grasses adapted to this condition, in areas affected by braquiarão death syndrome, a disease associated with soil waterlogging and fungal attacks, considered the main factor in pasture degradation in the Amazon.
Natural fertilizer for pasture
The BRS Oquira cultivar is also capable of biological nitrogen fixation in pastures, a process that improves soil fertility and contributes to plant development. According to Embrapa Acre researcher Maykel Sales, through association with bacteria that live in the soil and are housed in its roots, the legume captures nitrogen from the air and makes it available to the plants.
“In intercropped pastures, implemented in accordance with research recommendations, the plant can incorporate up to 150 kilos of nitrogen per hectare/year, a gain that corresponds to 300 kilos of urea per hectare/year. This natural fertilization, continuously supplied to the pasture, increases forage production and herd productivity, both in beef and dairy farming systems, with a reduction in expenses with nitrogen fertilizers, such as urea and ammonium sulfate, and in costs of system production”, emphasizes the researcher.
Impacts on animal productivity
The intercropping of grasses with the forage peanut cultivar BRS Oquira also improves the herd's productive performance. Partial results from ongoing studies show that, while in pastures made up of grasses alone, animals gained 450 grams of weight per day, in pastures associated with BRS Oquira, weight gain rose to 566 grams/animal/day, an increase of 25% in productivity of the herd.
According to Sales, the length of stay of animals managed in pastures combined with forage peanuts reduces around 35%, in relation to those managed in exclusive grass pastures, a substantial gain that minimizes expenses with inputs and livestock care, which directly influence the cost. of production. “The numbers show that, in addition to the potential to increase the production of arrobas of live weight per hectare/year, BRS Oquira has the advantage of accelerating animal weight gain and making livestock rearing and fattening systems more efficient”, he notes.
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Recommendations for consortium
BRS Oquira has high compatibility with all grass cultivars of the genera Brachiaria, Cynodon and Panicum maximum. Recommended for cultivation in humid soils, of medium fertility, with textures varying from clayey to sandy, the technology can be adopted by small, medium and large rural enterprises.
Carlos Maurício Andrade, also a researcher at Embrapa Acre, explains that the formation of pastures combined with BRS Oquira can be done with the simultaneous planting of grasses and legumes, during pasture reform, or with planting in already established pastures. The cultivar should be planted during the rainy season, when there is regular rainfall and the soil is moist. The first step is to acquire certified seedlings for the formation of nurseries on the property, multiplication of plants and subsequent planting.
“The formation of pastures intercropped with forage peanuts requires a little more attention and planning than pure grass pastures. Carrying out all stages of this process in accordance with technical recommendations is essential to ensure maximum efficiency of the technology. The producer's effort will be rewarded in the medium and long term, with a more productive and persistent pasture, self-sufficient in nitrogen and with low maintenance costs”, highlights the researcher.
Technology launch
The BRS Oquira cultivar will be launched on November 8, during a field day in the Embrapa Acre experimental area, with the participation of rural producers, farm managers, nurserymen and technicians who work to support livestock production. The technology is registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) and will be sold by nurseries from four states (Acre, São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Ceará), accredited by Mapa and licensed by Embrapa. In Acre, the estimated production of seedlings of the cultivar is 16 tons per year, with harvest every four months.
According to Paulo Beber, owner of the Agro Yaco nursery, the harvest of the first batch is scheduled for the end of November. Having quality seedlings is essential to expand the use of technology, but to take advantage of its advantages it is necessary to carry out planting and management appropriately. “With the materials sold, we will pass on these and other research guidelines that help maintain the genetic quality and good development of the cultivar. Following these recommendations benefits producers, who will have more productive pastures; partner companies, which will be able to expand seedling production; and technology, which will be increasingly widespread”, he states.
Source: datagro
