EFEITO DO CONSÓRCIO DE CAPIM-ELEFANTE COM LEUCENA NA PRODUÇÃO DE FORRAGEM

A study was carried out to evaluate the influence of the elephant-grass x leucena intercropping, in aspects like productivity, crude protein contents and tillering of the intercropped elephant grass, besides trying to find the best planting density of this intercropping, aiming both highest grass productivity and better produced forage quality. The experiment was carried out at the Fazenda Experimental Vale do Curu, located in Pentecoste- Ceará, using a completely randomized blocks design with four treatments and four replications. The used treatments were: elephant-grass x leucena intercropping in the following spacings: 1.00m x 0.25 m; 1.00m x 0.50m; 1.00m x 0.75m and 1.00m x 1.00m, between the lines and plants, respectively. Cuts were done each 60 days, being six cuts during the experimental period. Leucena and capim-elephant were cutted 40cm and 10cm above ground 10 cm above the soil. The intercropping using leucena did not influence elephant-grass crude protein contents. The smallest tillers number and the biggest dry matter production of the grass occurred in spacing 1.00m x 0.25m, being this the indicated for this intercropping.