Effect of shading on the initial growth of Massaigrass (Panicum maximum)

The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of four levels (0, 25, 50, and 75%) of artificial shading on 12 attributes (plant height - PH, number of tiller – NT, number of leaves – NL, leaf area – LA, root dry matter – DMR, leaf dry matter – DML, total dry matter – DMT, ratio of aerial part: root – AP/R, specific leaf area - SLA, ratio of leaf area – RLA, ratio of root matter – RRM, and ratio of leaf matter – RLM), in the establishment phase of Massai grass plants. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. The highest values for PH, NT, DMR, DML, DMT and RRM of Massai grass were obtained at the level of 75% of shading, indicating suitability of its use in pastoral-forest or agropastoral-forest systems