THE EFFECT OF THE NITROGEN DOSAGE AND MANAGEMENT ON SEED AND FORAGE PRODUCTION OF BRACHIARIA-DECUMBENS CV BASILISK

The effect of different systems for seed and forage production of Brac hiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk were measured. These consisted of combin ing or not forage and seed productions through cuttings throughout the year or until certain periods at the beginning of the rainy season. T he statistical treatment employed was a factorial 3 x 3 arrangement in a random block design with 4 replications. Nitrogen fertilization was used at a rate of 100 or 200 kg/ha/year and an unfertilized control. The experiment lasted 2 years. Seed yield during the second year was h igher than in the first reaching values between 35 and 40 kg/ha of pur e seed when 100 or 200 kg/ha/year were applied and the pasture was cut for forage until May. The lowest values (P < 0.05) of seed and forage corresponded in the majority of the cases to the unfertilized treatme nts. The economical analysis showed that profits in Cuban pesos betwee n 99.32 and 138.50 are always obtained amen arras an dedicated to both purposes, which never occurred when the field is dedicated to forage production. The system of seed production is only economical when prod uctions ate not lower than 30 kg/ha of pun seed. It is recommended to cut the pasture for forage until May and to fertilize with 100 kg/ha/y ear or to apply half of this dosage and leave the area for seed produc tion and to fertilize the rest alter cutting the pasture and seeds har vested.