Dinâmica de adoção, usos e análise comparativa do capim elefante BRS Capiaçu no município de Goiás.

Abstract

Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) is a great option for forage production due to its high yield and quality. The BRS Capiaçu cultivar was developed to meet the demand for varieties suitable for cutting (fresh chopped forage) and silage, offering high productivity, good nutritional value, and easy mechanization. This study aimed to evaluate the productive and agronomic potential of BRS Capiaçu in the municipality of Goiás, Brazil. The research was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, questionnaires were distributed to local farmers to gather data on seedling acquisition and production information. In the second stage, a field experiment was carried out to compare the performance of the BRS Capiaçu and BRS Canará cultivars. The experiment took place at IF Goias – Campus Cidade de Goiás, using a randomized block design. The evaluated parameters included plant height, stem diameter, number of tillers per plant, ground cover, and gaps in planting rows at 20, 40, and 60 days. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and means were compared using Tukey’s test (p≤0.05). Regarding the survey results, it was found that the donation of BRS Capiaçu seedlings remains the primary method of acquisition, while commercial sales of seedlings among farmers were less common. Additionally, the study highlighted a relationship between farm size and elephant grass production, showing that while it influences milk yield, efficiency is also closely linked to proper management practices. In the comparison test between BRS Capiaçu and BRS Canará, BRS Capiaçu proved superior in forage productivity and stood out for its structural resilience, making it a strong choice for areas with challenging climatic conditions.