Objective:

To evaluate the effect of different grassland renovation methods on the Lolium sp. productivity during rainy and dry seasons in the high tropic of the Nariño department.

Materials and Methods:

The essay was conducted between January and August, 2018. Two experiments were established in the Pasto and Sapuyes municipalities. An experimental design of complete randomized blocks was used, with five treatments and three replicas (T1: farmer’s conventional management; T2: grassland renovator; T3: harrowing twice; T4: rigid chisel plow once, harrowing once and subsoiling once; T5: vibratory chisel plow once and harrowing once). The variables cover percentage, height, green forage and dry matter yield, were evaluated. For the statistical analysis, the software R V 3.5.1 was used. Variance analysis and Tukey’s test were carried out for comparison among means (p < 0,05).

Results:

In the rainy season, in the Pasto locality, the variable plant height showed significant differences among treatments (p < 0,001). T5 showed the highest value (38 cm). In turn, significant differences were found in the green matter and dry matter yield among treatments, T3 being the one with the best performance (16,2 and 2,6 t ha-1, respectively). In the Sapuyes locality, T1 reached the best results for the variables cover percentage, plant height, green forage and dry matter yield (96,0 %; 67,5 cm; 34,2 t ha-1 and 4,19 t ha-1, respectively). In the dry season, in the Sapuyes locality, the variable green forage yield showed significant differences among treatments, T1 being the most outstanding one (21,1 t ha-1).

Conclusions:

During the rainy and dry seasons, T3 reached the best values in green forage and dry matter yield for the Pasto locality; while for Sapuyes, T1 showed the best values.

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