02201naa a2200241 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902200140006002400330007410000200010724501260012726000090025352014900026265000190175265000180177170000200178970000280180970000210183770000180185870000210187670000220189777300400191921228652020-06-01 2020 bl uuuu u00u1 u #d a1435-06457 aDOI: 10.1002/agj2.202402DOI1 aGOMES, F. de K. aDefoliation frequency affects litter responses and nitrogen excretion by heifers in palisadegrass?forage peanut pastures. c2020 aLegumes can contribute significantly to nitrogen (N) input in grazing systems. Grazing management is a critical factor affecting N cycling in mixed pastures, altering the legume N input as a result. This study assessed how defoliation frequency affects N cycling inrotationally stocked palisadegrass (Brachiariabrizantha)and forage peanut (Arachis pintoi) pastures. Treatments included four grazing management strategies, defined by the rest period interruption when the canopy reached 90 (90LI), 95 (95LI), and 100% (100LI) of photosynthetically active radiation interception (LI), and a fixed rest period of 42 d (42D). A 2-yr experimental period was adopted. Existing litter was greater at 100LI (2208 vs. 1964 kg ha−1; average of 42D, 90LI, and 95LI, respectively). Greater defoliation frequency (42D and 90LI) resulted in increase of litter legume proportion, resulting in greater decomposition rate, lower litter halflife (p < .001, and p = .015, respectively), and greater N cycling (91 vs. 64 kg ha−1 season−1). Less frequent defoliation (100LI) resulted in reduced total forage intake, proportion of legume intake, and lower N intake compared with other treatments (p= .007, p= .081, and p < .001, respectively). Greater defoliation frequency increased N cycling via litter, but did not affect excretion due to compensation with stocking rate. Defoliation frequency between 90 and 95% LI optimizes N cycling in palisadegrass-forage peanut mixed pastures. aArachis pintoi aBrachiaria sp1 aHOMEM. B. G. C.1 aOLIVEIRA, M. D. B. L de1 aDUBEUX, J. C. B.1 aBODDEY, R. M.1 aBERNARDES, T. F.1 aCASAGRANDE, D. R. tAgronomy Journalgv., p. 1-12, 2020