Ana Caroline Cerqueira de Melo Vasco

Dr. Ana Caroline Cerqueira de Melo Vasco


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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14 April 2025 in Grasses
Verified
Journal Article
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AVAna Caroline Cerqueira de Melo Vasco
Ana Caroline Cerqueira de Melo Vasco
ESErick Rodrigo Da Silva Santos
Erick Rodrigo Da Silva Santos
JDJosé Carlos B. Dubeux
José Carlos B. Dubeux
LSLynn E. Sollenberger
Lynn E. Sollenberger
MWMarcelo Wallau
Marcelo Wallau
CWCarissa Wickens
Carissa Wickens
The pasture–animal interface of warm-season perennial grass–legume mixed pastures has never been investigated in forage-based equine systems. Therefore, this 2-year study investigated the herbage and animal responses under 84-day continuous stocking in mixed pastures of rhizoma peanut (RP, Arachis glabrata Benth) and bahiagrass (BG, Paspalum notatum Flüggé) with 30 kg nitrogen (N) ha−1 (BG-RP) compared to BG pastures fertilized with 120 kg N ha−1 (BG-N120) and no N (BG-N0). Measurements were taken every 14 days, except for intake and in vivo digestibility, which were measured every 28 days. BG-N120 had the highest stocking rate (p = 0.01; 3.7 AU ha−1) in 2019, while BG-N0 had the lowest (p = 0.01; 2.6 AU ha−1) in 2020. Crude protein and digestible energy were greatest (p < 0.05) for BG-N120 and BG-RP in some of the evaluation days in 2019 but similar across pastures in 2020. Crude protein digestibility was greatest (p < 0.05) for BG-RP in the late season. Intake was less (p = 0.03) for horses grazing BG-RP (3.2%BW) compared to BG-N0 (5.0%BW). Nonetheless, no differences (p > 0.05) were observed among pastures for body measurements. The results indicate that BG-RP pastures can improve forage nutritive value and maintain horse body condition while maintaining similar stocking rate to monoculture bahiagrass with high N fertilizer rates.