The objective ofthis experiment was to evaluate the effect of the nitrogen fertilization anddensity of plants in the morphogenic and structural characteristics of mombaçagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.). The experiment was set up as a completelyrandomized block design with 12 treatments and three repetitions, with fourapplications of nitrogen (0, 80, 160 and 320 kg/ha.year) and three densities(9, 25 and 49 plants/m2) in the four seasons of the year. The plotwas cut at 30 cm from the ground, when the light interception reached 95%. Thefollowing measures were done: leaf appearance and elongation rate, Phyllochron,leaf senescence rate, number of live leaves, leaf lifetime, stem elongationrate and rates of appearance and mortality of the total tiller. Nitrogen fertilizationpositively influenced the leaf and tiller appearance (fall and winter) rates,leaf elongation (spring and summer), and stem elongation (summer) rates, leafsenescence (all the stations) rate and number of live leaves and tillers (springand summer). The fertilization also influenced positively the tillering of mombaçagrass. Higher densities of plants increased the elongation and leaf senescencerates and decreased the number of tillers. Nitrogen fertilization reduces thephyllocron and life lenght of leaves (spring and summer), but does not affectthe mortality rate of tillers.
