Context: Understanding ecology in grass–legume pastures can help support strategies aimed at maintaining canopy stability in terms of botanical composition.

Aims: This 2-year study evaluated spatial variability, focusing on plant structural characteristics in a Marandu palisadegrass [Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. Ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster cv. Marandu]–forage peanut (Arachis pintoi Krapov. and W.C. Greg. cv. BRS Mandobi) mixed canopy under grazing in continuous stocking management.

Methods: The pasture was managed with canopy height of 20–25 cm. The experimental area had a permanent sample grid containing 50 pre-established and georeferenced plots. Principal component analysis was performed, and spatial dependence structure of the first principal component and structural variables were separately characterised by geostatistical analysis.

Key results: There was spatial dependence of the structural characteristics, with marked spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of all variables. Taller grass canopies caused competition for light between species, reducing legume contribution and inducing more erect forage peanut growth habit. Conversely, in areas with lower grass canopy height, forage peanut botanical composition increased to up to 70%, as it propagated more effectively by stoloniferous propagation.

Conclusions: The canopy structure spatial variability of a Marandu palisadegrass–forage peanut mixed pasture determines the overall average pasture grass/legume proportion. In regions with taller canopies, Marandu palisadegrass was favoured, while in areas with shorter canopy, forage peanut proportion was promoted. Satisfactory legume proportions can be reached in the canopy despite areas with reduced legume contribution.

Implications: Our findings using geostatistical techniques facilitate the development of useful and innovative tools allowing better comprehension for the management of mixed pastures.

背景：了解草豆科植物牧场的生态学有助于支持旨在维持植物组成方面冠层稳定性的策略。

目的：这项为期 2 年的研究评估了空间变异性，重点关注 Marandu 栅栏草的植物结构特征 [ Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. Ex A. Rich.) RD Webster cv. Marandu]–牧草花生（Arachis pintoi Krapov. and WC Greg. cv. BRS Mandobi）在连续放牧管理下放牧的混合冠层。

方法：牧场管理的冠层高度为 20-25 厘米。实验区有一个永久样本网格，其中包含 50 个预先建立和地理参考的地块。进行了主成分分析，并通过地统计分析分别表征了第一主成分和结构变量的空间依赖结构。

主要结果：结构特征存在空间依赖性，所有变量的分布具有明显的空间异质性。较高的草冠引起物种间对光的竞争，减少豆科植物的贡献并诱导更多的直立牧草花生生长习性。相反，在草冠高度较低的地区，草料花生植物成分增加到 70%，因为它通过匍匐茎繁殖更有效。

结论： Marandu 栅栏草-牧草花生混合牧草的冠层结构空间变异性决定了总体平均牧草/豆类比例。在冠层较高的地区，以马兰杜木樨草为主，而在冠层较短的地区，则提高牧草花生的比例。尽管豆科植物贡献减少的地区，树冠中仍可达到令人满意的豆科植物比例。

影响：我们使用地质统计技术的发现促进了有用和创新工具的开发，从而更好地理解混合牧场的管理。