Nutrients foliar content for high productivity cultivars of guava in Brazil

Commonly grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions, guava (Psidium guajava L.) is an important fruit crop of Brazil. It is cultivated on a large scale in São Paulo state, and covers about 6,500 hectares. As a result of the guava selection program developed at FCAV/UNESP, two new cultivars were created: 'Rica' and 'Paluma' with a high productivity, and also with higher nutritional requirement. Leaves analysis has become a powerful tool in mineral-nutrition research with fruit crops, not only to determine response to different nutrients, but also for diagnostic techniques in making fertilizer recommendations and assessing deficiency symptoms. Nutrient composition of the leaves varies depending on the leaf maturity, tree age, variety and nutrient supply. For the interpretation of analytical values, selection of the index tissue is important. The results of experiments conducted in the field during 1989-2000 were studied. The nutritional status was evaluated by annual leaf sampling, carried out at full bloom. Recent fully developed leaves, corresponding to the third pair (with the petiole) were collected, starting at the end of the branch, all around the tree, at a height of 1.5 m from the soil, with a total of 30 leaf pairs per sample. The yield was evaluated by weighing all the fruits in the useful area of each lot. Foliar chemical analysis showed excellent correlation with the fruit production. Through the results it was verified that the maximum yield was associated to the following levels: N = 22-26; P = 1.5-1.9; K = 17-20; Ca = 11-15; Mg = 2.5-3.5; S = 3.0-3.5 g kg -1; B = 20-25; Cu = 10-40; Fe = 50-150; Mn = 180-250; Zn = 25-35 mg kg-1 DW in the leaves of the 'Rica' guava and to N = 20-23; P = 1.4-1.8; K = 14-17; Ca = 7-11; Mg = 3.4-4.0; S = 2.5-3.5 g kg-1; B = 20-25; Cu = 20-40; Fe = 60-90; Mn = 40-80; Zn = 25-35 mg kg-1 DW in the leaves of the 'Paluma' guava.

Heavy metal nutrients in tomato plants cultivated in soil amended with biosolid composts

The use of biosolids in horticulture could contribute to recycle residues produced by men. This study analyzed concentrations of Cu, Mn and Zn in the compost during fermentation, in the soil amended with the composts and in the tomato plant materials. Five composts were produced using sugar-cane bagasse, biosolid and cattle manure in the proportions: 75-0-25; 75-12.5-12.5; 75-25-0; 50-50- 0 and 0-100-0 (composts with 0; 12.5; 25; 50 and 100% biosolid), respectively. These composts were used in an experiment with 6 treatments (the 5 composts and a control with mineral fertilization) in a design of randomized blocks with a split plot design. The control and the treatment of 0% biosolid received inorganic nitrogen. All the treatments received the same amount of N, P and K. Two tomato plants were cultivated in each 24 L pot, in a greenhouse at the Technology Department of the Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias of the Universidade Estadual Paulista in Jaboticabal County, São Paulo State, Brazil. The concentrations of Cu, Mn and Zn were evaluated in the compost 7, 27, 57, 97 and 127 days after composting began, in the soil 0 and 164 days after the compost applied, and in the plants. Compost, soil and plant samples were subjected to digestion with HNO3, H 2O2 and HCl and the metals were determined by AAS. There were positive and significant correlations between Mn in the compost and Mn uptake by the plant (0.46 p>0.05), and between Zn in the compost and Zn concentration in the plant (0.78 p>0.05). Cu, Mn and Zn concentrations increased during composting. The biosolid in the compost supplied Cu and Zn to tomato plants, and the cattle manure supplied Mn to the plants.

Apparent digestible energy and nutrient digestibility coefficients of diet ingredients for pacu Piaractus brachypomus

The digestible energy and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients of common diet ingredients were determined for pacu Piaractus brachypomus (370.21 ± 17.56 g). Fish were fed with pelleted practical diets to apparent satiation and the feces were collected by siphoning. The digestibility value for each ingredient was determined by comparison of the digestibility of a test diet with a reference diet (24.5% crude protein and 1% chromic oxide). The digestible energy values of soybean meal (SBM), fish meal (FM), corn (CN), and wheat bran (WB) were 2382, 3826, 3353, and 1784 kcal/kg, respectively. The apparent dry matter digestibility coefficients were 83.72, 90.14, 89.13, and 82.05% for SBM, FM, CN, and WB, respectively. The apparent crude protein digestibility coefficients were 75.88, 90.49, 85.06, and 61.62% for SBM, FM, CN, and WB, respectively. The apparent lipid digestibility coefficients were 63.03, 77.00, 83.01, and 82.45% for SBM, FM, CN, and WB, respectively. The digestibility of protein, lipid, and energy from SBM were somewhat low compared to values for other warmwater omnivorous fishes, but similar to values reported for pacu-caranha P. mesopotamicus. Otherwise, the nutrient and energy availability of the ingredients to P. brachypomus was similar to that of other fish. This information will be useful in formulating nutritious, economical diets for pacus. © by the World Aquaculture Society 2004.

Apparent digestibility of different ingredients in diets for bullfrog Rana catesbeiana tadpoles

The objective of this study was to determine apparent digestibility of protein and energy of ingredients commonly present in rations fed to bullfrog tadpoles Rana catesbeiana such as corn, soybean meal, wheat meal, rice bran, poultry by-product meal, blood meal, fish meal, corn starch and soybean oil. A completely randomized design was used to test ten experimental diets with four replicates. About 30% of the reference diet was replaced by the test ingredients, except for soybean oil that was used at 10% ratio and 0.5% of chromium oxide as inert marker. The values of apparent digestibility coefficient of crude protein (ADCCP) and gross energy (ADCGE) of the protein ingredients were, respectively: fish meal, 81 and 95%; poultry byproduct meal, 82 and 87%; blood meal, 64 and 53%; and soybean meal, 93 and 90%. While for the energetic ingredients, ADCCP and ADCGE, were, respectively: wheat meal, 100 and 72%; rice bran, 57 and 24%; and corn, 84 and 92%. Soybean oil and cornstarch ADCGE values were 70 and 96%, respectively; cornstarch digestibility is highly dependent on feed processing technique. The results showed that the ing redients of plant origin, except for rice bran, had good digestibility, thus indicating that tadpoles can effectively use plant protein. In this trial, the least digestible ingredients were blood meal and rice bran, thus indicating that the use of such ingredients in bullfrog tadpole diets should be limited. © Copyright by the World Aquaculture Society 2005.

Uso de probiótico em dietas de suínos: Incidência de diarréia, desempenho zootécnico e digestibilidade de rações

Two trials were conducted aiming to of evaluate the effect of probiotic supplementation in pig's diet: Trial 1: diarrhea incidence and performance; Trial 2: feed intake and digestibility. In the Trial 1, forty weaning barrow piglets were distributed in four treatments: T0-basal diet; T100-basal diet +100ppm of probiotic; T200-basal diet +200ppm e T300-basal diet +300ppm. The trial 2 was a digestibility trial, where eight barrow pigs were used, distributed in two treatments: T1-basal diet and T2-basal diet + 200 ppm of same probiotic used in the Experiment 1. In the Period 1 the animals of T0 and T100 groups showed higher diarrhea incidence (P<0.05) than the T200 and T300 groups. The performance of animals of T100 group were lower than other treatment groups (P<0.05). In the Period 2 the T200 and T300 animals, showed better FG ratio than the animals of T0 (P<0.05). In the total period it was not observed significative difference concerning performance, except for DFI. In the trial 2, the animals of treatment T2, showed an increase of feed intake when compared with animals of T1. Digestibility coefficients showed no significative differences among treatments. It was concluded that the addition of 200 and 300 ppm of probiotic in the Period 1 reduces incidences of diarrhea. But, in the total period of trial 1, the performance was similar among treatments. In the trial 2 it was observed better adaptation of animals receiving probiotics which was represented by higher feed intake.

Comparative studies of the sample decomposition of green and roasted coffee for determination of nutrients and data exploratory analysis

The contents of some nutrients in 35 Brazilian green and roasted coffee samples were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn), flame atomic emission photometry (Na and K) and Kjeldahl (N) after preparing the samples by wet digestion procedures using i) a digester heating block and ii) a conventional microwave oven system with pressure and temperature control. The accuracy of the procedures was checked using three standard reference materials (National Institute of Standards and Technology, SRM 1573a Tomato Leaves, SRM 1547 Peach Leaves, SRM 1570a Trace Elements in Spinach). Analysis of data after application of t-test showed that results obtained by microwave-assisted digestion were more accurate than those obtained by block digester at 95% confidence level. Additionally to better accuracy, other favorable characteristics found were lower analytical blanks, lower reagent consumption, and shorter digestion time. Exploratory analysis of results using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) showed that Na, K, Ca, Cu, Mg, and Fe were the principal elements to discriminate between green and roasted coffee samples. ©2007 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.

Plant nutrients in a degraded soil treated with water treatment sludge and cultivated with grasses and leguminous plants

The objective of this work was to evaluate rates for applications of water treatment sludge (WTS) as a nutrient source for grasses and leguminous plants cropped in a soil degraded by tin mining in the Amazon Region (Natural Forest of Jamari, Rondonia State, Brazil). The treatments consisted of three rates of nitrogen supplied by WTS (100, 150 and 200 mg kg -1 soil), five combinations of plants, two controls (absolute control, without fertilization; and chemical control, soil+lime+chemical fertilizers). WTS modified the contents of macro and micronutrients in the degraded soil, but it was not, as used in the present study, sufficient for the rehabilitation of the degraded area. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influência de fontes de nitrogênio no consumo e digestibilidade aparente total e parcial de novilhos alimentados com cana- deaçúcar

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen sources, using sugarcane supplemented with urea, corn gluten meal-60 or soybean meal. It was evaluated Intake, total and partial apparent digestibility were evaluated using four rumen and duodenal cannulated crossbred steers. The treatments were evaluated in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The total feces were collected to determine the apparent digestibility on the total intestinal tract. The indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF) was used as marker of duodenal flux to determine ruminal and intestinal digestibility and dry matter daily flux. The DM, OM, CP, EE, DE, NDF, ADF and TC intakes and digestibility rates were influenced by nitrogen sources, and lower intake was observed in animals fed exclusively with cane sugar compared to animals fed the other experimental diets. Meanwhile the sources of nitrogen did not affect the total digestible nutrients (TDN) values. The RDP sources did not affect the total, ruminal, and intestinal nutrients apparent digestibility. However, the total, ruminal, and intestinal dry matter, and protein apparent digestibility were affected by the RDP sources.

Suplementação de acidificantes em rações de leitões desmamados: Desempenho e digestibilidade

In two experimental assays it was evaluated the diet acidifier supplementation effect on performance (assay 1) and on nutrient apparent digestibility coefficients (assay 2). During 42 days in assay 1, 120 piglets weaned at 21-days years old were allotted in8eight experimental block design with3three pigs per experimental unit. The treatments were a control and4four acidified diets. In assay 2,0ten piglets with an average weight of 16,4 kg were allotted in two experimental block design receiving two treatments under five replications (control diet without acidifier or supplied with 1,0% fumaric acid). On performance study the fumaric acid inclusion in the diet permitted a feed intake increase from 0 to 15 days, and weight gain from 0 to 32 days and from 0 to 42 days. In assay 2, the diet 1,0% of fumaric acid inclusion did not modified the apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter and moreover diet chemical compounds. The similar apparent digestibility coefficient of dietetic nutrients with the acidifier inclusio, probabl, occurred due to the short period of evaluation. The fumaric acid inclusion in weaned piglet diets improved performance of piglets.

Consumo, digestibilidade aparente e balanço de nitrogênio em ovelhas alimentadas com diferentes níveis de fibra em detergente neutro

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Composição química e digestibilidade in vitro da massa seca de cana-de-açúcar acrescida de ureia em diferentes tempos de estocagem

The objective of this research was to evaluate the chemical composition and in vitro dry mass (DM) digestibility of sugar cane with urea, maintained in the shade and sun, at different storage times. The utilized design was the completely randomized in a factorial scheme 6x2, that is, six storage times after the mixing (0; 2; 4; 6; 12 and 24 hours) and two storage location (shade and sun), with three replicates. The sugarcane utilized presented 12 months of development and was disintegrated for application of mixture (nine parts of urea for one of ammonium sulfate) to 1.0kg/100.0kg of fresh sugarcane. The samples taken with 12 hours of storage indicated that was an increase in the content of DM and crude protein (CP) of sugar cane compared to the moment of the mixture (307.6 vs. 294.2g/kg of DM and 115.2 vs. 99.3 g/kg of DM, respectively), and the smaller content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was observed around of 12 hours of storage (465.0g/kg of DM). The coefficients of in vitro dry mass digestibility (IVDMD) ranged of 0.558 to 0.612 in the times 0 and 12 hours, respectively. The length of storage changes the chemical composition of sugar cane plus urea. The storage location changes the dry mass content and pH values.

Efeitos de diferentes tipos de poda nos teores de nutrients emflores e frutos de goiabeira

A better understanding of the differences between the levels of nutrients, depending on the type of pruning used in the cultivation of the guava tree, may allow a more adequate understanding of the physiological processes of this fruit. The analysis of flowers is a tool that can be used to assist in assessing the nutritional status of crops, especially perennials. We evaluated the effects of different types of pruning on nutrient concentrations in flowers and fruit, at different developmental stages and in different parts of the fruit. The study was carried out in Vista Alegre do Alto, in orchards of guava variety Paluma. Flowers and fruit were collected in orchards, one under heavy pruning and the other with continuous pruning. The fruit were collected in two stages (two millimeters length and mature) and divided into basal part and apex, with the top toward the stalk. Flowers were collected in the same orchards as the fruits, sampling the basal part and apex of the flowers. F tests were performed and, when necessary, the Scott-Knott test at α= 5%. Overall, there were nutritional differences among flowers and fruits in relation to the type of pruning employed; drastic pruning provided higher levels of nutrients compared with continuous pruning. In relation to the portion of the samples, especially for fruit, there were differences between the apex and base, as well as between different stages of fruit collection.

Digestibilidade da soja semi-integral extrusada para leitões na fase inicial

Two assays were conducted to determine the coefficients of digestibility (CD) and the digestible nutrients (DN) of the extruded semi-whole soybean (Assay 1 conventional feeding and Assay 2 feeding for sows, starting at 109 days of pregnancy and during the lactation and for lactating piglets and in the initial phase, with rations without soybean meal). Each assay was divided into two phases (32 and 50 days of age). Eight piglets weaned at 25 days of age were used. Total feces collection method was used. The following variables were analyzed in feed and in feces: dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber and gross energy. The following average values were obtained: CDDM 88.87%; CDCP 86.81%; CDEE 85.41%; CDCF 78.22%; CDGE 80.21% and CMDE 95.71%, which allowed the calculation of the digestible nutrients: DDM 81.28%; DP 34.49%; DEE 14.02%; DF 4.49%; DEa 4087.86 kcal/kg and MEa 3912.73 kcal/kg. The different coefficients of digestibility were not affected by the differential feeding for sows and piglets nor by the different ages of the animals. Moreover, the extruded semi-whole soybean presented good levels of DN, concerning mainly the digestible and metabolizable energy.

Sugarcane bagasse ozonolysis pretreatment: Effect on enzymatic digestibility and inhibitory compound formation

Sugarcane bagasse was pretreated with ozone to increase lignocellulosic material digestibility. Bagasse was ozonated in a fixed bed reactor at room temperature, and the effect of the two major parameters, ozone concentration and sample moisture, was studied. Acid insoluble and total lignin decreased whereas acid soluble lignin increased in all experiments. Pretreatment barely attacked carbohydrates, with cellulose and xylan recovery rates being >92%. Ozonolysis increased fermentable carbohydrate release considerably during enzymatic hydrolysis. Glucose and xylose yields increased from 6.64% and 2.05%, for raw bagasse, to 41.79% and 52.44% under the best experimental conditions. Only xylitol, lactic, formic and acetic acid degradation compounds were found, with neither furfural nor HMF (5-hydroxymethylfurfural) being detected. Washing detoxification provided inhibitor removal percentages above 85%, increasing glucose hydrolysis, but decreasing xylose yield by xylan solubilization. SEM analysis showed structural changes after ozonization and washing. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.