Morphogenic parameters and productivity of grass-Pioneer subjected to nitrogen

Objective of this work by evaluating the effect of nitrogen on forage yield and morphogenesis of elephant grass cv. Pioneer. The experimental design was randomized blocks with five replications, totaling 20 experimental units. Treatments consisted of four nitrogen levels (100, 200, 300 and 400 kg ha(-1) yr(-1)). The experiment was conducted under irrigated conditions. Evaluative cuts were made at 50 cm soil with values of light interception (95%) without pre-defined intervals. It was observed that N fertilization increased significantly (P<0.05) the production of dry matter per hectare, leaf appearance rate (leaves days(-1)tiller(-1)), leaf elongation rate (cm tiller(-1) day(-1)) and stem elongation rate (cm day(-1)). The process of this forage senescence is accelerated with increasing doses of nitrogen and leaf appearance rate, thereby reducing the phyllochron. It required a study on the economic viability of higher doses of nitrogen in grazed elephant grass cv. Pioneer.

Developmental Morphology of a Dimorphic Grass Inflorescence: The Brazilian Bamboo Eremitis (Poaceae)

Premise of research.The highly specialized grass inflorescence varies with respect to phyllotaxis, with the reproductive meristem forming primary lateral branches that are either spirally arranged or distichous. The Brazilian bamboo Eremitis is highly unusual in that it has a dimorphic inflorescence, typically composed of an apical gynecandrous whorl of both male and female spikelets and basal whorls of male spikelets. Although not closely related to them, Eremitis shares some structural similarities with some early-divergent grasses.Methodology.We use SEM and LM to describe the development of the reproductive structures of Eremitis to clarify our understanding of the highly specialized grass inflorescence and flower.Pivotal results.Developmental studies show that the inflorescence of Eremitis is actually partially whorled and partially distichous. The apical whorl is abortive. The female spikelet is not terminal on the axis, in contrast with the majority of grasses. All the male spikelets are distichously attached to the inflorescence axis and separated into groups. There is a hollow style with two vascular bundles.Conclusions.The strong morphological similarities between Eremitis and some early-divergent grasses are here supplemented by several anatomical similarities, perhaps due to a shared pollination syndrome.

Feeding increasing concentrate to Tifton 85 hay ratios modulated rumen fermentation and microbiota in Nellore feedlot steers

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

Retrieval of Trichostrongylus colubriformis infective larvae from grass contaminated in winter and in spring

The survival of infective larvae (L3) of Trichostrongylus colubriformis was evaluated on Brachiaria, Coast-cross and Aruana forage grasses. Feces of sheep parasitized exclusively by T. colubriformis were deposited in winter and spring on experimental plots whose grasses were cut at two heights: 5 cm and 30 cm. One, two, four, eight, 12 and 16 weeks after depositing the feces, fecal and forage samples were collected for the retrieval and quantification of L3. Retrieval of L3 from feces and forage was negligible in winter due to the dry weather, although a few larvae were retrieved in the last larval collections. However, L3 retrieval from fecal samples was greater in spring, especially two weeks after feces were deposited on 30 cm high grasses. At this time, the L3 retrieval rate from the three forage grasses differed significantly (P < 0.05), with Aruana grass showing the highest average L3 retrieval rate, followed by Coast-cross and Brachiaria. In conclusion, the winter drought proved very unfavorable for the presence of L3 in the environment, and the microclimate of Aruana pastureland was generally the most favorable for the retrieval of infective larvae.

Andropogon grass consortium with stylo in two times: the forage response and sources of phosphorus rates

The use of legumes intercropped with forage in the Brazilian savannah (Cerrado) region is an alternative to reverse the process of pasture degradation. The natural phosphorus deficiency in this region and the high retention capacity of this nutrient in the soil are factors that directly affect the sustainability of the production system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a phosphate with medium solubility (Arad) compared to more soluble sources such as triple superphosphate and mono-ammonium phosphate, on the formation and maintenance of pastures of Andropogon gayanus with or without the introduction of Stylosantes guianensis in pasture already established in the Brazilian savannah. Two experiments were carried out under field conditions in an Oxisol using a randomized block design with split plots, plots with two sources of phosphorus (Arad and super-triple or MAP) and subplots with different levels of phosphorus. The study showed that andropogon grass, even though characterised as forage requiring low fertilization, responded to increased fertilization, especially with the use of more soluble sources of P at planting. From the second year on, with the introduction of Stylosantes guianensis, verified effects were seen on legumes in their efficiency of utilization of residual fertilization from the first year; however, this didn't affect legume dry matter production resulting from the P sources used for the andropogon grass. The mixed stands of andropogon grass and Stylosantes guianensis made it more advantageous to increase the P sources using phosphate fertilizer with lower solubility (Arad), when compared to MAP.

Soil phosphorus dynamics as affected by Congo grass and P fertilizer

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

Use of grass carp (ctenopharyngodon idella) as a biological control agent for submerged aquatic macrophytes

This study aimed to evaluate feed preference and control efficacy of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) on the aquatic macrophytes Ceratophyllum demersum, Egeria densa and Egeria najas. An experiment was carried out at mesocosms conditions with 2,000 liters capacity and water residence time of 2.8 days. C. demersum, E. densa e E. najas biomasses were offered individually with sixty g and coupled in similar quantities of 30 g of each species, evaluated during 81 days, envolving 6 treatments. (1 - C. demersum, 2 - E. najas, 3 - E. densa, 4 - C. demersum + E. najas, 5 - C. demersum + E. densa and 6 - E. najas + E. densa). When offered individually, E. najas and C. demersum presented the same predation rate by grass carp, which was higher than E. densa predation rate. When plants were tested in pairs, the order of feed preference was C. demersum > E. najas > E. densa. E. najas and C. demersum percentage control ranged from 73 to 83%. No relation between biomass consumption and grass carp body weight gain was observed, probably due to differences in nutritional quality among macrophyte species according to fish necessities. Therefore, it is concluded that the use of grass carp is one excellent technique to control submersed macrophytes in Brazil.

Chemical and bromatological characteristics of elephant grass silages with the addition of dried cashew stalk

Este trabalho foi conduzido para avaliar o valor nutritivo de silagens de capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.) com 0, 4, 8, 12 e 16% de pedúnculo de caju (Anacardium occidentale L.) desidratado, com base na matéria natural. Utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. Como silos experimentais, foram utilizados tambores plásticos de 210 L. Determinaram-se a composição nutricional, os valores de pH e os teores de nitrogênio amoniacal, ácido lático, acético, propiônico e butírico. A inclusão de pedúnculo de caju desidratado na ensilagem de capim-elefante promoveu aumento das concentrações de matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), carboidratos não-fibrosos (CNF), nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente neutro (NIDN, % do N total), nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente ácido (NIDA, % do N total), pH e ácidos lático e propiônico. Por outro lado, os teores de FDN, FDA, hemicelulose, N-NH3 (% do N total) e ácido butírico diminuíram de forma linear conforme aumentaram os níveis do subproduto na ensilagem. O pedúnculo de caju desidratado não influenciou os teores de carboidratos totais e ácido acético das silagens. Esse subproduto pode ser ensilado com o capim-elefante até o nível de 16%, uma vez que aumenta os teores de PB e CNF e reduz os teores de FDN e FDA, melhorando o padrão de fermentação das silagens.

Ammonia volatilization losses in Tanzania grass fertilized with urea

Gaseous losses are the main factors affecting the efficiency of nitrogenous fertilizers in pastures. To evaluate NH3-N volatilization losses in Tanzania grass fertilized with urea in autumn, spring and summer, a completely randomized design with repeated measurements over time and fifteen replicates was used. Plots were represented by urea levels (50; 100 and 150 kg ha-1 N) and subplots by time after fertilization (1; 2; 3; 6; 9; 12 and 15 days). The interaction between fertilization leveland time after urea application was significant for the accumulated NH3-N volatilization. Urea application leads to higher percentage N losses in the first three days after application. The average cumulative NH3- N loss for the three occasions (different seasons of the year) was 28%, 20% and 16% of N applied for fertilizer doses of 50; 100 and 150 kg ha-1 of N, respectively. The season of the year influenced NH3-N loss pattern and volume, with the lowest values recorded in spring, followed by summer and autumn. The cumulative NH3-N volatilization loss varies from 78 to 90% up to the third day after application of the total NNH3 loss.

Nitrogen immobilization by Congo grass roots impairs cotton initial growth

In crop-livestock integration systems the presence of both grass roots in the soil and straw on the surface can temporarily immobilize nitrogen. This study examined the persistence of grass residues in the system as well as their effects on cotton response to N when grown after Congo grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis, Syn. Urochloa ruziziensis). Congo grass was grown in pots with soil. Next, cotton was grown in the same pots without residues, with whole plant residues (Congo grass roots and shoots) or root residues (grass roots) and fertilized with N as ammonium nitrate. Congo grass and cotton roots were separated using stable carbon isotope fractioning. Congo grass roots showed higher C/N ratio than shoots, losing 14% of its mass after 45 days and increasing soil N immobilization. The lower N availability resulted in N deficient and shorter cotton plants with lower dry matter yields. Nevertheless, the application of 80 to 120 mg kg-1 of N compensated the immobilization by the soil microorganisms, allowing cotton to show normal growth. When Congo grass is present in the cropping system, the effects of the decaying roots on soil N dynamics and availability are more important than those of the straw left on the soil surface.

Growth of Pleurotus ostreatus in culture media based on formulated straw or grass

Mycelial growth strains of POS 98/38, POS 09/100, POS 09/101, and POS 09/102 of Pleurotus ostreatus were evaluated in culture media with various compositions based on extracts of substrates formulated with sugar cane bagasse together with straws and grasses, and with or without nitrogen supplementation. The evaluation was performed during incubation regularly with a ruler graduated in millimeters until total colonization of the culture medium contained in Petri dishes. The statistical model explaining the kinetics of mycelial growth of mushroom strains of P. ostreatus as a deterministic component has an exponential Gompertz function. The results show that the culture medium with sugar cane straw and brizantha grass (supplemented) showed the highest rates of mycelial growth, regardless of strain used compared to wheat straw-based culture media with had the lowest velocities of growth, regardless of supplementation and strains studied.

Determinação da fase lactente-ruminante de cordeiros pela técnica do delta 13C

This study was conducted at University of Marília, São Paulo State, Brazil, aiming to determine the phase of intake transition between exclusively liquid diet (milk) and diet based on milk, grass and/or ration by lambs by δ13C technique. Six Suffolk crossbreeding lambs were distributed in a totally random design (3x2), with two experimental groups and three replications. At the first one, lambs were penned and sucked milk from dams fed with C4 diet. besides, they had access to C3 ration in creep feeding, since their birth. At the second group, lambs were kept on a paddock with Tifton – 85 grass (C4 photosynthetic way) as well as their dams and had access to C3 ration in creep feeding, since their birth. The C3 ration contained soybean meal, ground oat grains, lucerne hay and also mineral salt. The penned lambs’ ration consumption overcame the milk intake at 30-35 days after birth; however, grazing lambs ingested more milk and pasture than ration until 40 days after birth. The δ 13C technique was considered effective on studies of lambs feeding behavior.