Caracterização e biodigestão anaeróbia dos dejetos de caprinos

Quantificar e caracterizar os dejetos gerados por cabras Saanen em quatro categorias de idade e alimentadas com três dietas e na seqüência, e promover a biodigestão anaeróbia dos dejetos constituíram os objetivos deste trabalho. Para a produção de dejetos, foram utilizadas 36 cabras Saanen, com idades entre 2 e 4 (C1), 4 e 8 (C2), 8 e 12 (C3) e acima de 12 meses (C4), alimentadas com as dietas 1 (D1: 80% volumoso (Vol) e 20% concentrado (Con)); 2 (D2: 60% Vol e 40% Con) e 3 (D3: 40% Vol e 20% Con). Foram quantificadas as produções diárias de fezes e urina e seus teores em N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Cu, Zn e Mn. Com a mistura das fezes e urina de todas as categorias, separadas segundo as dietas, foram abastecidos biodigestores batelada, com capacidade para 4 L de substrato em fermentação. A C1 apresentou menor (P<0,05) excreção de fezes (164,1 g de MS (massa seca)/animal por dia) e o menor consumo de alimento (362,2g MS (massa seca)/animal por dia). As maiores concentrações de N, P, K, Ca, Mg e K ocorreram nas fezes e urina geradas por cabras da C4 e alimentadas pela D3. O substrato preparado com dejetos oriundos da D3 apresentou 45% de redução nos teores de sólidos voláteis (SV). Os substratos preparados com dejetos obtidos de animais alimentados com a D3 produziram mais biogás (P<0,01) por kg de sólidos totais e SV adicionados.

Eficiência de utilização de água e nutrientes em plantas de feijão-de-corda irrigadas com água salina em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento

O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar os efeitos do uso de água salina em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento de plantas de feijão-de-corda sobre a eficiência de utilização de água e de nutrientes. O experimento foi conduzido no campo e obedeceu ao delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os tratamentos empregados foram: T1 - água de poço com condutividade elétrica (CEa) de 0,8 dS m-1 durante todo o ciclo; T2 - água salina (CEa de 5,0 dS m-1) durante todo o ciclo; T3, T4 e T5 - água salina de 0 a 22 dias após o plantio (DAP), de 23 a 42 DAP e de 43 a 62 DAP, respectivamente. As plantas dos tratamentos T3, T4 e T5 foram irrigadas com água de poço nas demais fases do ciclo. Aos 8; 23; 43 e 63 DAP, as plantas foram colhidas e determinaram-se a matéria seca total e de grãos, a eficiência no uso da água, considerando a produção de matéria seca total (EUA P) e a produção de grãos (EUA GR), e a eficiência de utilização de nutrientes (K, Ca, N, P, Fe, Cu, Zn e Mn). A aplicação de água salina durante todo o ciclo (T2) reduziu a EUA P e a EUA GR, enquanto a aplicação de água na fase inicial do ciclo (T3) reduziu a EUA GR e a eficiência de utilização da maioria dos nutrientes. Por outro lado, a irrigação com água salina dos 23 aos 42 DAP (T4) e dos 43 aos 62 DAP (T5) não afetou as eficiências nos usos de água e de nutrientes.

Spatial variability of yield and other parameters associated with pear trees

In the last few years, precision agriculture has become commonly used with many crops, particularly cereals, and there is also interest in precision horticulture. Pear is a seasonal fruit and well appreciated by Brazilian people, although it is mostly imported. Brazilian farmers are nowadays trying to increase pear production. Thus, this research aimed at mapping the yield of pear trees in order to study the spatial variability of yield as well as its comparison with spatial variability of soil and plant attributes. The experimental field had 146 pear trees, variety 'Pêra d'água', distributed on a 1.24 ha. Four harvests were performed according to the fruit ripening and from each tree; only the ripe fruits were harvested. In each harvest, all the fruits were weighed and the total yield was obtained based on the sum of each harvest. The soil attributes analyzed were P, K, Ca, Mg, pH in CaCl2, C, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and base saturation, and the plant attributes were fruit length, diameter and yield. Yield had low correlation with soil and plant attributes. An index of spatial variability was suggested in this study and helped in classifying levels of spatial dependence of the various soil and plant attributes: very low (fruit length); low (P, fruit diameter), medium (Mg, pH, Cu, Zn, Fe), high (Ca, K, base saturation and yield), and very high (Mn and C).

Nutrient loss in composting of agroindustrial residues

The management of composting may influence the characteristics of the produced compounds. The experiment used three frequencies of plowing, combined with the conditions: with and without coverage of the composting patio, with and without the use of commercial inoculant, resulting in 12 furrows, installed on the Experimental Center of Agricultural Engineering (NEEA), of the STATE UNIVERSITY OF WEST PARANÁ (UNIOESTE), Campus of Cascavel city - state of Paraná (PR), in Brazil. The waste and quantities used in kg were: corn cob (7.5); hatchery residue (5); floater sludge (31); ash (1); wheat cleaning residue (120); wheat pre-cleaning residue (120); corn peel (7.5); solid fraction of wash trucks used to transport chickens (2); solid fraction of pig manure (1) and coal (5), totaling 300kg of natural matter. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of plowings, patio coverage and inoculation in losses of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe. The furrows plowed three times a week in the first month showed significant higher losses of N (p<0.05). The coverage of the composting patio influenced significantly the losses of N, K, Mg and Na (p<0.05). The produced compounds had a high agronomic value in relation to macro and micronutrients. It is recommended the use of patio coverage and plowing twice a week in the first month and once a week in the subsequent months for a compound with higher concentrations of nutrients.

Pedological characterization and land use and occupation: influences on water quality in a watershed located in the zona da mata (MG)

In order to verify the influence of class and use and occupation of land on water quality, it was performed the characterization and analyzes of land use and monitoring of seven springs inserted in a watershed located in the rural of Viçosa city - Minas Gerais (MG) state, in Brazil. Through soil analyzes, carried out in five different profiles, it was possible to identify three distinct pedological classes: Argisol, Cambisol and Latosol. Furthermore, the concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, Pb and Ni were identified in each of the horizons in the considered profiles. Water samples were collected and analyzed monthly, over eight months, twenty two parameters of water quality. Comparing the results of each survey, it was possible to identify a relation between water quality and land use in the round of the springs, considering color, BOD, DO, E. coli and Mn as the most affected parameters, influenced mainly by soil characteristics and the presence of a large percentage of pasture in the study area.

Estudo da associação de água residuária de suinocultura e adubação mineral na cultura do milho e no solo

RESUMOO uso de água residuária em solo agrícola pode-se caracterizar como uma fonte alternativa de adubação, além de melhorar as condições edáficas do solo devido à matéria orgânica adicionada. Neste contexto, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar os efeitos na cultura do milho e em Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico típico, devido à aplicação de água residuária de suinocultura associada com adubação química. No experimento, utilizou-se de cinco doses de ARS (0; 112,5; 225; 337,5 e 450 m3 ha-1) durante o ciclo do milho, combinadas com duas adubações químicas (50 e 75% da dose recomendada), para compor os respectivos tratamentos, com três repetições. Os parâmetros da cultura do milho avaliados foram: produtividade (PROD), altura de plantas (AP), teor de macronutrientes (N, P, K e Mg) e de micronutrientes (Fe, Zn, Cu e B). Os parâmetros de solo avaliados foram: conteúdo de matéria orgânica (MO), soma e saturação por bases (SB e V), pH e teores disponíveis de N, P, K, Cu, Zn, Fe e Mn. A partir dos resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que: na cultura do milho, a aplicação de água residuária da suinocultura é fator predominante no aumento da produtividade e na nutrição mineral em K, Mg, Fe, Cu e B, e insuficiente para N e P; no solo, de modo geral, a água residuária da suinocultura propiciou aumentos positivos nos parâmetros de P, Zn, Cu, pH e SB, negativos nos teores de K e Fe, e nenhum efeito nos parâmetros N, V, MO e Mn; os parâmetros P, Cu e Zn aumentaram significativamente os teores no solo ao longo do experimento, indicando a importância do fator tempo nesse tipo de estudo.

Parenteral administration of vitamins A, D and E on the oxidative metabolism and function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in swine

The weaning period of piglets is characterized by physiological alterations, such as decreased weight gain, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increased serum cortisol levels with possible effects on the immune response. The effect of parenteral administration of vitamins A, D and E on production performance, oxidative metabolism, and the function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) was assessed in piglets during the weaning period. The sample was comprised of 20 male piglets that were given an injectable ADE vitamin combination (135,000 IU vitamin A, 40,000 IU vitamin D and 40mg vitamin E/ animal) at 20 and 40 days of age. Weight gain, concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the microbicidal and phagocytic activity of PMNLs were assessed. No difference was observed in the average piglet weight during the study; however, a greater percentage of weight gain was observed after weaning in the treated group. The concentrations of GSH and SOD did not differ between groups, although lipid peroxidation was greater in the control group at 60 days of age. The investigated variables of oxidative metabolism were correlated as follows: -0.41 for GSH and MDA, -0.54 for GSH and SOD and 0.34 for MDA and SOD. The intensity of intracellular ROS production, the percentage of ROS-producing PMNLs and the intensity of phagocytosis by PMNLs did not differ between treatment groups. Administration of the injectable ADE combination improved the percentage of weight gain between 20 and 40 days of age, decreased oxidative stress at 60 days of age and did not influence the function of PMNLs in piglets.

Oxidative metabolism and muscle biochemical profile of polo horses supplemented with an ADE vitamin complex

Horses used for the game of polo experience abrupt and frequent changes in exercise intensity. To meet this variable energy demand, the horses use both aerobic and anaerobic pathways in varying proportions and intensities. In this context, there must be a balance between the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the action of antioxidants to prevent oxidative stress and its consequences. The effect of supplementation with an ADE vitamin complex on oxidative metabolism was evaluated in 18 crossbred horses randomly divided between a treated group (TG) and a control group (CG). The TG animals received the ADE vitamin complex (1mL/50 kg of body weight) by deep intramuscular injection at 30 and 15 days before the game. The CG horses received 10ml of saline by the same administration route and schedule. During the polo match, the animals played for a total of 7.5 min. Blood samples were collected on the same days as the treatments were administered, and immediately before and at 15, 90 and 180 minutes after the game. The concentrations of creatine phosphokinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lactate, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in the blood samples. After the game, the TG demonstrated higher levels of AST, lactate and glucose than the CG, suggesting more efficient energy use by the treated animals. The higher GSH and lower lactate levels in the TG before the game suggest the presence of a greater antioxidant supply in the treated animals. The maintenance of the MDA levels indicates that neither of the groups exhibited oxidative stress.

Teores de cobre, zinco e ferro no fígado de búfalos (Bubalus bubalis) com paratuberculose

Resumo: Com o objetivo de realizar um estudo dos teores de cobre (Cu), zinco (Zn) e ferro (Fe) em búfalas com paratuberculose (PTB) foram utilizadas 13 búfalas, das raças Murrah, Mediterrâneo e seus mestiços acima de três anos de idade, pertencentes a duas propriedades localizadas nos municípios de São Luiz e São Mateus, no Estado do Maranhão. Os animais foram selecionados de acordo com a presença de sinais clínicos sugestivos de paratuberculose, caracterizados por estado nutricional regular a ruim, diarreia crônica líquida a semi-líquida, desidratação, edema submandibular, anestro prolongado, mastites e verminose gastrintestinal. Foi realizada biópsia retal em todos os animais, para detecção de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) por meio da qPCR, e exames histopatológicos (HE e Ziehl-Neelsen). No Grupo1 sete animais foram positivos para presença de Map, e no Grupo 2 seis foram negativos. Todos os búfalos foram eutanasiados e necropsiados para coleta de diversos tecidos. Parte dos fragmentos foram fixados em formol a 10% para histopatologia e fragmentos de tecido hepático foram congelados para as dosagens dos microminerais (Cu, Zn e Fe). À necropsia todos os animais positivos para PTB apresentavam linfonodos mesentéricos de coloração castanha sugestiva de hemossiderose. Adicionalmente, em um animal foram observados pequenos pontos de cor marrom distribuídos difusamente na mucosa do intestino delgado. Na histopatologia foi observada hemossiderose moderada a acentuada no baço dos animais do Grupo 1. Na dosagem dos microminerais todos os animais com PTB apresentaram níveis abaixo dos valores de referência para Cu e Zn. Observou-se que a média dos teores de Cu dos búfalos com PTB foi 18,0ppm e de Zn 68,6ppm. No Grupo 2 a média dos teores de Cu foi 113,7ppm e de Zn 110,0ppm. Os teores de Fe em ambos os grupos foram elevados (>670ppm). Baseado nos achados clínico-patológicos e nas dosagens de minerais realizadas neste estudo, conclui-se que na região estudada, a PTB agravou o quadro clínico de animais com deficiência de Cu e Zn. Em áreas menos deficientes desses minerais sugere-se que a doença seja capaz de induzir quadros de deficiência mineral secundária.

Teores de macro e micronutrientes e a relação c/n de várias espécies de plantas daninhas

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar os teores de nutrientes (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Zn, Fe e Mn) e a relação C/N, presentes na matéria seca da parte aérea das seguintes espécies de plantas daninhas: Ageratum conyzoides L., Amaranthus lividus L., Bidens pilosa L., Brachiaria decumbens Stapf., Brachiaria plantaginea (Link) Hitchc., Senna occidentalis (L.) Link., Commelina benghalensis L., Cyperus rotundus L., Digitaria horizontalis Willd., Euphorbia heterophylla L., Indigofera truxillensis H.B.K., Ipomoea acuminata Roem. et Schult, Panicum maximum Jacq., Raphanus raphanistrum L., Rhynchelytrum repens (Willd.) C.E. Hubb., Richardia brasiliensis Gomez e Sida cordifolia L. Os teores de macronutrientes obtidos da matéria seca das plantas daninhas, foram maiores em geral nas dicotiledôneas. Em relação às monocotiledôneas não houve um padrão de comportamento para os micronutrientes. Entretanto, o teores de carbono foram, em média, superiores para todas as monocotiledôneas, sendo que as dicotiledôneas apresentaram relações C/N menores do que as monocotiledôneas.

Avaliação de formulações de glyphosate sobre soja Roundup Ready

Avaliou-se neste trabalho o efeito da aplicação de três marcas comerciais de glyphosate - Roundup Ready® e R. Transorb®, formuladas à base do sal de isopropilamina, e Zapp Qi®, à base do sal potássico - sobre a soja transgênica (variedade CD 219RR), tolerante a esse herbicida . Aos 25 dias após a emergência, quando as plantas apresentavam o segundo trifólio completamente expandido (estádios V2-V3), foram aplicadas formulações do glyphosate na dose de 2.000 g ha-1. Avaliou-se a intoxicação das plantas aos 15 dias após a aplicação do herbicida, o número e massa seca de folíolos, o número de nódulos radiculares e o teor foliar de N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn e Mn, por ocasião do florescimento (59 dias após a emergência - DAE), e o rendimento de grãos ao final do ciclo (127 DAE). A partir de amostras de solo, também coletadas na etapa de florescimento da soja, avaliou-se a taxa de respiração basal do solo, o carbono da biomassa microbiana e quociente metabólico. O Roundup Transorb, formulado à base do sal de isopropilamina, foi mais prejudicial às plantas de soja RG, reduzindo o número de nódulos radiculares e o rendimento de grãos, além de promover maior efeito negativo sobre a microbiota do solo. Roundup Ready, à base do mesmo sal isopropilamina, não deve ser aplicado na soja RG em doses elevadas, haja visto ser capaz de alterar o teor de alguns nutrientes nas folhas da cultura, entre eles N, Ca, Mg, Fe e Cu, além de causar intoxicação nas plantas.

Toxic action of aqueous wheat straw extract on horse e purslane

The toxic action of aqueous wheat (Triticum aestivum) straw extracts was investigated on germination, early seedling growth, some biochemical attributes and the antioxidant enzymes of horse purslane (Trianthemaportulacastrum). Aqueous extracts of wheat straw were prepared by soaking the wheat straw in distilled water in 1:10 w/v ratio and diluted to obtain the concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. These were used as pre and post emergence in laboratory and screen house trials. Wheat aqueous extracts exhibited phytotoxicity to horse purslane by inhibiting and delaying its germination and suppressing seedling growth. Wheat phytotoxins in its aqueous extracts suppressed the chlorophyll content and soluble protein, and enhanced soluble phenolics and the activity of antioxidant enzymes as catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in the seedlings of horse purslane compared with the control. Such inhibitory activity is believed to originate from exposure to wheat phytotoxins that are present in its aqueous straw extract. The suppressive effects of wheat straw need to be investigated further under field conditions.

Influence of soil properties on the abundance of plant species in ferruginous rocky soils vegetation, southeastern Brazil

Ferruginous "campos rupestres" are a particular type of vegetation growing on iron-rich primary soils. We investigated the influence of soil properties on plant species abundance at two sites of ferruginous "campos rupestres" and one site of quartzitic "campo rupestre", all of them in "Quadrilátero Ferrífero", in Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil. In each site, 30 quadrats were sampled to assess plant species composition and abundance, and soil samples were taken to perform chemical and physical analyses. The analyzed soils are strongly acidic and presented low fertility and high levels of metallic cations; a principal component analysis of soil data showed a clear segregation among sites due mainly to fertility and heavy metals content, especially Cu, Zn, and Pb. The canonical correspondence analysis indicated a strong correlation between plant species abundance and soil properties, also segregating the sites.

Effects of host resistance on the isozymatic patterns of Bipolaris sorokiniana (Dematiaceae, Moniliales)

Nine isolates of Bipolaris sorokiniana were inoculated on three cultivars of wheat plants (susceptible, moderately resistant, resistant). Eight days after the inoculation, the isolates were recovered (27 isolates) and the following isozymatic patterns were analyzed: esterase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, malate dehydrogenase, and superoxide dismutase. The esterase system was the most polymorphic, and the isolates recovered from the susceptible cultivar showed the highest variability. This is evidence that this cultivar exerts low selection pressure on the pathogen

Application of various antioxidants in the treatment of influenza

We determined the effect of the antioxidants superoxide dismutase, desferrioxamine and allopurinol on the survival of male CBA mice infected intranasally with 2-5 LD50 lung influenza virus A/Aichi/2/68. Survival for at least 20 days was observed for 45% of the mice that received 1000 U/day superoxide dismutase prepared from red blood cells on days 5, 6, 7 and 8 after infection, and 75% survival was observed for mice that received the same dose on days 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Desferrioxamine, 25 mg/kg per day and 100 mg/kg per day injected subcutaneously, resulted in survival rates of 5 and 0%, respectively, compared to 10% survival observed for saline-injected controls. Allopurinol at doses of 5 to 50 mg/kg per day had no effect on mouse survival. These data demonstrate the efficacy of superoxide dismutase for the protection of mice against hemorrhagic lung edema. The ineffectiveness of allopurinol suggests that the xanthine oxidase system does not play a major role in hemorrhage or lung edema and that caution is necessary when desferrioxamine is administered during an acute inflammatory process accompanied by erythrocyte lysis