Características produtivas, morfogênicas e estruturais do capim Piatã submetido à adubação orgânica

The organic fertilizer can be a viable alternative in the production of forage grasses, however there is little information regarding doses and composition of the major organic fertilizers. The aim of this paper was to verify the influence of the different doses of organic compost produced from two types of poultry litter on the structural, morphogenetic and productive characteristics of Brachiaria brizantha cv 'Piatã'. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design in a factorial scheme l with parcel subdivided in time. The parcels were composed by six treatments: two types of compost (poultry litter based in sugar cane and napier grass) in three doses (100, 200 and 300kg ha-1 equivalent N.) and the subparcels by the four different periods of cut. The composts were applied in a unique dose, after the uniformization cut, at the quantities: 11,36 and 11,83, 22,73 and 23,67, 34,09 and 35,50 g pot-1 for the poultry litter based in sugar cane and napier grass, respectively which are equivalent to the rates of 0, 100, 200 and 300kg ha-1 of N. The variables measured were: dry matter production (DMP), leaf appearance rate (LApR), phyllochron, leaf elongation dose (LER) and shoots elongation rate (SER), number of green leaves (NGL), final size of the leaf (FSL). No significant difference between the types of composts and in the interaction compost x doses was observed, thus, both could be used without the risk of loss in the use of the nutrients by the plants evaluated in the experiment. There was a significant difference between the DMP, LApR, phyllochron, LER, SER, NGL and FSL because of the increasing rates of nitrogen, followed by a linear model of prediction. The effect of the periods of slaughter was also observed, where the slaughters carried out in the summer presented a better performance over the morphogenetic and structural features evaluated.

Chemical and biological properties of phosphorus-fertilized soil under legume and grass cover (Cerrado region, Brazil)

The use of cover crops has been suggested as an effective method to maintain and/or increase the organic matter content, while maintaining and/or enhancing the soil physical, chemical and biological properties. The fertility of Cerrado soils is low and, consequently, phosphorus levels as well. Phosphorus is required at every metabolic stage of the plant, as it plays a role in the processes of protein and energy synthesis and influences the photosynthetic process. This study evaluated the influence of cover crops and phosphorus rates on soil chemical and biological properties after two consecutive years of common bean. The study analyzed an Oxisol in Selvíria (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil), in a randomized block, split plot design, in a total of 24 treatments with three replications. The plot treatments consisted of cover crops (millet, pigeon pea, crotalaria, velvet bean, millet + pigeon pea, millet + crotalaria, and millet + velvet bean) and one plot was left fallow. The subplots were represented by phosphorus rates applied as monoammonium phosphate (0, 60 and 90 kg ha-1 P2O5). In August 2011, the soil chemical properties were evaluated (pH, organic matter, phosphorus, potential acidity, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation) as well as biological variables (carbon of released CO2, microbial carbon, metabolic quotient and microbial quotient). After two years of cover crops in rotation with common bean, the cover crop biomass had not altered the soil chemical properties and barely influenced the microbial activity. The biomass production of millet and crotalaria (monoculture or intercropped) was highest. The biological variables were sensitive and responded to increasing phosphorus rates with increases in microbial carbon and reduction of the metabolic quotient.

Suplementação da dieta de novilhos de três grupos genéticos em pastagem de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu

This trial was carried out to study the effects of supplementation level on performance of steers from different genetic groups (Nellore x Red Angus (NR), Nellore (NL) and Holstein crossbred (MH), and three experimental periods. The performance data for first period were analyzed according to randomized block (RB) design, with 3 treatments ((NR, NL and MH)) and 3 blocks. In second period, the RB design used with 3 x 3 factorial design, and 3 blocks. Factor A determined the group (NL and MH) and factor B the supplementation levels (0.2, 0.6 and 1% LW). In third period, the data were evaluated according to completely randomized design, with 2 x 3 factorial design. Factor A determined the group and factor B, three levels of supplementation. In the first, higher weight gain (p < 0.05) was observed for NR (0.79 kg day-1) compared to MH and NL (0.73 and 0.61 kg day-1). The concentrate intake varied for N. NR showed higher (p < 0.05) WG (0.91 kg day-1) compared to NL (0.75 kg day-1) and MH (0.76 kg day-1). The levels of supplements influenced (p < 0.05) WG (0.68, 0.81 and 0.92 referring to levels of 0.2, 0.6 and 1.0% LW). In third period, MH presented greater WG < 0.05) (0.895 kg day-1). No difference was verified on animals with 0.8 and 1.2% LW, with WG of 0.92 and 0.82 kg day-1.

Soil nitrogen dynamics after Brachiaria desiccation

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

Épocas de aplicação de nitrogênio em feijoeiro cultivado após milho solteiro ou consorciado com braquiária

The objective of this work was to evaluate the common bean response to N application timing, under no-tillage system, after single corn or intercropped with palisade grass. A randomized complete block experimental design was used in a split-plot arrangement, with four replicates. Plots consisted of: single corn crop or corn intercropped with palisade grass, in two summer cropping seasons precedent to common bean sowing. Subplots consisted of: 100 kg ha-1 N application in three times - before sowing, at sowing, and at side-dressing - and a control treatment without N application. Nitrogen fertilization on common bean increased leaf-N content, the number of pods per plant, and grain yield (33% in the average application timing), only in the cropping after single corn. By providing large mass production and by N cycling, the cultivation of palisade grass intercropped with corn reduced N requirement of common bean in succession, in comparison to previous sole corn cultivation. Early N application before or during common bean sowing time provides grain yield similar to the observed one in the side-dressing application.

Crescimento de Brachiaria plantaginea e Raphanus raphanistrum em convivência com híbridos de milho submetidos a períodos de controle das plantas daninhas

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of corn hybrid cultivation and weed control periods on the population and growth of the weeds B. plantaginea and R. raphanistrum. The trial was set at Universidade Estadual the São Paulo (UNESP), Botucatu Campus, São Paulo - Brazil. A completely randomized block design with four replications was used. The treatments were arranged in a factorial scheme with four corn hybrids (C701, DINA170, XL678, and C125) and four manual weed control periods [a. 15 days after emergence (DAE); b. 15 and 30 DAE; c. 15, 30 and 45 DAE, and d. weedy]. The hybrids DINA170 and C125 significantly decreased the density of B. plantaginea. The hybrids C701, DINA170 and XL678 affected the growth of the plants, but they did not affect the emergence of new plants of R. raphanistrum. Hand-hoeing at 15 DAE decreased the dry matter weight of the weeds B. lantaginea and R. raphanistrum by 93.1%, 95.4% and 89.2%, respectively, at harvest of the four hybrids.

Production of sheep grazing on nitrogen-fertilized tifton 85 grass in continuous stocking

Biomass and forage volume density and the performance and stocking rate of sheep on pastures with nitrogen-fertilized Tifton 85 and subjected to a continuous stocking system were evaluated. Four doses of nitrogen (0, 100, 200, and 400 kg ha-1 year), arranged in an experimental design with randomized blocks and four replications, were analyzed. Sixteen paddocks and Santa Inês sheep were used as test animals, coupled to crossbreed Santa Inês sheep as regulating animal stocking. Nitrogen-fertilized Tifton 85 pastures increased the amount of forage biomass and volume density which affected stocking rate and weight gain of sheep in continuous grazing. When pastures with Tifton 85 were administered in variable load continuous stocking, with grass kept at 15 cm, nitrogen fertilization up to 400 kg ha-1 year is recommended.

Disponibilidade de fósforo em solo cultivado com braquiária em rotação com soja

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Agricultura) - FCA

Plant growth promoting bacteria in Brachiaria brizantha

Brachiaria brizantha is considered one of the preferred fodders among farmers for having high forage yield and large production of root mass. The association of beneficial bacteria with these grasses can be very valuable in the recovery of the pasture areas with nutritional deficiency. With the aim of studying this possibility, we carried out the sampling of soil and roots of B. brizantha in three areas (Nova Odessa-SP, So Carlos-SP and Campo Verde-MT, Brazil). Seventy-two bacterial strains were isolated and used in tests to evaluate their biotechnological potential. Almost all isolates presented at least one positive feature. Sixty-eight isolates produced analogues of indole-3-acetic acid, ten showed nitrogenase activity when subjected to the method of increasing the concentration of total nitrogen (total N) in the culture medium and sixty-five isolates showed nitrogenase activity when subjected to acetylene reduction technique. The partial sequencing of 16S rRNA of these isolates allowed the identification of seven main groups, with the prevalence of those affiliated to the genus Stenotrophomonas (69 %). At the end, this work elected the strains C4 (Pseudomonadaceae) and C7 (Rhodospirillaceae) as promising organisms for the development of inoculants due to their higher nitrogenase activity.

Body Composition and Net Energy Requirements for Maintenance of Non-Castrated Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

The research aimed to estimate body contents of protein and energy and net requirements of energy for maintenance of buffaloes, slaughtered at different stages of maturity. There were used 14 Mediterranean intact males with initial average body weight of 352.2 +/- 24.3 kg and average age of 24 months. The animais were randomly divided into four experimental groups. One group was designed to slaughter at the beginning of the experimental period (IS). The animals of another group were restricting fed, receiving, individually, levels of protein and energy 15% above maintenance (RF). The animals of the two remaining groups were individually fed ad libitum (SW450 and SW500) to reach weights corresponding to 100 and 110 percent of the mature weight of the buffalo cows (respectively 450 and 550 kg). The ration contained ground-corn cobs, soybean meal, urea, minerals, and signal-grass (Brachiaria decumbens) hay, with a concentrate: roughage ratio of 50: 50 and 13% of crude protein on a dry matter basis. To estimate changes in body composition inside the range of weights included in the trial, linear regression equations of log protein (kg), fat (kg) and energy (Mcal) as a function of log empty-body-weight (EBW), in kg, were fitted. Energy requirements for maintenance were obtained as estimated heat production at zero level of energy intake. Buffaloes submitted to fattening in feedlot presented early body fat deposition, and had with the same live weight lower protein content and higher fat content and energy per unit weight than european-zebu crossbred cattle.

Root system and root and stem base organic reserves of pasture Tanzania grass fertilizer with nitrogen under grazing

The goal of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) and of total nitrogen (N), as well as, to evaluate the root system in Tanzania-grass pastures fertilized with doses of urea in fall, spring and summer. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of Iguatemi, Maringa, Parana, Brazil, from March 2007 to March 2008. The experimental design was complete random blocks with subplots and four repetitions. The plots showed doses of N (50, 100 e 150 kg ha(-1) of N) plus the control (no N fertilization), and the subplots the season of the year. Root samples were taken at depths of 0-10, 10-20 and 20-40 cm. Root biomass showed a trend for mass accumulation up to a dosage of 100 kg ha(-1) for all seasons evaluated. Also, about 80% of the root system of Tanzaniagrass plants was found on the 0-10 cm layer for all dosages of N. Nitrogen fertilizer above 100 kg ha(-1) may foster fast forage plant growth reducing its NSC root storage capacity although favoring NSC and total N storage at stem base. NSC and total N concentrations were highest in fall, demonstrating that its usage is greater in spring due to the weather conditions being favorable to plant growth. In the regrowth, the largest reserve of total N was at the 0-10 cm root layer and the largest NSC reserve is at stem base.

Chemical composition, in vitro digestibility and gas production of Brachiaria managed under different forage allowances

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

Correlação entre condição da superfície do solo agrícola e o coeficiente de absorção acústica

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

Assessment of the Removal Capacity, Tolerance, and Anatomical Adaptation of Different Plant Species to Benzene Contamination

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Characterization and properties of elephant grass ashes as supplementary cementing material in pozzolan/Ca(OH)(2) pastes

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