Anibal de Moraes

Managing grazing animals to achieve nutrient cycling and soil improvement in no-till integrated systems

Crop-livestock systems are regaining their importance as an alternative to unsustainable intensive farming systems. Loss of biodiversity, nutrient pollution and habitat fragmentation are a few of many concerns recently reported with modern agriculture. Integrating crops and pastures in no-till systems can result in better environmental services, since conservation agriculture is improved by system diversity, paths of nutrient flux, and other processes common in nature. The presence of large herbivores can positively modify nutrient pathways and soil aggregation, increasing soil quality. Despite the low diversity involved, the integration of crops and pastures enhances nature’s biomimicry and allows attainment of a higher system organization level. This paper illustrates these benefits focusing on the use of grazing animals integrated with crops under no-tillage systems characteristic of southern Brazil.

Integração lavoura-pecuária: intensificação de uso de áreas agrícolas

Crop-livestock is a production system that succeeds, at the same area, pastures to animal production and vegetal crops, especially cereals. The objective of this work was to discuss the major presuppositions and characteristics of the crop-livestock system in Southern Brazil, and its effects on the soil quality and animal and vegetal yield. This production system can result in some advantages to farmers such as increase of rent per area, higher diversification, decrease of economic hazards and production costs. Moreover, the crop-livestock system can show biological advantages such as biodiversity increase and improved soil quality. Among the disadvantages, it can point out the possibility of superficial soil compaction in inappropriate pasture management. To success of crop-livestock system some presuppositions must be considered, such as crop rotation, use of no-tillage system, correction of soil acidity and fertility, use of improving vegetal and animal genotypes and, mainly, adequate pasture management.

Produção de gado de corte e acúmulo de matéria seca em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária em presença e ausência de trevo branco e nitrogênio

The research was carried out to verify the influence of the nitrogen input in an Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorium L.) and oat (Avena strigosa Scherb) pasture, in presence and absence of white clover (Trifolium repens L.), checked by the dry matter accumulation, dry matter yield, average daily gain, liveweight gain and stocking rate a crop-pasture rotation system, on no tillage system. Soybean (Glycine Max L.) was cultivated before the grass. The experimental design was complete randomized blocks with split-plot model and three replications. In the plots, four nitrogen levels were tested (0, 100, 200 and 300 kg.ha -1 ) and in the split-plot model, the presence and absence of white clover. Increasing nitrogen levels increased in a cresecent linear way the dry matter accumulation and dry matter yield. The stocking rate and liveweight gain per hectare of bovine increased, as the nitrogen levels increased. The results showed the effect of nitrogen input on the daily accumulation rate, dry matter yield, stocking rate and liveweight gain.

Evolução tecnológica e arranjos produtivos de sistemas de integração lavoura-pecuária-floresta no Brasil

Evolucao tecnologica dos sistemas de integracao lavoura-pecuaria-floresta. Contribuicao do sistemas de integracao lavoura-pecuaria-floresta para a sustentabilidade da agropecuaria. Modalidades dos sistemas de integracao lavoura-pecuaria-floresta. Arranjos regionais de sistemas de integracao lavoura-pecuaria-floresta. Contribuicao da integracao lavoura-pecuaria-floresta para o sequestro de carbono e a reducao da emissao de gases de efeito estufa. Desafios e perspectivas para pesquisa, desenvolvimento e inovacao em integracao lavoura-pecuaria-floresta.

Características do processo de ingestão de forragem por novilhas holandesas em pastagens de capim-mombaça

Para avaliacao da influencia da estrutura do dossel de pastagens tropicais sobre o processo de ingestao de forragem por bovinos, cinco alturas de dossel (60, 80, 100, 120 e 140 cm) de uma pastagem de capim-mombaca (Panicum maximum, Jacq.) foram estabelecidas, em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com duas repeticoes. Quatro novilhas da raca Holandes Preto e Branco com coletores de fezes e urina foram utilizadas em testes de pastejo de 45 minutos. O numero de bocados e o tempo de alimentacao foram registrados com o uso de contadores e cronometros. A massa de forragem total consumida foi obtida pela tecnica de dupla pesagem. Com o aumento na altura do dossel, observou-se aumento linear na massa de bocado. O aumento do comprimento das lâminas foliares expandidas e em expansao resultou em consumo quase que individual de folhas, refletindo em aumento linear no tempo por bocado e em reducao linear na taxa de bocados. Uma vez que o aumento no tempo por bocado foi proporcionalmente maior que o aumento da massa de bocado, a massa de forragem total consumida e a taxa de ingestao estabilizaram-se nas maiores alturas da pastagem. As limitacoes fisicas impostas pela estrutura do dossel levaram a menor eficiencia de captura de forragem pelos animais nas maiores alturas do dossel. O consumo de forragem foi maximizado a altura de 109,3 cm.

Produção de ovinos de corte em quatro sistemas de produção

The potential performance of lambs and ewes from the Suffolk breed in pasture of Tifton grass 85 (Cynodon spp.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) was evaluated in different production systems: lambs weaned with 60 days and kept in pasture; lambs with ewes and kept in pasture; lambs with ewes and kept in pasture with creep feeding; feedlot confined lambs with alfalfa hay + balanced ration. The treatments were applied when the lambs reached 60 days of age until slaughter time, at 32 kg, and were allocated in a completely randomized experimental design, with three replications. A continuous grazing system, with variable stocking rate, was used in pasture treatments. Important effect of the treatments on performance of the lambs was observed. Feedlot confined lambs showed higher daily weight and at lower age at slaughter time. Creep feeding supplementation at 1% LW, did not have effect in lambs with more than 60 days of age kept with the ewes in Tifton 85 grass pasture. The presence of the ewe in the pasture showed important and positive effect in the individual performance of lambs as compared to lambs weaned at 60 days of age.

Cereais de inverno submetidos ao corte no sistema de duplo propósito

The winter cereals utilization in double purpose system allows to provide forage in critical food conditions periods and also to increase the income of production stablility by improving quality and produtivity of winter cereal grains. The experiment was conducted from April 1994 to September 1996, in Guarapuava, Paraná, to evaluate the potential for forage and grains of white oat (Avena sativa L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum), triticale (X. Triticosecale Witt.), black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb), rye (Secale cereale L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), seeking an use in conditions of double purpose. A randomized block experiment design, with treatments assigned to subdivided portions, in three replications, was used. In the plots the production systems (without cut, one and two cut) were studied and in the sub-plot, the genotypes. The two cut system was superior than the others concerning the dry matter, mainly the oat. For the grain yield, the systems without cut and one cut were superior, in spite of the greatest production of oat genotype under two cut. In all genotypes, the hectoliter weight increased and the mass of a thousand seeds decreased, when cuts were performed. Under apropriate handling conditions, considerable forage production can be reached, without affecting the posterior production of grains forA utilizacao de cereais de inverno no sistema de duplo proposito permite fornecer aos animais forragem verde no periodo critico de carencia alimentar, alem de aumentar a estabilidade da receita da producao pela melhoria na qualidade e produtividade dos graos dos cereais de inverno. O experimento foi conduzido no periodo de abril de 1994 a setembro de 1996 em Guarapuava, Parana, a fim de avaliar o potencial de utilizacao para forragem e graos de aveia branca (Avena sativa L.), trigo (Triticum aestivum), triticale (X. Triticosecale Witt.), aveia preta (Avena strigosa Schreb), centeio (Secale cereale L.) e cevada (Hordeum vulgare L.), visando sua utilizacao em condicoes de duplo proposito. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com tratamentos distribuidos em parcelas subdivididas, em tres repeticoes. Nas parcelas foram estudados os sistemas de producao (sem corte, um e dois cortes) e nas subparcelas, os genotipos. O sistema de dois cortes foi superior aos demais quanto ao rendimento de materia seca, principalmente para a aveia. Para o rendimento de graos, os sistemas sem corte e um corte foram superiores, apesar da maior producao dos genotipos de aveia sob dois cortes. Em todos os genotipos, houve melhoria do peso do hectolitro e reducao da massa de mil sementes, quando se realizaram cortes. Sob condicoes de manejo adequadas, pode-se alcancar consideravel producao de forragem, sem afetar a posterior producao de graos para cereais de inverno.

Sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária: efeito do manejo da altura em pastagem de aveia preta e azevém anual sobre o rendimento da cultura da soja

This trial aimed to evaluate the effects of sward height management of pastures composed by black oat and Italian ryegrass upon soybean establishment and yield. The treatments were four sward management heights: 10, 20, 30 and 40cm; and no grazing control. Pasture (sward height, herbage allowance, herbage mass, stocking rate and post grazing herbage mass) and soybean (initial stand of plants and yield) attributes were evaluated. The observed sward heights were very similar to those previously intended. There was a linear increase in herbage allowance and herbage mass with increasing sward height management. Forage accumulation rate was not influenced by treatments. Stocking rate decreased linearly with increasing sward height. Post grazing herbage mass increased with increasing sward height. Treatments had effect on initial soybean stand, but soybean yield was not affected. Results suggest grazing animals do not damage succeeding crop, allowing farmers profitability enhancement by using those areas during soybean intercropping.

Efeito residual do nitrogênio na cultura do milho no sistema de produção integração lavoura-pecuária

The nitrogen is an element required in large quantities by plants. Its application in the pasture, in crop-livestock integration, would provoke high animal productivity in winter and high vegetal productivity in summer. This study aimed to evaluate the residual effect of nitrogen application in the pasture, with and without grazing sheep, under maize culture. The experiment was conducted in Guarapuava (PR) in the 2007/08 season in a randomized block design with split plots. The main parcel consisted of treatments with N in winter (N-TI = 0, 75, 150 e 225kg ha-1 de N) in pasture of white oat (Avena sativa L.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), in subparcel with (CP) and without grazing (SP) sheep and, in subsubparcels N in summer (N-TV=0; 75; 150; 225 e 300kg ha-1 de N). The sowing of hybrid 30F53 occurred on 10/24/07. The variables evaluated were: pasture dry mass, productivity, numbers of rows, grains per rows, grains per spike and grain thousand mass. The dry mass plant CP and SP had quadratic response to the level of N-TI and N-TV. The productivity of grains, as well as the number of rows and grains per spike, was not affected by grazing. There was quadratic response in productivity of grains, due to the increase of nitrogen levels N-TI and N-TV.

Padrões de deslocamento e procura por forragem de novilhas leiteiras em pastagem de capim-mombaça

To evaluate grazing strategies of cattle on pastures, four Holstein black and white coating heifers were submitted to five sward heights of mombacagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) pasture, in a completely randomized design, with two replications, between February and April, 2002. The experimental animals were evaluated during 45 minutes tests. Number of bites, number of feeding stations, number of steps and feeding time were measured, using chronometers and counters. The number of feeding stations per minute decreased quadratically (Y= 16.3199 - 0.2424 x + 0.000996 x2, R2 = 0.9328, P = 0.0031), from low to tall sward, as a result of the greater available mass present in the highest sward heights, that reduced the searching for other feeding stations. The number of steps between feeding stations increased (Y= 0.7247 + 0.01603 x, R2 = 0.6172, P = 0.0043) increasing the exploration of pasture environment. With the increase in available forage dry matter, the animals reduced total number of steps (Y= 513.998287 - 2.659875 x, R2 = 0.728076, P = 0.0016), steps by minute (Y= 11.567445 - 0.058396 x, R2 = 0.724633, P = 0.0013) and, consequently, the intensity of area utilization (Y= 9.533139 - 0.051351 x, R2 = 0.7708, P = 0.0005), as the greater sward height assured high forage intake. The animals showed adaptive feeding strategies to different pasture structures, in an attempt to improve their ingestive efficiency.