Domingos Sávio Campos Paciullo

Composição química e digestibilidade in vitro de lâminas foliares e colmos de gramíneas forrageiras, em função do nível de inserção no perfilho, da idade e da estação de crescimento

Chemical composition and the in vitro dry matter digestibility were evaluated in blades and stems at two stages of development and two insertion levels on tillers of signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens), molassesgrass (Melinis minutiflora) and tifton 85 bermudagrass (Cynodon sp), in two seasons of the year (summer and autumn). Lower and upper leaf blades were sampled from the tillers, on the day of ligule exposure and 20 days thereafter, and stems segments located below of the upper leaf blade. The crude protein contents of leaf blades showed little differences among the species, but decreased with development from 18.8 to 14.6% and level of insertion from 18.9 to 14.5% from lower to upper position. Leaf blades of higher insertion level had a greater neutral detergent fiber and lignin concentrations. The IVDMD decreased as leaf aged and exhibited greater values when situated at lower insertion level and sampled in the autumn. The IVDMD of old leaf blades were higher to tifton 85 bermudagrass and lower to signalgrass. The average values of IVDMD of stems varied from 56.7 to 62.7%, according to stage of development and season of growth. The values were 56.9, 59.6 and 60.5% for the signalgrass, bermudagrass and molassesgrass, respectively.

CARACTERÍSTICAS ANATÔMICAS RELACIONADAS AO VALOR NUTRITIVO DE GRAMÍNEAS FORRAGEIRAS

The tissue proportion and cell wall thickness are important anatomical traits influencing nutritive value of grasses. Theses characteristics present high correlation with fiber, lignin and crude protein (CP) contents and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) coefficients. The tissues lowest digested correlate negatively with CP and IVDMD and positively with fiber and lignin contents, while the tissues rapidly digested show positive correlation with CP and IVDMD and negative with fiber and lignin contents. The digestion of some tissues is limited not only by negative effect of lignin on the cell wall digestion, but too by compact organization of cells of some tissues and by high cell wall thickness. The relationships between plant anatomy and nutritive value highlight the possibility of utilization of anatomical traits in evaluation of forage grass nutritive value.

The growth dynamics in Brachiaria species according to nitrogen dose and shade

It was studied the effects of shading (0, 36 and 54%) and of four nitrogen doses (0, 50, 100 and 150 mg N/dm3 of soil) on the morphogenetic traits and on the tillering of grasses of Brachiaria genus (B. decumbens, B. ruziziensis and B. brizantha cv. Marandu and cv. Xaraes), cultivated in pots with 5 kg substrate. It was used a complete random design, in a 3 × 4 × 4 factorial scheme with three replications. Nitrogen promoted increase in leaf appearance rate and in average leaf blade length, whereas shading increased stem elongation rate. Leaf elongation rate and tillering varied with the interaction among shading percentages and nitrogen doses. Shading increased response efficiency of leaf elongation rate to nitrogen doses, but reduced for tillering, evidencing priority existing tillering growth in detriment to appearance of new tillers when there is light restriction for the plants. Phenotypic adjustments, in response to light reduction, indicate that the studied grasses present tolerance to moderate shading.Estudaram-se os efeitos do sombreamento (0, 36 e 54%) e de doses de nitrogenio (0, 50, 100 e 150 mg/dm3 de solo) nas caracteristicas morfogenicas e no perfilhamento de gramineas do genero Brachiaria (B. decumbens, B. ruziziensis e B. brizantha cvs. Marandu e Xaraes) cultivadas em vasos com capacidade para 5 kg de substrato. Adotou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3 × 4 × 4 com tres repeticoes. O nitrogenio promoveu aumento na taxa de aparecimento de folhas e no comprimento medio das lâminas foliares, enquanto o sombreamento aumentou a taxa de alongamento do colmo. A taxa de alongamento de folhas e o perfilhamento variaram com a interacao entre as percentagens de sombra e as doses de nitrogenio. O sombreamento aumentou a eficiencia de resposta da taxa de alongamento de folhas as doses de nitrogenio, mas reduziu para o perfilhamento, evidenciando prioridade no crescimento de perfilhos existentes em detrimento do surgimento de novos perfilhos quando ha restricao de luminosidade para as plantas. Os ajustes fenotipicos, em resposta a diminuicao de luz, indicam que as forrageiras estudadas apresentam tolerância ao sombreamento moderado.

Características produtivas e nutricionais do pasto em sistema agrossilvipastoril, conforme a distância das árvores

The objectives of this work were to evaluate the effects of trees arranged in rows on yield and nutritional characteristics of Urochloa decumbens and to identify the average distance in which there is a better use of moderate shading in an agrisilvipasture system. The treatments consisted of distances from measure points to tree rows (0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 m) and were distributed in randomized blocks, with four replicates. The tiller density, forage mass, forage accumulation rate and chemical composition of pasture were evaluated. The tiller density, forage mass and rates of forage accumulation increased with the distance from tree rows, reaching the highest values of 392 tillers m-2, 1,347 kg ha-1 and 30.1 kg ha-1 per day, respectively, at 9.1, 10.4 and 8.8 m of distance. The contents of the neutral detergent fiber did not vary with distance, while the acid detergent fiber and lignin content varied, but without a clear pattern of response. The crude protein contents reduced quadratically with distance from tree rows and had the highest values under trees (9.8%) and the lowest at 13.5 m of distance (6.5%). The site of pasture, between 7 and 10 m of distance from the tree rows showed the highest benefits of moderate shading on pasture traits.

Soil bulk density and biomass partitioning of Brachiaria decumbens in a silvopastoral system

O sombreamento em sistemas silvipastoris concorre para o conforto termico dos animais; no entanto pode afetar a producao do pasto e contribuir para a compactacao do solo, pelo aumento da concentracao de animais nas areas sombreadas. Avaliou-se o efeito da distância do renque de arvores (sob a copa das arvores, 6 e 12 m de distancia das arvores) na densidade do solo e na biomassa aerea e de raizes de Brachiaria decumbens, nas epocas seca e chuvosa. O estudo foi conduzido num Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo no delineamento em blocos casualizados, com duas repeticoes. A faixa de arvores foi composta pelas especies Eucalyptus grandis e Acacia mangium, e os piquetes foram manejados com novilhas Holandes (Bos taurus) × Zebu (Bos indicus) , sob lotacao rotativa. A intensidade de sombreamento foi decrescente com o distanciamento do renque de arvores. A densidade do solo nao variou com a distância do renque de arvores, mas sim com a epoca do ano, tendo sido maior na epoca chuvosa (1,47 g dm-3) do que na seca (1,28 g dm-3). As massas secas de forragem verde e de raizes foram menores sob a copa das arvores e maiores na epoca chuvosa do que na seca. Na faixa arborizada houve reducoes de 22,3 e 41,4% na biomassa aerea e de raizes, respectivamente. A maior relacao parte aerea/raiz da B. decumbens a sombra expressa uma modificacao no padrao de alocacao de biomassa na forrageira, que prioriza a formacao da parte aerea, em detrimento do sistema radicular.

Sward characteristics and performance of dairy cows in organic grass-legume pastures shaded by tropical trees.

The silvopastoral system (SPS) has been suggested to ensure sustainability in animal production systems in tropical ecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate pasture characteristics, herbage intake, grazing activity and milk yield of Holstein×Zebu cows managed in two grazing systems (treatments): SPS dominated by a graminaceous forage (Brachiaria decumbens) intercropped with different leguminous herbaceous forages (Stylosanthes spp., Pueraria phaseoloides and Calopogonium mucunoides) and legume trees (Acacia mangium, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala), and open pasture (OP) of B. decumbens intercropped only with Stylosanthes spp. Pastures were managed according to the rules for organic cattle production. The study was carried out by following a switch back format with 12 cows, 6 for each treatment, over 3 experimental years. Herbage mass was similar (P>0.05) for both treatments, supporting an average stocking rate of 1.23 AU/ha. Daily dry matter intake did not vary (P>0.05) between treatments (average of 11.3±1.02 kg/cow per day, corresponding to 2.23±0.2% BW). Milk yield was higher (P0.05) in subsequent years. The highest (P0.05) milk yields. Low persistence of Stylosanthes guianensis was observed over the experimental period, indicating that the persistence of forage legumes under grazing could be improved using adapted cultivars that have higher annual seed production. The SPS and a diversified botanical composition of the pasture using legume species mixed with grasses are recommended for organic milk production.

Fotossíntese, reservas orgânicas e rebrota do capim-mombaça (Panicum maximum Jacq.)sob diferentes intensidades de desfolha do perfilho principal

An experiment was carried out to evaluate morphophysiological aspects of Mombacagrass growth after defoliation. Defoliation treatments were performed when the number of green completely expanded leaves on main tiller had stabilized around 3. Four defoliation treatments were imposed to the main tiller: T1 - no defoliation, T2 - total defoliation, T3 - removal of the last expanded leaf and T4 - removal of the two lowest expanded leaves. In all cases primary tillers were completely defoliated by cutting at 8 cm height from soil level. The variables assessed were: leaf expansion rate, root growth, relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), leaf area ratio (LAR) at the ages of 2, 5, 9 and 16 days regrowth, stem and root total non structural carbohydrate content and maximum leaf photosynthesis rate at the ages of 2, 6 and 13 days regrowth. There were five replications, according to a completely randomized design. There was no difference in the photosynthetic rate among the 3 expanded leaves considered at defoliation time. Photosynthetic rate of any leaf remaining after defoliation increased initially, but had declined by the 13th day of regrowth. Stem total non-structural carbohydrates content dropped in response to leaf removal, mainly in the total defoliation treatment which also brought about reduced root growth. Still, the completely defoliated plants had restored their RGR by the 16th day regrowth due to high leaf area expansion rate and leaf area ratio.

Disponibilidade, composição bromatológica e consumo de matéria seca em pastagem consorciada de Brachiaria decumbens com Stylosanthes guianensis

The objective of this work was to evaluate the herbage availability, nutritive value, dry matter intake and grass and legume percentage in diet of crossbred Holstein-Zebu cows, in pasture with Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk, Stylosanthes guianensis var. vulgaris cv. Mineirao and tree legumes. To estimate the fecal output, it was used 10 g cow -1 day -1 of chromium oxide during ten consecutive days. Extrusa samples were used to determine the chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility. B. decumbens availability varied with climatic conditions, while S. guianensis availability decreased linearly along the experimental period. Dry matter intake was higher in May/2001 (1.9% body weight) and did not differ among other months (1.5% body weight). Low dry matter intake values were related to low in vitro dry matter digestibility coefficients (42.1% to 48.0%) and high neutral detergent fiber content (70.2% to 79.4%). Dry matter intake was directly related to legume percentage in the pasture. This observation could indicate the potential of mixed pasture for improving nutritive value in dairy cattle diet.

Disponibilidade de matéria seca, composição química e consumo de forragem em pastagem de capim-elefante nas estações do ano

The study was carried out on elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) pasture, from February 1999 to November 2001, in order to evaluate the dry matter (DM) availability, observing the height of the stubble; chemical composition; in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and dry matter intake (DMI), using Holstein x Zebu lactating cows, during different seasons of the year. The paddocks were managed in a rotational grazing system, with 30 days of resting period and three days of occupation. Nutritive value and DM availability were monthly evaluated and the DMI was measured ten times during the experimental period. During dry season, cows were supplemented with corn silage during the milking intervals. The highest DM availability was estimated in December (3,402kg/ha). From May to September, values ranged from 558 to 1,122kg/ha, showing the strong seasonality on DM production. Means of crude protein and IVDMD did not differ among summer, autumn, and spring, but were lower during the winter. Means of neutral detergent fiber were lower in summer, autumn, and spring and higher during the winter. The pasture DMI were higher in summer, autumn, and spring and lower in the winter, due to low availability of elephantgrass. However, total DMI did not differ among seasons due to the corn silage supplementation during the winter season.

Efeito da suplementação e do intervalo de pastejo sobre a qualidade da forragem e consumo voluntário de vacas Holandês × Zebu em lactação em pastagem de capim-elefante

Mean daily dry matter intake of elephantgrass (DMI) (Pennisetum purpureum, Schumack) in a rotational grazing with lactating Holstein × Zebu cows was estimated in a trial carried out from February to September. The pasture was divided into paddocks and grazed for three days by 24 cows randomly allotted to four treatments. The treatments consisted on grazing intervals of 30 days, and concentrate (2kg/cow/day) and grazing intervals of 30, 36 or 45 days without concentrate. From February to May the elephantgrass was the only roughage, but from June to September (dry season) the cows were fed on chopped sugarcane plus 1% urea. DMI was estimated monthly using the extrusa in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and the fecal output (chromium oxide). The average chemical composition of extrusa was generally similar (P>.05) among grazing intervals (6.1 to 18.2% of CP; 63.5 to 81.4% of NDF; 32.7 to 47.6% of ADF and 43.7 to 72.9% of IVDMD). The CP content of extrusas decreased and the NDF and ADF contents increased (P .05) among grazing intervals. During the dry season cows fed on treatments without concentrate the DMI varied from .39 to 2.2%BW and its contribution to total DM intake decresead from 52% in the first to 43% in the third day of paddock occupation. Sugarcane intake effectively minimized the effects of the low pasture intake in the dry season.