E. N. Fernandes

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.

Zoneamento da pecuária leiteira da região sul do Brasil

Data from the 1996 Brazilian census, available from IBGE (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica) in digital format, along with edafoclimatic data comprised the GIS databases used in this work. The cluster analysis was used, followed by a discriminant analysis with the objective of pooling milk producing areas showing the same similarity patterns, considering each variable set. In addition, to establish clusters, the relative importance of each variable was evaluated, within each group. Mapping of dairy husbandry in the southern region of Brazil showed the existence of four distinct areas concerningregional production patterns. The zone with the lowest animal (1249 liters per cow per year) and land (19.5 liters per hectare per year) productivity area involves 119 counties. Apparently, their major limitations are poor management practices used and animal genetics, where only 55% of the herd is specialized for milk production. Higher specialization was found in a zone that showed animal productivity of 2864 liters/cow/ year, and land productivity of 6700 liters/hectare/year. This zone comprises 26 counties mainly located at the States of Rio Grande do Sul, northwest (26.0%) and central-east (21.8%), and Parana, central-east (16.5%) areas.

Análise econômica de um sistema agrossilvipastoril de área montanhosa na Zona da Mata mineira

The objective of this work was to evaluate the economic viability of an agrosilvipastoral system developed for Zona da Mata mountainous areas in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, as well as to compare different options for wood (Eucalyptus grandis and Acacia mangium) commercialization of the second thinning. The data were obtained from a 10 year-old agrosilvipastoral system established in four hectares at Embrapa Gado de Leite station in Coronel Pacheco, MG, Brazil. As evaluation criteria for the economic viability analysis, the adopted methods were the net present value (NPV) and the internal rate of return (IRR), both calculated at 6% interest rate. Despite the small difference, adding value to forest products increased the attractiveness of the proposed system. Considered separately, the agricultural activity was impracticable, whereas the forestry and livestock activities were independently viable. The studied system seems to be equally tolerant to price variations for forest and livestock products, as well as strongly tolerant to variations in production costs.