Fleming Sena Campos

Agronomic evaluation of 32 sorghum cultivars in the Brazilian semi-arid region

The objective of this study was to evaluate agronomic characteristics of 32 sorghum cultivars (Sorghum bicolor(L). Moench) in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The experimental design was set up in randomized blocks with three replications. Treatments were the 32 sorghum cultivars. The evaluated variables were: plant height, stem diameter, tiller density, number of green leaves per tiller, average leaf length, dry matter content, fresh matter production and dry matter production (DMP) in kg/ha, and the percentage of the components panicle, leaf blade and stem. To avoid associative effects due to the presence of positive correlation with DMP, the variables plant height, number of plants per hectare and fresh matter production were excluded for being part of the discriminatory variables of the cluster. Based on the cluster analysis and subjective cutting in 20% dissimilarity, five groups were hierarchically set up. It was not possible to find groups with higher values of panicle and DMP simultaneously; however, group number 5 met significant values for both variables, with mean values of 15,037.63 kg/ha of DMP and 11.36% of panicle, besides 13.65% of leaf. Groups 3, 4 and 5 show high potential for dry matter production, especially group 5. The presence of evident variation among cultivars allows for a selection of more productive and, thus, more suitable cultivars for silage production in semi-arid regions.

Influence of diets with silage from forage plants adapted to the semi-arid conditions on lamb quality and sensory attributes

Quality and sensory attributes of meat from 32 mixed-breed Santa Inês lambs fed diets composed of four silages with old man saltbush (Atriplex nummularia Lind), buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium), and Pornunça (Manihot sp.) were evaluated. Meat from lambs fed diet containing old man saltbush silage (P<0.05) showed greater values for cooking loss. Of the sensory attributes evaluated in the Longissimus lumborum muscle of the lambs, color and juiciness did not differ (P>0.05). However, the silages led to differences (P<0.05) in aroma, tenderness, and flavor values. The meat from animals fed the pornunça and Gliricidia silages was tenderer. Flavor scores were higher in meat from lambs that consumed old man saltbush silage and lower in the meat from those fed buffelgrass silage. Diets formulated with buffelgrass silage for sheep reduce meat production. Based on the results for carcass weight and meat quality, old man saltbush and pornunça are better silages for finishing sheep.

Lactic Acid Bacteria in Tropical Grass Silages

The basic principle silage is to store the surplus forage keeping its stability and nutritional value until it is required to feed the animals. This process takes place in anaerobic conditions, where the lactic acid produced by the LAB inhibits the proliferation of spoilage microorganisms, which are less tolerant to acidic conditions. Thus, as the pH values decline, the silage losses decline as well due to the greater conversion of plant soluble carbohydrates (the main substrate for LAB) in lactic acid, with 96.9% rate of energy recovery (Mc Donald et al., 1991). The major soluble carbohydrates present in forage crops are fructose, glucose, sucrose and frutosanas, according to Woolford, (1984), sucrose and frutosanas are rapidly hydrolyzed in their monomers at forage harvest.

Microbial and fermentation profiles, losses and chemical composition of silages of buffel grass harvested at different cutting heights

The present study evaluated the microbial population, fermentation profile, losses and dry matter recovery, and chemical composition of silages of buffel grass at different cutting heights. To evaluate the microbial fermentation dynamics, the treatments resulted from a 4 × 5 factorial combination consisting of 4 cutting heights and 5 fermentation periods, in a completely randomized design with three replications. The fermentation was evaluated at the end of 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days. The other characteristics of silages with 30 days were evaluated following a completely randomized design with four treatments, consisting of 4 cutting heights (30, 40, 50 and 60 cm), and five replications. Fermentation period and cutting height effects and interaction between both factors were observed on the populations of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), enterobacteria and molds and yeasts. The peak of development of LAB populations was observed on the seventh day of fermentation for the heights of 40 and 50 cm, with 8.25 and 8.30 log cfu/g, respectively. The pH values of silages ranged with different cutting heights, in which at the height of 50 cm the decrease was most pronounced. However, the pH values were similar between the cutting heights at the end of 30 days of fermentation. Quadratic relationship was observed between lactic acid concentrations and cutting heights. The crude protein content behaved linearly, initially showing 128.5 g/kg DM at 30 cm, decreasing as the cutting heights increased. The neutral detergent fiber and ether extract contents increased linearly with the cutting heights. Based on microbial populations, fermentation, losses and chemical composition, it is recommended to harvest buffel grass for silage from 50 cm on.

Silages of pearl millet submitted to nitrogen fertilization

This study aimed to evaluate the fermentation characteristics, losses and the chemical composition of two pearl millet genotypes silages submitted to nitrogen fertilization. The experimental design was a completely randomized blocks in a split plot scheme 2x5 (two nitrogen genotypes doses x five doses of nitrogen), with four replicates. Nitrogen doses were 0, 20, 40, 60, 80kg ha-1 and the pearl millet genotypes were the variety ADR300 and the hybrid ADR7010. The hybrid ADR 7010 showed average lactic acid content higher than the variety ADR 300, at all doses of N, recording values ranging from 4.09 to 10.46dag kg-1. There was an interaction between nitrogren doses and genotypes for the neutral detergent fiber, which ranged from 51.81 to 63.63dag kg-1 of dry matter. Dry matter recovery decreased linearly with increasing nitrogen doses only for hybrid ADR7010, the same did not happen for the ADR300. The nitrogen fertilization does not favor the fermentation characteristics and increases DM losses of the hybrid ADR7010.

Avaliação de fenos de capim-buffel colhido em diferentes alturas de corte

This study aimed to evaluate the forage yield, chemical composition and dry matter recovery of buffel grass hay (Cenchrus ciliaris L.), at different cutting heights. The experiment was conducted at the Estacao Experimental Pendencia of Empresa Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuaria da Paraiba S.A (EMEPA), located in city of Soledade-PB. A randomized complete block design was used, with four cutting heights (30; 40; 50 and 60cm) with five replicates. The forage yield had effect with a linear increase in values achieving dry matter yield 7206.78kg/ha for 60cm height. There was harvesting height effect for leaf, stem and leaf:stem ratio in dry matter, wherein the values of leaf:stem ratio decreased with increasing harvesting height, getting values of 0.87 to 0.48 when harvested at 30 and 60cm height, respectively. Quadratic effect was observed in harvesting height only to the neutral detergent fiber, with contents ranging from 71.82 to 77.08% in dry matter. The average values of dry matter of hay were between 82.44 and 84.48%. The dry matter recovery in dehydration decreased in function of harvesting heights, showing linear behavior, with the smallest average observed for the grass to 60cm (76.58%). The absence of variation in the bromatological constituents and dry matter final losses and higher biomass production in the highest cutting harvest may conclude that buffel grass is to be harvested in the cutting height that enable greater production.

Avaliação de genótipos de milheto para silagem no semiárido

The objective of this research was to evaluate the forage yield, agronomic characteristics and morphometric plants and losses, fermentation and chemical composition of silages of pearl millet genotypes. To evaluate the agronomic and morphometric characteristics of genotypes it was used the randomized blocks experimental design with five replicates. In the phase of silos evaluation the design has become completely randomized design with four replications. Cultivars tested were Sauna B, CMS 01, ADR 500, BRS 1501 and CMS 03. There was no difference for PFF, DMP and DM. The pearl millet genotypes had a average PMV of 9073 kg/ha in the first cycle and 10.054kg/ha in the regrowth. As to the leaf and stem production there was not difference in both cuts. The concentration of AL ranged from 1.98 to 5.17% for genotypes B and CMS SAUNA 01, respectively. For the crude protein there was a significant effect among genotypes studied, with values ranging from 11.56 to 7.90%. The genotypes studied were equivalent in both the evaluation of the plants and the evaluation of silage, which can be used as an alternative fodder in semiarid regions.

Perfil Fermentativo de Silagens de Capim Tanzânia Contendo Diferentes Concentrações de Farelo de Algaroba

Objetivou-se com este estudo a avaliacao do perfil fermentativo de silagens de capim Tanzânia contendo diferentes concentracoes de algaroba. Os teores de acido latico, acetico, propionico e butirico aumentaram (P<0,05) quadraticamente com os niveis do farelo de algaroba, havendo um decrescimo a partir do tratamento com 20% de inclusao do farelo de algaroba. Os valores para pH diminuiram com a inclusao do farelo de algaroba, chegando a valores abaixo do normal. Foi encontrado valores medios satisfatorios para acido latico apenas para os niveis com 10 e 20%, com 3,81 e 3,32, respectivamente. Mesmo com a diminuicao do pH e provavel diminuicao da materia seca com aumentos dos niveis concentracao de algaroba houve alta incidencia do acido butirico e propionico. O farelo de algaroba nao foi eficiente em melhorar os parâmetros fermentativos da silagem de capim Tanzânia. DOI:10.15528/2176-4158/rcpa.v14n1p39-42

Composição Químico-Bromatológica do Capim-Tanzânia Ensilado com Torta de Dendê

Objetivou-se avaliar o melhor nivel de adicao da torta de dende na silagem de capim-Tanzânia em relacao aos teores MS, PB, FDN, FDA e EE. O experimento foi realizado no Laboratorio de Nutricao Animal, pertencentes a Universidade Federal da Bahia, localizado no municipio de Salvador, BA, no periodo de setembro a novembro de 2011. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos: 1) silagem de capim-Tanzânia sem torta de dende (testemunha); 2) adicao de 10% torta de dende; 3) adicao de 20% de torta de dende; e 4) adicao de 30% de torta de dende, com base na materia natural, com cinco repeticoes. Os silos foram abertos apos 30 dias de armazenamento. O efeito do aditivo sobre as variaveis foi testado para os efeitos linear e quadratico, usando-se significância de 5%. Para os teores de MS, PB e EE, obteve-se efeito linear positivo, onde a adicao de 1% da torta de dende proporcionou aumento de 6,87; 2,76; e 0,981%, respectivamente. Os teores de FDN e FDA apresentaram efeito linear negativo, onde para cada 1% de adicao da torta observou-se reducao de 1,82 e 2,76 unidades percentuais, respectivamente. A inclusao de 30% de torta de dende proporcionou os melhores resultados quimico-bromatologicos da silagem de capim-Tanzânia por meio da elevacao nos teores de MS, PB, EE e reducao nos teores de FDN e FDA. DOI:10.15528/2176-4158/rcpa.v14n2p146-149

Caracterização Morfo-Agronômica de Genótipos de Maniçoba (Manihot spp.)

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar potencial genetico da manicoba atraves das caracteristicas morfoagronomicas, caracterizando-a e conservando-a em banco de germoplasma, de forma disponibiliza-la aos programas de melhoramento da especie. O material vegetal utilizado foi oriundo do banco de germoplasma pertencente a Universidade Federal da Paraiba (UFPB), as mudas forma originadas das regioes do cariri e Curimatau Paraibano. Todos os pontos de coletas foram georeferenciados com auxilio de um aparelho GPS (Global position Satellite). O experimento foi conduzido em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com 22 genotipos e 3 repeticoes. De cada genotipo foram avaliados 7 caracteres agronomicos: altura da planta (AT), diâmetro medio do caule (DMC), numero de gemas axiliares (NGA), numero de ramos (NR), numero total de folhas verdes (NFV), numero total de frutos (NF), numero de folhas senescentes (NFS). A unica variavel que nao apresentou diferenca significativa (p>0,05) foi o NFV com media de 30,63 folhas. A variavel que apresentou maior contribuicao relativa foi o NG com 33.02. A analise de agrupamento foi eficiente em expressar o grau de variabilidade entre os genotipos avaliados. DOI: 10.15528/2176-4158/rcpa.v14n1p21-24