Gustavo José Braga

Eficiência de pastejo de capim-marandu submetido a diferentes ofertas de forragem

The objective of this work was to evaluate grazing efficiency, herbage disappearance and spatial variability of the sward in Marandu palisadegrass pastures rotationally stocked by yearling Nelore heifers at four levels of herbage allowance, in Pirassununga, SP, Brazil. The experimental treatments were 5, 10, 15, and 20 kg dry matter per 100 kg live weight per day (%), in a randomised blocks design. Herbage disappearance rate increased with rising herbage allowance, and wide-ranging from 2.3 to 6.5 kg DM per 100 kg LW per day in 2003, and from 2.3 to 6.2 kg DM per 100 kg PV per day in 2004. Conversely, herbage disappearance per area differed among treatments only in 2004, and was highest at 20% of herbage allowance (44 kg ha -1 per day). Grazing efficiency decreased with rising herbage allowance, averaged 64% in 2003 and 55% in 2004 for 5% of herbage allowance. The increasing herbage allowance shows as consequence the increase herbage disappearance rate and an exponentially decrease of grazing efficiency.

Fotossíntese e taxa diária de produção de forragem em pastagens de capim-tanzânia sob lotação intermitente

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of grazing intensity on forage accumulation rate and on net leaf photosynthesis of Tanzania guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) pastures under rotational stocking. The experiment was carried out from November 1999 to October 2000, in a randomized complete block experimental design, with four replications. Treatments were three levels of residual green forage biomass (1,000, 2,500, and 4,000 kg ha -1) in grazing cycles of 36 days (33 days of rest and 3 days of grazing). Forage accumulation rate was not affected by grazing intensities, and it was highest in the first 11 days of regrowth during the periods of the highest temperatures. Net leaf photosynthesis was not affected by grazing intensity (mean 23.2 µmol m -2 s -1 CO2) and increased during regrowth with the highest values between the 11th and the 22nd days of rest, depending on the season of the year. Net leaf photosynthesis was correlated with sward structure changes, during leaf development. The use of fixed rest periods avoided alterations of forage accumulation rate caused by grazing intensity.

Demografia e densidade de perfilhos de capim-braquiária sob pastejo em lotação intermitente

The objective of this work was to assess the effects of grazing intensities and defoliation frequencies on the demography and density of signalgrass (Urochloa decumbens syn. Brachiaria decumbens) tillers under intermittent stocking. Two grazing intensities (5 and 10 cm after-grazing stubble height) and two defoliation frequencies (rest periods determined by 95 or 100% of light interception, LI) were evaluated, from August 2007 to August 2008. It was used the completely randomized design, in factorial arrangement with four replicates. Tiller densities and appearance and survival rates of basal (TDb, ARb, SRb, respectively) and aerial+basal tillers (TDab, ARab, SRab) were evaluated. The highest ARb and ARab, in the autumn, were observed in pastures defoliated at 10 cm. Nevertheless, in the late spring and in the summer, the 5 cm intensity resulted in higher rates, which promoted higher TDb. The SRb was higher in the summer for pastures managed at 10 cm. The pasture grazing management that promotes the highest TDab, ARab and SRab, during periods of fast pasture growth, is the combination of 10 cm grazing intensity and 95% LI of defoliation frequecy.

Effects of types, levels and incorporation of limestone on agronomical and physiological characteristics of Tobiatã grass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tobiatã)

In a degraded pasture of Tobiata grass (Panicum maximum Jacq cv. Tobiata), in Pirassununga - SP, an experiment was carried out to observe the effects of levels and types of limestone with or without incorporation on the tillering, ground cover and pasture productivity during six cuts from 1996 to 1997. There was no response in the dry matter yield to by the levels and types of limestone, however the practice of limestone incorporation using harrow was effective, and based in the cuts there was an increase of dry matter production in the summer and reduction in the winter. The ground cover presented 72.8% of occupation by the forage grass and it indicated a trend of bare ground in the treatments with calcinated limestone.In a degraded pasture of Tobiatã grass (Panicum maximum Jacq cv. Tobiatã), in Pirassununga SP, an experiment was carried out to observe the effects of levels and types of limestone with or without incorporation on the tillering, ground cover and pasture productivity during six cuts from 1996 to 1997. There was no response in the dry matter yield to by the levels and types of limestone, however the practice of limestone incorporation using harrow was effective, and based in the cuts there was an increase of dry matter production in the summer and reduction in the winter. The ground cover presented 72.8% of occupation by the forage grass and it indicated a trend of bare ground in the treatments with calcinated limestone.