José Alberto Gomide

Acúmulo de forragem em pastos de Brachiaria decumbens adubados com nitrogênio

In the last years, the growth dynamics of forage plants has been focused, in order to improve the knowledge of forage yield and distribution process in pasture. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization on accumulation of the forage in Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. pastures submitted to the same stocking rate. Treatments consisted of 75, 150, 225 and 300 kg ha-1 yr-1 N applied before the beginning of experimental evaluations, which were performed during summer, autumn, winter and spring of 2002. A randomized block experimental design was used with two replicates. Brachiaria grass showed an increase in the dry matter yield proportionally to nitrogen doses, with higher rates for daily accumulation of leaves, stems and forage yield in summer-spring seasons, while lower rates were shown in the winter. The variation of climatic conditions within yearly seasons changed the rates of leaf accumulation, senescence, and forage yield in the Brachiaria decumbens pasture.

Características morfogênicas e estruturais do capim-braquiária em pastagem adubada com nitrogênio avaliadas nas quatro estações do ano

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of nitrogen fertilization upon the morphogenetical and structural characteristics of Brachiaria decumbens under grazing. Four nitrogen rates (75, 150, 225 and 300 kg/ha.yr) were applied before the beginning of the experimental evaluations, which were performed during the Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring seasons. The randomized complete block design was used with two replications. Linear increases were observed for the leaf elongation rate, final leaf length, leaf area index, stem and leaf blade percentage. The percentage of dead material decreased with the nitrogen fertilization. On the other hand, N fertilization had no effect on the number of alive leaf, number of emerging leaves, total numbers of leaves, stem elongation rate and senescence rate. Leaf and stem elongation rates, number of alive leaf, final leaf length, leaf area index, leaf blade and stem percentages in the Brachiaria decumbens varied among seasons, lower values occurring in the winter.

Avaliação das características estruturais do capim-braquiária em pastagens adubadas com nitrogênio nas quatro estações do ano

This trial was carried out from November 2001 to November 2002, aiming at the evaluation of the effects of nitrogen fertilization upon the tiller demography and forage biomass in Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk pastures fertilized with nitrogen and subjected to the same grazing height. The treatments consisted of four nitrogen rates (75, 150, 225 and 300 kg/ha.yr.) applied before the beginning of the experimental evaluations, which were performed during the Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring, 2002. A completely randomized block experimental design was used with two replications. Seasons and nitrogen rates affected grass tiller population density and forage biomass. The population density of alive and vegetative tillers increased linearly, while that of the dead tillers decreased linearly with the N rates. Forage biomass increased linearly with nitrogen fertilization, whereas the population density of reproductive tillers were not affected by nitrogen fertilization. The alive tiller population density, vegetative and reproductive, leaf biomass, stem and green matter of the Brachiaria decumbens varied among the seasons, with lower values in Winter.

Produtividade e valor nutritivo do capim-elefante cv. Napier sob doses crescentes de nitrogênio e potássio

The effects of nitrogen and potassium fertilization on elephantgrass - Napier cv. were evaluated. An incomplete N x K factorial arrangement was studied in randomized block design with three replications with seven N levels (20, 50, 100, 200, 300, 350 and 380 kg/ha) and seven K levels (16, 40, 80, 160, 240, 280 and 304 kg/ha). The fourteen N and K combinations were obtained according to the Box Berard Matrix, increased 3, with an extra point. The elephantgrass - Napier cv. mass production increased 86% in response to N and K fertilizers. The leaf/stem ratio and Mg2+ content negatively decreased as K levels increased. The P and Ca2+ contents decreased as N levels increased , while the crude protein content quadraticly increased by the N and K fertilization. Potassium content increased with K fertilizer but decreased as N fertilizer doses increased. The critical K level was 1.85 dag/kg herbage dry matter.

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 estruturais e produção de forragem em pastos de capim-mombaça submetidos a períodos de descanso

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as caracteristicas estruturais, morfologicas e produtivas em pastos de capim-mombaca sob lotacao rotacionada com tres periodos de descanso, definidos conforme o numero de novas folhas expandidas por perfilho: 2,5, 3,5 e 4,5 folhas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com seis repeticoes, num total de 18 piquetes. Foram avaliadas as caracteristicas: biomassa total, taxa de crescimento cultural, altura do dossel, relacao folha/colmo, indice de area foliar, interceptacao da radiacao, taxa de aparecimento e alongamento foliares, taxa de alongamento do colmo, densidade de perfilhos e coeficiente de extincao. As maiores taxas de acumulo de forragem foram observadas em piquetes submetidos a periodo de descanso correspondente ao aparecimento de 2,5 folhas por perfilho. A menor biomassa de forragem por ciclo de pastejo deste tratamento foi compensada pelo maior numero de ciclos observados. O indice de area foliar foi proporcional ao periodo de descanso, mas a interceptacao da radiacao ultrapassou o valor de 95% ao final do periodo de descanso em todos os tratamentos. O prolongamento do periodo de descanso resultou em comprometimento da estrutura do pasto, sinalizado por baixos valores da relacao folha/colmo. O periodo de descanso em capim-mombaca nao deve ultrapassar o tempo necessario para o aparecimento de tres folhas por perfilho.

Duração do período de descanso e crescimento do dossel de Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça sob lotação intermitente

The canopy growth of Mombacagrass was assessed under intermittent stocking with three rest periods, characterized by the time required for the expansion of 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 new leaf blades per tiller, after grazing periods of six days. The experimental area was divided into five or six paddocks per treatment. Five crossbreed (Holstein x Zebu) steers were randomly assigned to each treatment. Extra steers were also used to achieve residual leaf area index of about 2.0, by the end of each grazing period. Two Growth phases were considered: 1) after standardization cut at the beginning of the growing season, and 2) after some grazing cycles had taken place, under the effects of the experimental rest periods. The paddocks received broadcast fertilization of N, P2O5 and K2O (50, 12.5 and 50 kg/ha) in the beginning of the growth phases 1 and 2. Photo synthetically active radiation (PAR) interception, leaf area index (LAI) and green forage dry mass (GFDM) were assessed over 45 days of regrowth, at six day intervals. Second order polynomials were adjusted to GFDM and LAI data, as a function of canopy ages. From these equations, instantaneous values of GFDM and LAI were estimated, from which it was derived the instantaneous values of relative growth rate (RGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR), respectively for each canopy age. PAR interception by the canopy increased in an asymptotic manner, reaching critical values of 95 - 98%, while LAI and GFDM values increased in the stability range of PAR interception. The growth indices RGR, NAR and LAR showed decreasing asymptotic evolution. The great proportion of stem in end of the longest rest period favored the decrease in RGR and NAR values.

Características anatômicas da lâmina foliar e do colmo de gramíneas forrageiras tropicais, em função do nível de inserção no perfilho, da idade e da estação de crescimento

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of leaf age and insertion level and season of growth on the tissue proportion and the cell wall thickness of leaf blade and stem segment of signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens), molassesgrass (Melinis minutiflora) and Tifton 85 bermudagrass (Cynodon sp). Leaf blades from bottom and top layers were sampled on the day of ligule exposure and 20 days later. The relative proportion of epidermis, xylem, phloem, parenchyma bundle sheath, sclerenchyma, stem parenchyma and leaf blade mesophyll were estimated. The thickness of cell wall of metaxylem vessels and sclerenchyma were evaluated. Leaf tissue proportion changed neither with age nor season of growth; thickness of leaf sclerenchyma cell wall was the only trait to change with age. Leaf from the top layer showed higher proportion of sclerenchyma, parenchyma bundle sheath and xylem as well as thicker cell wall in sclerenchyma and metaxylem; while leaves from the bottom layer had higher proportion of mesophyll and thinner sclerenchyma and metaxylem cell walls. While the parenchyma proportion of the stem decreased, the relative area of the sclerenchyma and the cell wall thickness increased as the plant aged. These traits showed greater values in summer samples.

Degradação in vitro de tecidos da lâmina foliar e do colmo de gramíneas forrageiras tropicais, em função do estádio de desenvolvimento

A trial was carried out to evaluate the change in digestion of tropical grasses leaf and stem tissues with age. The grasses were signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens), molassesgrass (Melinis minutiflora) and Tifton 85 bermudagrass (Cynodon sp). The 7th leaf of signalgrass and molassesgrass and the 11th leaf of bermudagrass were sampled by the time of their complete expansion (ligule exposure) and 20 days later. Segment of stem just below the sampled leaf was also sampled. Transversal sections of leaf and stem were examined at the microscope before and after rumen in vitro incubation. The degree of digestion of different leaf and stem tissues, as well as the cell wall thickness of stem sclerenchyma were estimated. Leaf blade and young stems showed larger digested areas. Stem tissues with thick and lignified cell wall, the parenchyma bundle sheath, the sclerenchyma, the xylem and the epidermis were not digested. Tissues with thin non-lignified cell wall, the mesophyll, the phloem and the parenchyma were completely digested. Molassesgrass and signalgrass leaves sampled 20 days after expansion had lower mesophyll digestion in relation to their recently expanded leaves. Similarly, molassesgrass stem parenchyma digestion decreased as plant aged. Regardless of age, leaf epidermis was only partially digested. Stem sclerenchyma cell wall showed percentage reduction in thickness from 7 to 37%, after in vitro incubation. The rate of reduction in thickness varied from 0.007 to 0.018 µm/h.

Correlações entre componentes anatômicos, químicos e digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca de gramíneas forrageiras

Leaf blades and stem segments at two stages of development (day of leaf ligule exposure and 20 days thereafter) and two insertion levels on tillers (lower and upper) of signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens), molassesgrass (Melinis minutiflora) and tifton 85 bermudagrass (Cynodon sp), were sampled in two seasons of the year (summer and autumn). The anatomical and chemical traits, and in vitro dry matter digestibility of blades and stems segments were evaluated. The correlations among these variables were established to associated values observed in leaf blade and stem, and to each fraction. The cell wall thickness was the anatomical trait to exhibit the highest correlation with all the chemical components, being positive with neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and lignin contents and negative with crude protein content. The proportion of mesophyll correlated positively with crude protein and negatively with acid detergent fiber content, while the proportion of sclerenchyma showed positive correlation with neutral detergent fiber content. The chemical components showed strong correlation among themselves and with the IVDMD. From the anatomical traits, the cell wall thickness was the only one to exhibit a significant correlation with the IVDMD, independent of fraction. The IVDMD correlated positively with leaf blade mesophyll and negatively with stem xylem.