The perfecting in the last years of augmentation lenses and that of the microscopes, as well as the development of samples preparation techniques, provided excellent tools in the several science areas. The evaluations at the microscope, electron or optical, of edible products utilized for ruminants, has helped in the cause/effect relationship understanding in animal performance. Of paramount importance are the advances obtained in the action mode of rumen microorganisms in the substrates knowledge, mainly of the particle-associated bacteria. Advances were […]

Variation in the abundance of 13C and biological nitrogen fixation in legume plants such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) can be used in cultivar selection programs allowing a better understanding of the physiological processes related to water use, photosynthesis and biological nitrogen fixation and their interdependence. This would supply data for selection programs for the improvement of dry matter yield (DM), water use efficiency (WUE) and biomass quality. Thus evaluation of the plant under contrasting conditions becomes necessary, therefore in […]

This study was conducted to evaluate methods of balancing climatic demand (ECA = class A tank evaporation and PRP = rainfall) with soil conditions (CAD = water storage capacity) of na Hapludox soil, in order to manage supplementary water of alfalfa cultivar Crioula on field conditions. Therefore, the behavior of alfalfa under three soil water conditions (H1 = no irrigation; H2 = efficient water use at plants full vegetative stage when ECA ¾ PRP ³ 30 mm; H3 = full […]

The objective of this experiment was to study the influence of six haying and four storage periods on the chemical composition and mold growth of alfafa hay. A 6×4 factorial arrangement was used in a completely randomized design, with five replicates for chemical analyses and four replicates for mold determinations. The haying methods were: T1- (shade, S) shade-drying; the forage was carried to a barn immediately after cutting and spreaded (S); T2 and T3: the material was sun-dried until a […]

The experiment was carried out at Piracicaba, SP, over one year, with two alfalfa cultivars (Crioula and CUF-101) grown in pots at open field. The weight and the basal shoot numbers were evaluated. The regrowth dynamics after the cut and seasonally of production using three cutting frequencies, 28, 35 and 42 days, and three defoliation intensities, cuts at 7 cm height with or without preservation of remaining leaf area and cut at soil level were evaluated. A completely randomized experimental […]