The goal of this work was to assess nitrate losses in the soil profile. Nitrate concentration was determined in the profile of a soil under coastcross pasture (Cynodon dactylon cv. Coastcross), in São Carlos, SP, Brazil, in the rainy season of two consecutive years. The soil was a dark red Latosol (Hapludox), affected by tropical altitude climate. Nitrogen doses of 125, 250, 500 and 1,000 kg ha-1 year-1, as urea or ammonium nitrate were broadcasted splited in five applications. Soil […]

The experiment was conducted with the objective of evaluating chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility of sugar-cane bagasse containing 60% dry matter submited to increasing sodium hydroxide concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5% NaOH on a dry matter basis). NaOH was applied as a 2:1 water:NaOH solution, over different treatment times (1, 3, 5, and 7 days). Plastic pails with 10 L capacity were utilized and stocked in climatic chamber at 25ºC constant temperature. The experimental treatments had […]

In order to identify methods of recuperation of degraded pastures in the Agreste of Pernambuco, an experiment was conducted in the Fazenda Riacho do Papaguaio, municipial district of São João. It was used a split-plot feature within a confounded randomized block design. The experimental treatments were four recovery managements (deferment, deferment + harrowing, deferment + harrowing + corn as a companion crop, deferment + corn as a companion crop), two levels of nitrogen (0 and 100 kg/ha of N), two […]

Steer forage intake rate (IR) was evaluated in pastures of Brachiaria brizantha, Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania, Arachis pintoi and a mixed of Brachiaria brizantha with Arachis pintoi. The objectives were to define sward structural characteristics and chemical composition nutrients of each pasture most determinant of forage intake rate by grazing steers. The steers grazed in pairs, passing through all grass species maintained at different sward heights in successive days. After three hours fast the animals were allowed to graze each […]

Two experiments were run to evaluate the pattern of fermentation and the chemical composition of high moisture corn and sorghum grain silages, with or without microbial inoculation. Experiment 1 dealt with corn grain and experiment 2 dealt with sorghum grain. In each experiment, the experimental treatments resulted from a 2 x 9 factorial arrangement (2 levels of inoculation and 9 fermentation times: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 days). The experimental design was completely randomized […]

The aim of this study was to check on the effect of additive addition on the variations in the water soluble carbohydrate contents of the tanzaniagrass silage during the fermentation period, and to know the buffering capacity values and water soluble carbohydrate: buffering capacity ratio of this forage. Tanzaniagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzânia I) was established in a Clavey Red Dusk Latosol and harvested at 60-65 day of age. The forage was ensiled in experimental PVC silos, fitted with […]

The objectives of this study were to analyze the effects of wilting and bacterial-enzimatic additive (BEA) and buffered propionic acid (BPA) on the microbial profile, physical parameters and aerobic stability of Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) silages stored as squared bales (140 x 120 x 70 cm) wrapped with plastic bags. Treatments were based on five forage dry matter (DM) contents (250, 350, 450, 550 and 650 g/kg DM) without BEA. Other three forage dry matter contents (250, 450 and 650 […]

An experiment was carried out in experimental plots of 300 m2 in size to evaluate the effects of doses of NK fertilization and irrigation on forage mass yield and quality of elephantgras cv Napier during the dry season. The experimental design was completely randomized with three treatment replications. The experimental treatments were arranged in a 4 x 2 factorial combination of four N-K2O doses with and without irrigation, in the dry season. N-K2O doses were: 100-80; 200-160; 300-240 and 400-320 […]

This study was carried out to evaluate the productivity, utilization and sward structure of a mixed massaigrass (Panicum maximum x P. infestum, cv. Massai) and forage peanut (Arachis pintoi Ac 01) pasture, intermittently stocked at three daily herbage allowance levels (9.0, 14.5 and 18.4% of live weight). In each grazing cycle, dry matter (DM) accumulation rates, defoliation intensity (%), grazing depth (%) and grazed horizon (cm) were evaluated. The structure of massaigrass tussocks was characterized in both dry and rainy […]

This study was carried out to define sward management targets for mixed Massaigrass (Panicum maximum x P. infestum, cv. Massai) and forage peanut (Arachis pintoi Ac 01) pastures in the Western Brazilian Amazon. Seasonal variation in the pasture carrying capacity was also analyzed. Pastures were intermittently stocked at three daily herbage allowance levels (9.0, 14.5 and 18.4% of live weight) from October 2002 to December 2003. Sward targets were defined in terms of the sward condition that best conciliated the […]