The main hypothesis tested in this thesis was that poor animal production from saltbush pastures is due to the negative effects of high sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl) on the ruminal environment, and subsequent effects on microbial populations and products of rumen fermentation. This main hypothesis was tested in two experiments. In the first experiment (Chapter Four) the effects of saltbush and a formulated high-salt diet on the ruminal environment and microbial populations were measured over 24-hours following feeding. Feeding both the saltbush and high-salt diet increased the salinity of the rumen fluid, but the formulated high-salt diet caused a decrease in ruminal pH while the saltbush caused an increase. This resulted in differences in the composition of the ruminal microbial populations between the sheep fed different diets. In the second experiment (Chapter Five) the effects of saltbush and a formulated highsalt diet on rumen fermentation were measured. Sheep fed saltbush had inefficient rumen fermentation and this was only partially explained by the high salt content of the diet. Diets containing high levels of NaCl and KCl provided low levels of net energy to sheep, but sheep fed saltbush lost more energy as methane and faecal energy compared to sheep fed the formulated high-salt diet. Inefficient rumen fermentation could help to explain poor animal production from saltbush pastures. Energy supplements such as barley grain can improve the value of saltbush pastures as feed for sheep, but there is no information on how much supplement is required. A third experiment (Chapter Six) was designed to test the hypothesis that there would be an optimal amount of barley required to improve the efficiency of rumen fermentation in sheep fed saltbush. Barley and straw were combined in a pellet and substituted for saltbush at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of the maintenance ration. Feeding barley and straw improved the efficiency of rumen fermentation in sheep fed saltbush, with an optimal level of supplementation at 60% of the maintenance diet. This is likely to be lower (approximately 20% of maintenance) if barley is fed without straw.

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-05-15T17:40:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JOÃO JONES DA SILVA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGSA PROFISSIONAL 2015..pdf: 1781652 bytes, checksum: 5ecbeafd5b48184bce3785273190c6dd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-15T17:40:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JOÃO JONES DA SILVA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGSA PROFISSIONAL 2015..pdf: 1781652 bytes, checksum: 5ecbeafd5b48184bce3785273190c6dd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-09-29 / A Região Nordeste do Brasil é caracterizada por clima semiárido, sendo os volumes precipitados normalmente inferiores à evaporação e, tornando o uso da irrigação imprescindível para uma produção agrícola sustentável, entretanto, o manejo inadequado da irrigação atrelado às condições locais, tem favorecido os processos de salinização e sodificação de solos, promovendo a degradação e o abandono de extensas áreas anteriormente produtivas. Entre as áreas afetadas por sais nessa região, destaca-se o Perímetro Irrigado de São Gonçalo - PB em situação de degradação de solos com problemas de sais, isso ensejou a propositura de estudar métodos e técnicas visando o melhoramento das características físicas e químicas do solo. O experimento foi instalado em área previamente identificada como possuidora de solo salino-sódico no Perímetro Irrigado de São Gonçalo, e para a recuperação fez-se da aplicação dos métodos e da técnica da fitorremediação com Erva-Sal (Atriplex numulária L.), Capim-pé-de-galinha (Eleusine indica L.), Salsa - Brava (Ipomoea asarifolia L.) e Gesso agrícola. A pesquisa constou de oito tratamentos, com quatro repetições, os tratamentos foram submetidos a um delineamento em blocos casualizados (DBC), com os seguintes tratamentos: i) cultivo de atriplex; ii) cultivo de capim-pé-galinha, iii) cultivo de salsa, iv) solo com gesso; v)aplicação de gesso agrícola associado ao cultivo de atriplex; vi)aplicação de gesso agrícola associado ao cultivo de capim pé-de-galinha; vii)aplicação de gesso agrícola associado ao cultivo de salsa e viii) solo sem manejo (testemunha), numa área total de 62 m² conduzido em campo, em parcelas de 1,40 x 1,40 m. Com esse estudo pretende-se recuperar solo afetados por sais, utilizando um método alternativo, mais viável economicamente e sustentável através de plantas capazes de extrair os sais em excesso do solo. / Brazil's Northeast region is characterized by semi-arid climate, and the precipitated volumes usually lower than the evaporation and, making use of vital irrigation for sustainable agricultural production, however, inadequate irrigation management linked to local conditions, has favored processes salinization and sodification soils, promoting the degradation and abandonment of extensive formerly productive areas. Among the areas affected by salts in this region, we highlight the Irrigated Perimeter of São Gonçalo - PB in soil degradation situation with salt problems and this gave rise to the filing of study methods and techniques aimed at improving the physical and chemical characteristics ground. The experiment was installed in previously identified area as saline-sodic soil possessed in the Irrigated Perimeter of São Gonçalo, and the recovery was made of the application of methods and phytoremediation technique with herb-salt (Atriplex moneywort L.), grass crow's foot bath (Eleusine indica L.), Salsa - Brava (Ipomoea asarifolia L.) and Agricultural Gypsum. The survey consisted of eight treatments, with four replications, the treatments were subjected to a randomized block design (RBD), with the following treatments: i) atriplex cultivation; ii) grass-foot-chicken farming, iii) salsa culture, iv) soil with gypsum; v) application of gypsum associated with atriplex cultivation; vi) application of gypsum associated with grass growing chicken's foot; vii) application of gypsum associated with the parsley cultivation and viii) soil without management (control), a total area of 62 m² conducted under field conditions in portions of 1.40 x 1.40 m. With this study we intend to recover salt affected soil, using an alternative method more economically viable and sustainable through plants capable of extracting soil excess salts.