Beef cattle producers in the southeastern US often stockpile forage in late summer to extend the grazing season and reduce feeding costs. Three stockpiled grass-legume mixtures were evaluated for winter grazing. In addition, stockpiled forages were ensiled and evaluated as livestock feed. Four accumulation dates and seven harvest dates were randomized to small plots of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) -red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) -red clover, and orchardgrass-alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The amount of grass and legume in the fescue-red clover mixture shifted from less than 30% grass and more than 60% legume in October to over 60% grass and less than 10% legume in April. All forage mixtures contained at least 15% CP from November to March. Fescue-red clover was higher in TNC and lower in NDF, ADF and cellulose in January and March than the orchardgrass-legume mixtures. Fescue-red clover was higher in yield than the orchardgrass-legume mixtures from November to February. Delaying stockpiling until September 1 or 15 increased (P <.05) legume content and decreased dead grass content in orchardgrass-clover and orchardgrass-alfalfa. Accumulating growth from September 15 increased percent CP in fescue-red clover and orchardgrass-clover, compared to August 15, and decreased percent NDF in all forage mixtures. Percent IVDMD increased in orchardgrass-clover when stockpiling was delayed until September 15. May yields decreased only in orchardgrass-alfalfa when stockpiling was delayed until September. Orchardgrass stockpiled on August 3 and September 3, and alfalfa stockpiled on September 3 were ensiled alone. Chemical composition of silages was determined after 90 d of fermentation. Silages averaged 16.0% CP and 44.7% NDF. Digestibility of the ensiled stockpiled forages was estimated using acid insoluble ash as a marker with 18 wether lambs. No differences were observed in DM or CP digestibility, but NDF digestibility was lower for alfalfa silage than for orchardgrass silages. All stockpiled grass-legume mixtures provided high quality winter grazing, and all silages were of good quality and digestibility. Fescue-red clover maintained both good quality and higher yield than the other mixtures. Ensiling stockpiled alfalfa and orchard grass provided a method of maintaining CP and digestibility for subsequent feeding. / Master of Science

Grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella have been stocked throughout the world due to their utility as a biological control. In the United States, the species has been used to successfully control invasive, aquatic weeds such as hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata. Despite the large body of research surrounding the use of grass carp, few studies have demonstrated widely applicable methods for evaluating the success of weed control based on grass carp behavior and population dynamics. Classic methods of biological control using grass carp often rely on a single, large stocking of fish. Few of these studies have demonstrated success in achieving intermediate levels of weed control. Managers would be better equipped to make decisions regarding stocking and maintenance grass carp populations with better information about behavior, survival, and population structure. Improved decision making could result in reduced cost and increased effectiveness of stocking. In order to examine current knowledge gaps for management, I investigated the movements and habitat use of grass carp, post-stocking survival, age-specific survival rates, and population dynamics of grass carp in Lake Gaston, North Carolina and Virginia. I characterized relationships between grass carp behavior and environmental factors using radio-telemetry. The average rate of movement for grass carp in Lake Gaston was about 137 m/d. Rapid dispersal after stocking was followed by long periods of no movement. However, when time after stocking was held constant in models of behavior, fish moved about 200 m/d more in the second year after stocking than in the first year, and were found closer to shore. On average, grass carp were found about 40 m from shore in about 2.5-3.5 m of water, although mean depth of water at grass carp locations varied seasonally, being shallowest in summer and deepest in winter. Although depth of water at grass carp locations did not vary by stocking location, Grass carp were found closer to shorelines in the upper reservoir than in the lower reservoir. I found significant relationships between grass carp behavior and hydrological processes such as lake elevation and dam releases in the reservoir, as well as with other environmental factors such as water temperature, photoperiod, and weather conditions. The results of this study should be useful in better understanding how behavior can affect management decisions. Specifically, grass carp behavior appears to change with age and environmental conditions within large reservoir systems. Future research should focus more closely on the effects of large-scale flow dynamics on grass carp behavior. I estimated age-1 survival of grass carp from mark-recapture models designed for radio-tagged animals, and characterized relationships between age-1 survival and factors under the control of management, such as stocking locations and size at stocking. . According to the most-plausible model developed in this study, survival of age-1 grass carp in Lake Gaston varied throughout the year, and the probability of an individual grass carp surviving to the end of its first year (±SE) was 0.57(±0.10). According to the second-most-plausible model developed in this study, grass carp survival varied between stocking locations, and was twice as high in the upper reservoir (0.87±0.09) than in the lower reservoir (0.43±0.11). The differences in survival between stocking locations suggest that the cost-effectiveness of grass carp stocking could be improved by focusing stocking efforts in specific regions of Lake Gaston. Furthermore, none of the models developed in this study that incorporated the effects of size (length and weight) or condition factor accounted for a meaningful amount of the total model weights. These results suggest that costs of grass carp stocking could be reduced in Lake Gaston by using a smaller minimum size (352 mm, TL) than is commonly referred to in the literature (450 mm, TL). I used grass carp collected by bowfishers in Lake Gaston to characterize the age, growth, and survival of grass carp in the system. From these data, I characterized relationships between fish population dynamics and annual hydrilla coverage. Grass carp collected from Lake Gaston ranged in age 1-16 years. Growth of grass carp in Gaston was described by the von Bertalanffy growth function as Lt = 1297(1-e -0.1352 (t+1.52)). I estimated mortality from the von Bertalanffy growth parameters using methods based on growth, temperature, and age; and with each mortality estimate I estimated population size and standing biomass of grass carp. Use of age-specific mortality rates produced lower estimates of grass carp numbers and standing biomass in Lake Gaston than did the use of a single, instantaneous mortality rate for all ages. I determined that growth of grass carp slowed considerably after the fourth year and that slowed growth, in combination with changes in mortality, resulted in a decrease in the amount of hydrilla controlled by a given cohort after four years in Lake Gaston. This phenomenon resulted in an approximately linear relationship between the biomass of grass carp at year i and hectares of hydrilla at year i+3. Based on this relationship, I predicted that the biomass of grass carp necessary to reduce hydrilla coverage to the target level of 120 ha in Lake Gaston is about 91,184 kg (±38,146 kg) and that the current biomass of grass carp in Lake Gaston is about 108,073 kg (±3,609 kg). I conclude that grass carp biomass is at or near levels that should reduce hydrilla coverage to 120 ha between 2013 and 2018. This research provides an effective means for synthesis of information that is critical to understanding sterile, triploid grass carp populations when assumptions of other methods cannot be met. The results of this study should be of immediate utility to hydrilla management efforts in Lake Gaston and other systems. Furthermore, the age-specific mortality rates developed in this study should be useful as starting values for grass carp management in similar systems. / Master of Science

Cultivation of Napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum, the most important livestock crop in East Africa is severely constrained by Napier Grass Stunt (NGS) disease. The disease spreads via an insect vector or vegetative propagation of infected plant material and is caused by a phytoplasma. This necessitates the development of an integrated management approach for the disease. Therefore, objectives of this study were to assess the incidence of the disease and its severity, to identify its wild hosts and farmers‟ knowledge on these hosts, to assess the threat of NGS disease to cultivated grasses and to establish the role of wild inoculum sources in its spread. The study showed NGS incidence ranging from 33% in Uganda to 95% in Kenya with 49% of the farmers interviewed, being able to discern NGS disease by its symptoms. Most farmers cited roguing and use of alternative fodder grasses as control measures, making these strategies the likely components of an integrated management approach for the disease. Responders named Sedge grass (Cyperus spp.) and Star grass (Cynodon dactylon) as the likely hosts of diseases caused by phytoplasma. Phytoplasmas were detected in leaves of 11 of 33 wild grass species collected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the highly conserved phytoplasma-specific 16S ribosomal DNA fragment. Sequence determination of amplified PCR fragments revealed the presence of NGS-related phytoplasmas in 11 grass species, Bermuda grass white leaf (BGWL) phytoplasmas in three and goosegrass white leaf (GGWL) in two wild grass species, showing that the geographical distribution and diversity of phytoplasmas and their grass hosts are greater than previously thought. The relationships between NGS and Hyparrhenia grass white leaf (HGWL) phytoplasmas were determined using sequences based on secA gene and immunodominant protein (imp). Results showed a very low genetic diversity between NGS and HGWL and produced a phylogenetic tree congruent to that produced by the 16S, affirming the inclusion of HGWL in the 16SrXI group. NGS phytoplasma was transmissible to food crops through Maiestas banda Kramer (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) under screen-house conditions. With 56.3%, Saccharum officinarum showed the highest infection level followed by Eleusine coracana with 50%, Sorghum bicolor with 43.8%, Oryza sativa with 31.3% and Zea mays with 18.8%. All the phytoplasma-infected plants were asymptomatic except S. officinarum plants, which showed mild to moderate symptoms consisting of foliar yellow leaves and bright white or yellow midribs. This hints that besides wild hosts, food crops may also serve as alternative source of inoculum enabling a complex NGS disease cycle, which may add to challenges in the development of the disease control strategies. However, failure by M. banda to transmit HGWL and BGWL phytoplasmas back to Napier grass is an indication that it could be the exclusive vector of NGS. Therefore, there is need to initiate transmission trials using planthoppers and leafhoppers occurring on HGWL and BGWL phytoplasma-infected grasses to determine whether insect vectors capable of transmitting phytoplasmas from native grasses to Napier grass, are present in the region. / PhD (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Cultivation of Napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum, the most important livestock crop in East Africa is severely constrained by Napier Grass Stunt (NGS) disease. The disease spreads via an insect vector or vegetative propagation of infected plant material and is caused by a phytoplasma. This necessitates the development of an integrated management approach for the disease. Therefore, objectives of this study were to assess the incidence of the disease and its severity, to identify its wild hosts and farmers‟ knowledge on these hosts, to assess the threat of NGS disease to cultivated grasses and to establish the role of wild inoculum sources in its spread. The study showed NGS incidence ranging from 33% in Uganda to 95% in Kenya with 49% of the farmers interviewed, being able to discern NGS disease by its symptoms. Most farmers cited roguing and use of alternative fodder grasses as control measures, making these strategies the likely components of an integrated management approach for the disease. Responders named Sedge grass (Cyperus spp.) and Star grass (Cynodon dactylon) as the likely hosts of diseases caused by phytoplasma. Phytoplasmas were detected in leaves of 11 of 33 wild grass species collected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the highly conserved phytoplasma-specific 16S ribosomal DNA fragment. Sequence determination of amplified PCR fragments revealed the presence of NGS-related phytoplasmas in 11 grass species, Bermuda grass white leaf (BGWL) phytoplasmas in three and goosegrass white leaf (GGWL) in two wild grass species, showing that the geographical distribution and diversity of phytoplasmas and their grass hosts are greater than previously thought. The relationships between NGS and Hyparrhenia grass white leaf (HGWL) phytoplasmas were determined using sequences based on secA gene and immunodominant protein (imp). Results showed a very low genetic diversity between NGS and HGWL and produced a phylogenetic tree congruent to that produced by the 16S, affirming the inclusion of HGWL in the 16SrXI group. NGS phytoplasma was transmissible to food crops through Maiestas banda Kramer (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) under screen-house conditions. With 56.3%, Saccharum officinarum showed the highest infection level followed by Eleusine coracana with 50%, Sorghum bicolor with 43.8%, Oryza sativa with 31.3% and Zea mays with 18.8%. All the phytoplasma-infected plants were asymptomatic except S. officinarum plants, which showed mild to moderate symptoms consisting of foliar yellow leaves and bright white or yellow midribs. This hints that besides wild hosts, food crops may also serve as alternative source of inoculum enabling a complex NGS disease cycle, which may add to challenges in the development of the disease control strategies. However, failure by M. banda to transmit HGWL and BGWL phytoplasmas back to Napier grass is an indication that it could be the exclusive vector of NGS. Therefore, there is need to initiate transmission trials using planthoppers and leafhoppers occurring on HGWL and BGWL phytoplasma-infected grasses to determine whether insect vectors capable of transmitting phytoplasmas from native grasses to Napier grass, are present in the region. / PhD (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Pigs can consume a wide range of feeds to meet their nutritional needs and there is a renewed interest in the use of cheaper nutrient resources for animal feeding. Forages have been proved to be a substantial source of nutrients for pigs, however, the bulk of the existing work has focused on sows and grower-finisher pigs above 50 kg. This study was conducted during May-June 2009 at the Agricultural Research Council (Irene, Pretoria) to determine the voluntary forage intake and nutrient digestibility in growing pigs fed a mixed diet (concentrate + Kikuyu grass). Twenty five 8 weeks old Large White x Landrace crossbred pigs (27 ± 3.8 kg) were blocked by weight into 5 groups of 5 pigs each. One of 5 treatments (A, B, C, D and E), corresponding to 100, 90, 80, 70 and 80 % of a basal concentrate ration, respectively, was randomly assigned to a pig within each block. Indoor treatments were either fed the concentrate only (A) or also received freshly cut Kikuyu grass (Pennissetum clandestinum) ad libitum (B, C and D). Only treatment E animals were housed outdoors in Kikuyu grass paddocks while all other treatments were housed indoors. Forage intake was recorded daily and also estimated using a pair of n-alkanes as markers. Nutrient and diet digestibility were calculated using acid-insoluble ash (AIA) and dotriacontane (C32) as markers. The results showed that the concentrate intake (CI) in treatments A, B and C was significantly different from treatments C and E (P < 0.05) and there was positive correlation between the concentrate level and its intake (P < 0.01). The recorded intake of Kikuyu grass (RKI) and the animal’s average daily gain (ADG) were similar between treatments (P > 0.05). The estimated (EKI) and recorded (RKI) Kikuyu grass intakes were not influenced by CI or the level of concentrate allowance (CL) and RKI was higher (P < 0.05) than EKI. Digestibility estimates with AIA were higher than C32 Keywords: Dotriacontane; Kikuyu; growth performance; forage; monogastrics estimates (P < 0.05). It was concluded that Kikuyu grass intake was not affected by the reduction of the concentrate level allowance. It was proposed that forage intake in a mixed diet (forage + concentrate) was more dependant on its own characteristics than the concentrate’s nutritional value. / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Foi conduzido experimento em casa-de-vegetação do Departamento de Solos e Nutrição de Plantas da ESALQ - USP, durante o período de fevereiro a maio de 2002, com o objetivo de avaliar respostas produtivas, fisiológicas e nutricionais a proporções de nitrato e amônio, das forrageiras Panicum maximum cv. Aruana e Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, cultivados em solução nutritiva, utilizando sílica como substrato. Foi empregado o delineamento experimental de blocos completos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e seis tratamentos. O nitrogênio foi estudado na dose de 210 mg L -1 e nas proporções respectivas de nitrato e amônio de 100/0; 85/15;70/30; 55/45; 40/60 e 25/75%. As soluções foram preparadas a partir da solução completa de Sarruge (1975), devidamente modificada para as proporções desses íons no suprimento de nitrogênio. Dois corte foram realizados nas plantas, separando-se os componentes da parte aérea em folhas emergentes, lâminas de folhas recém-expandidas, lâminas de folhas maduras e colmos mais bainhas. Após o segundo corte, as raízes foram separadas da sílica e lavadas. Durante o crescimento das plantas foram determinados a atividade da redutase do nitrato e o valor SPAD e na ocasião dos cortes foram contados os perfilhos e as folhas das plantas e foi medida a área foliar. No material seco foi obtido a produção de massa e nas amostras moídas foram determinadas as concentrações de nitrogênio total, de nitrato e de amônio. Nas raízes foram avaliadas a superfície e comprimento total. As proporções de 85/15 a 55/45 de nitrato/amônio propiciaram aumento do número de perfilhos e de folhas. A área foliar e a massa seca da parte aérea responderam positivamente ao nitrogênio fornecido em proporção 100/0 a 55/45 de nitrato/amônio. A massa seca, a superfície e o comprimento de raízes foram beneficiadas pelo fornecimento de nitrato/amônio em proporções de 70/30 e 55/45. A aplicação de nitrato e amônio nas proporções de 40/60 e 25/75 resultou em mais elevada concentração de nitrogênio total nos colmos mais bainhas e de amônio nas lâminas de folhas maduras. Os atributos produtivos dos capins foram prejudicados pelo uso da proporção de nitrato/amônio de 25/75. A inclusão de amônio em substituição de parte do nitrato na solução completa de Sarruge beneficia os capins estudados. / A greenhouse experiment was carried out in the Soils and Plant Nutrition Department, at ESALQ-USP from February to May 2002. The objective was to evaluate the response in relation to proportions of nitrate and ammonium in the nutrient solutions of Panicum maximum cv. Aruana and Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. Plants grew in a ground quartz substrate. The experiment was set in complete randomized block design, with four replications. Nitrogen at 210 mg L -1 was studied in proportions 100/0; 85/15; 70/30; 55/45; 40/60 and 25/75% of nitrate and ammonium, respectively. A complete Sarruge (1975) solution was modified to supply nitrogen in the studied proportions. Plants were harvest twice and plant tops was separated in emerging leaves, lamina of recently expanded leaves, lamina of mature leaves and steams plus sheaths. After the second harvest, roots were taken from the substrate and washed. During the growth period the nitrate reductase activity and SPAD units were determined and at the plant harvesting the number of tillers and leaves were counted and leaf area was measured. Dry matter yield was obtained in the oven, dry plants and the concentration of total nitrogen, nitrate and ammonium were determined in the ground sample. Roots were evaluated for the total surface and length. Increases in the number of tillers and leaves were found with the 85/15 to 55/45 proportions of nitrate/ammonium. Leaf area and plant tops dry weight positively responded to the nitrogen supplied form 100/0 to 55/45 as nitrate/ammonium. Nitrate and ammonium applied in the 40/60 and 25/75 proportions showed the highest total nitrogen concentration in stems plus sheaths and the highest ammonium concentration in the lamina of mature leaves. Grasses production was decreased by the use of nitrate/ammonium at 25/75 proportion. The inclusion of ammonium as part of the nitrogen supply in the Sarruge’s nutrient solution is beneficial to the studied forage grasses.

A irrigação de pastagens no Brasil apresentou um crescimento acentuado nos últimos anos, porém devido a ausência de pesquisas sobre a aplicação de água em pastagens, o manejo da irrigação não vem sendo realizado de maneira racional. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar as relações entre a irradiância solar global e a radiação líquida sobre superfícies vegetadas com capim tânzania (Panicum maximum Jacq.) e com grama batatais (Paspalum notatum flugge); determinar a evapotranspiração do capim tânzania, por meio das medidas de lisímetro de pesagem; aplicar o método do balanço de energia para a estimativa da evapotranspiração do capim tânzania, por meio de um sistema automático de razão de Bowen; e comparar os valores de evapotranspiração do capim tanzânia, medidos em lisímetro de pesagem com os estimados pelo balanço de energia por meio de um sistema automático de razão de Bowen. O experimento foi conduzido em Piracicaba, estado de São Paulo. Por meio de um lisímetro de pesagem e um sistema automático de razão de Bowen foram obtidos valores de evapotranspiração do capim tanzânia (ETc). Também foram obtidos dados de irradiância solar global (Qg) e radiação líquida (Rn) sobre grama batatais e capim tanzânia. Os dados foram coletados diariamente e analisados, estatisticamente, mediante análise de regressão. Os modelos de regressão linear de estimativa da radiação líquida encontrados foram Rn = 0,5418.Qg (r 2 = 0,9297) para uma superfície gramada e Rn = 0,5613.Qg (r 2 = 0,8719) para uma superfície vegetada pelo capim tanzânia. A evapotranspiração média do capim tanzânia foi de 4,13 mm.d -1 , segundo o balanço de energia e 4,34 mm.d -1 , obtido pelo lisímetro de pesagem. Com base nos resultados, concluiu-se que o valores de evapotranspiração diários e horários do capim tanzânia medidos pelo sistema automático de razão de Bowen, foram afetados pelo efeito advectivo e pela precipitação, mas apesar disso houve uma razoável correlação com as medidas feitas em lisímetro de pesagem; e o estabelecimento das relações apresentadas neste trabalho mostra que os saldos de radiação em superfície gramada, assim como no capim tanzânia, podem ser estimados satisfatoriamente a partir da irradiância solar global, tendo a necessidade de se considerar suas variações sazonais. / Pasture irrigation presented a large growth in Brazil in recent years. However, the lack of research on pasture water use has led to inefficient irrigation management practices. The objectives of this work were: to evaluate the relationships between global solar irradiance and net radiation on surfaces covered with Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) and Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum flugge); to determine the evapotranspiration of Guinea grass through weighing lysimeter measurements; to apply the energy balance method to estimate the evapotranspiration of Guinea grass by means of an automated Bowen ratio system; and finally to compare the evapotranspiration of Guinea grass measured by a weighing lysimeter versus the evapotranspiration estimated by the automated Bowen ratio energy balance system.. Evapotranspiration (ETc) was obtained for Guinea grass by means of a weighing lysimeter and an automated Bowen ratio system. Global solar irradiance (Qg) and the net radiation (Rn) over Bahia grass and Guinea grass were also obtained. The data were collected daily and statistically analyzed through regression analysis. The linear regression models for Rn estimates were Rn = 0,5418.Qg (r 2 = 0,9297) for a Bahia grass surface and Rn = 0,5613.Qg (r 2 = 0,8719) for a surface covered with Guinea grass. Guinea grass average evapotranspiration was 4.13 mm.day -1 by the energy balance method and 4.34 mm.day -1 as measured by the weighing lysimeter. The results led to the conclusion that the daily and hourly evapotranspiration values of Guinea grass obtained by the Bowen ratio automated system, were affected by the advection and by precipitation. Despite that, it was possible to obtain a correlation between the Bowen ratio evapotranspiration and measurements with the weighing lysimeter. The results show that the net radiation over Bahia grass and Guinea grass can satisfactorily be estimated from the global solar irradiance as long as seasonal variations are taken into account.

Por muitos anos, Günter Grass, quando questionado em entrevistas sobre a possibilidade de escrever uma autobiografa, sempre respondia que o que deveria ser dito sobre sua vida estava registrado, em certa medida, em sua obra ficcional e, portanto, uma autobiografia não era necessária. Em 2006, Grass publicou a autobiografia, Beim Häuten der Zwiebel. O lançamento foi cercado de polêmicas discussões nos meios literário e midiático, principalmente devido à revelação de que o autor havia feito parte da Waffen-SS. Ponto central das análises publicadas a respeito da obra, a confissão suscitou questionamentos de caráter ético e principalmente discussões sobre a revalidação da obra do autor que sempre foi considerado a voz da consciência alemã. Segundo parte das críticas, o fato de Grass por tanto tempo ter escondido do público seu passado e tardiamente tê-lo revelado de forma pouco precisa determina as estratégias escolhidas para a elaboração de seu texto: uma narrativa ambígua, pouco objetiva ou pouco esclarecedora sobre sua participação real na Segunda Guerra Mundial. Essa avaliação será o ponto central da discussão, pois a partir dela se dá a caracterização de que a narrativa autobiográfica de Grass, em alguns momentos, poderia ser avaliada como ficcional, o que questiona a classificação genérica do texto. Este trabalho se propõe a analisar de forma detida como é construído o texto autobiográfico e como o autor problematiza as particularidades de sua escrita, sobretudo a partir do trânsito entre o factual e o ficcional, que gera a ambiguidade do texto e coloca o leitor em dúvida quanto ao caráter da obra. Para isso, serão discutidos conceitos fundamentais como autobiografia, ficção e autenticidade. Além disso, apresentaremos como o escritor trabalha ao longo de sua obra ficcional a utilização do eu autobiográfico em obras fundamentais para a construção do que viria a ser sua autobiografia, além da utilização de sua obra ficcional como horizonte de seu texto autobiográfico. / For many years, when asked in interviews about the possibility of writing an autobiography, Günter Grass used to answer that everything in his life that was worth making a register of was somehow already in his fictional work, therefore an autobiography was not necessary. In 2006, he published his autobiographical volume Beim Häuten der Zwiebel. This release was surrounded by literary and mediatic discussion, mainly due to the revelation that the author had been a member of the Waffen-SS. Central point in the published analyses on the book, this confession raised questioning of ethical nature and, above all, debates on a new validation of the authors anthology, which before was considered as the voice of the German consciousness. According to part of the critique, the fact that the writer kept his past hidden for so long from his readers and only disclosed it publically so late determines the strategies chosen by him for the whole elaboration of his narrative: an ambiguous narration, neither objective nor clear on the authors participation in World War II. This evaluation will be the focus of the discussion, for it is therefrom that one can characterize that Grass autobiographical narration, in certain moments, could be examined as fictional, which puts in question the general categorization of the text. The present thesis objective is to analyze, specifically, in which manner Günter Grass autobiographical text is constructed and how he problematizes the particularities of his writing style, especially from the transition between factual and fictional, which generates the ambiguity of the text and allows for the reader to have doubts relative to the nature of such text. To do so, the thesis will discuss some fundamental concepts such as autobiography, fiction and authenticity. Besides, we will present how the author utilizes the autobiographical I in his fictional books as something fundamental towards the latter construction of the autobiography itself, as well as the utilization of his fictional anthology as the horizon of his autobiographical text.

Neste trabalho, buscou-se o desenvolvimento e adequação de técnicas de análise morfométrica em Sistemas de Informações Geográficas. Como base de trabalho, foram utilizados os programas livres GRASS-GIS e a linguagem estatística R. Os parâmetros morfométricos estudados foram hipsometria, declividade, orientação de vertentes, perfis em varredura, densidade de lineamentos e de drenagem, rugosidade de relevo, isobases e gradiente hidráulico. A área de estudo localiza-se na borda leste do Quadrilátero Ferrífero (MG), e possui unidades geomorfológicas distintas: um relevo montanhoso a oeste (Serra do Caraça), separado por uma escarpa de centenas de metros de terrenos caracterizados por dissecação fluvial, que abrigam em sua porção central, um planalto sustentado por conglomerados ferruginosos cenozóicos. O elemento principal da análise morfométrica é o Modelo Numérico de Terreno (MDT), que pode ser interpolado a partir de curvas de nível ou de pontos cotados. Há ainda a possibilidade de utilizar MDTs produzidos pela agência espacial americana (NASA), disponíveis gratuitamente via internet. A metodologia proposta envolve principalmente operações básicas de SIG, como conversão entre formatos vetorial e matricial, operações matemáticas simples em mapas raster e interpolação de valores pontuais em superfícies contínuas. Análise de superfícies de tendência foi realizada para verificar a possibilidade de uso do método em estudos de morfotectônica. Foram ajustadas superfícies polinomiais de 1º a 6º grau, e as significâncias estatísticas de cada polinômio e do incremento do grau polinomial foram verificadas com análise de variância. Os mapas morfométricos produzidos permitiram a identificação de estruturas provavelmente relacionadas com a configuração atual da paisagem. Os mapas de resíduos para as superfícies de tendência mais representativas possuem boa correlação com as estruturas inferidas. A metodologia proposta pode ser adaptada aos diversos pacotes SIG existentes no mercado. O uso de programas livres e de código aberto garante o acesso a todos, e sua crescente popularização abre novas perspectivas nesse campo. / This work aims on developing and adaptation of morphometric analysis in Geographic Information Systems. Free softwares GRASS-GIS and R statistical language were used as main applications. Studied morphometric parameters were hypsometry, slope, aspect, swath profiles, drainage and lineament density, surface roughness, isobase and hydraulic gradient. The study area is located in the eastern border of Quadrilátero Ferrífero (MG), and has distinct geomorphological units: a mountainous relief to west (Serra do Caraça), separated by a scarp with hundreds of meters of fall from fluvial dissected terrains, with a flat plateau in its central portion, the Chapada de Canga. The main element for morphometric analysis is the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), which can be interpolated form contours or scattered points. There is also the possibility of utilize NASA' s DEMs, freely available via internet. The proposed methodology deals mainly with basic GIS operations, like conversion between raster and vector, simple mathematic operations on raster maps and interpolation of discrete values into continuous surfaces. Trend-surface analysis was carried out o verify the possibility of use the method for morphotectonic studies. Polynomial surfaces from 1st to 6th degree were adjusted; the statistical significance of each surface and the significance of increasing polynomial degree were verified with analysis of variance. Produced morphometric maps allow identification of structures probably related with present-day landscape configuration. Residuals maps for most representative trend-surfaces keep good correlation with inferred structures. The proposed methodology can be adapted to the variety of GIS packages available in the market. The use of free and open-source softwares guarantees access to everyone, and its increasing popularization opens new perspectives in this field.

O experimento teve por objetivo avaliar diferentes estratégias de manejo para ensilagem do capim Xaraés (Brachiaria brizantha, Stapf., cv Xaraés), considerando os reflexos destas sobre a composição químico-bromatológica e estabilidade aeróbia das silagens obtidas. Os tratamentos foram assim definidos: Controle - corte e ensilagem; Em - ceifa, emurchecimento (5 horas) e ensilagem; Glifosato 0h+Em - aplicação de glifosato (3 mL/1,5L H2O), ceifa, emurchecimento (5 horas) e ensilagem; Glifosato 24h+Em - aplicação de glifosato, ceifa após aproximadamente 24 horas da aplicação, emurchecimento (5 horas) e ensilagem; Glifosato 72h+Em - aplicação de glifosato, ceifa 72 horas após a aplicação, emurchecimento (5 horas) e ensilagem; Glifosato 72h - aplicação de glifosato, corte 72 horas após a aplicação, e ensilagem. Confirmando a tendência típica de gramíneas tropicais a forragem apresentou, originalmente, baixo teor de MS e de carboidratos solúveis. Características como produtividade, PB, fração fibrosa e digestibilidade apontam para sua utilização como silagem através de alternativas capazes de contornar os problemas relativos a alta umidade. Em relação às características das silagens obtidas, os tratamentos não se mostraram efetivos na elevação do teor de MS aos níveis preconizados, resultando em silagens com alto teor de N-NH3, AGV’s, e redução sensível das frações solúveis em favor das fibrosas. Como conseqüência disto, a estabilidade aeróbia das silagens foi alta, com degradação evidente apenas nas frações fibrosas. De forma geral, o emurchecimento determinou melhoria nas silagens quando comparadas as silagens não emurchecidas (P<0,05), mesmo não tendo sido atingido o teor de MS planejado. A aplicação do glifosato não determinou alterações consistentes em relação às variáveis analisadas (P>0,05), com exceção para a redução da proteólise durante a fermentação. / The trial focused on the management strategies to ensile Xaraés grass (Brachiaria brizantha, Stapf. cv Xaraés) considering side effects on chemical composition and aerobic stability of silages. Treatments were described as follows: Control - cut and ensiled; Em - chopped, wilted (5 hours) and ensiled; Gly0h+EM - glyphosate (3mL/1,5L H2O), chopped, wilted (5 hours) and ensiled; Gly24h+EM - glyphosate, chopped 24 h latter, wilted (5 hours) and ensiled; Gly72h+EM - glyphosate, chopped 72 h latter, wilted (5 hours) and ensiled; Gly72h - glyphosate, cut 72 h latter and ensiled. Forage samples showed low content of DM and soluble carbohydrate which was typical. DM yield, CP, fiber fraction and digestibility, however demonstrated a interesting potential for this forage source which need alternative strategy to overcome the problems related with excessive moisture content. Treatments studied were not effective to improve DM content as planned, resulting in silages containing higher levels of N-NH3, VFA’s, fiber fractions and marked decrease in soluble fractions. Generally, the wilting resulted in better silage quality as compared with the wet silages, even though. The DM goal was not achieved. Glyphosate did not determined, consistent changes on the studied variables, with exception to lower level of proteolysis on the treated silages.