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)

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.

A utilização do capim-Tanzânia tem sido crescente nas pastagens brasileiras e há nítida demanda de maior conhecimento sobre as necessidades nutricionais dessa forrageira, com o intuito de se obter mais altas produtividades. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi de obter informações desse capim no que diz respeito à relação entre os nutrientes potássio e magnésio, através da avaliação do número de perfilhos e de folhas, área foliar, produção de massa da parte aérea e das raízes, superfície e comprimento radicular, leitura SPAD, teor de clorofila nas folhas e concentrações dos macronutrientes catiônicos nos tecidos das plantas e caracterização de sintomas visuais. Foi conduzido um experimento em casa-de-vegetação, com solução nutritiva, em vasos de 3,6 L tendo sílica moída como substrato, no período de setembro a novembro de 2004, em Piracicaba-SP. Utilizou-se o esquema fatorial 52 incompleto, perfazendo um total de 13 combinações de doses de potássio e de magnésio, em mmol L-1: 0,4K/0,05Mg; 0,4K/1,35Mg; 0,4K/2,65Mg; 3,2K/0,7Mg; 3,2K/2Mg; 6K/0,05Mg; 6K/1,35Mg; 6K/2,65Mg; 8,8K/0,7 Mg; 8,8K/2Mg; 11,6K/0,05Mg; 11,6K/1,35Mg; 11,6K/2,65Mg, em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. O primeiro corte das plantas foi realizado 46 dias após o transplante das mudas e o segundo 28 dias após o primeiro. Em ambos os cortes a parte aérea das plantas foi separada em folhas emergentes, lâminas de folhas recém-expandidas, lâminas de folhas maduras e colmos mais bainhas. Após o segundo corte realizou-se também a separação das raízes, utilizando-se água corrente e peneiras de 0,25 e 1,00 mm. As combinações de doses de potássio e de magnésio foram determinantes para a proporção de potássio, magnésio e cálcio na parte aérea nos dois períodos de crescimento, para comprimento e massa radicular e, somente no segundo crescimento, para produção da parte aérea e para as concentrações de cálcio e de manganês nas lâminas de folhas recém-expandidas do capim. De forma isolada as doses de potássio alteraram o número de perfilhos e de folhas, a área foliar e a concentração de zinco nas lâminas de folhas recém-expandidas nos dois crescimentos, enquanto influenciaram, no primeiro crescimento, a produção da parte aérea e as concentrações de cálcio, cobre, ferro e manganês nas folhas diagnósticas, além de promover alteração na superfície radicular. As doses de magnésio, isoladamente, fizeram variar o valor SPAD e a concentração de clorofila nos dois crescimentos, e no segundo crescimento, têm influência na área foliar, na superfície radicular e nas concentrações de cobre, ferro e zinco nas lâminas de folhas recém-expandidas da gramínea. As máximas respostas do capim-Tanzânia ocorreram com fornecimento de potássio na solução nutritiva entre 8,4 e 10,9 mmol L-1 e o de magnésio entre 1,7 e 2,3 mmol L-1, e com participação do potássio entre 53 e 64 % e do magnésio ao redor de 20 % na concentração total de potássio, magnésio e cálcio na parte aérea das plantas. Sintomas visuais das deficiências de potássio e de magnésio nas plantas somente foram observados com baixos suprimentos desses nutrientes. / Tanzânia grass use in Brazilian pastures has been improved, and there is a need for more knowledge on its mineral nutrition in order to increase forage productivity. The objective of this research was to obtain information for this grass related to the combined supply of potassium and magnesium, through the evaluation of number of tillers and leaves, leaf area, plant tops and roots dry matter production, roots lenght and surface, SPAD value, leaf chlorophyll concentration, cationic macronutrients concentrations in plant tissues and visual symptoms characterization. An experiment was carried out in a greenhouse by using nutrient solution in 3.6 L pots containing ground quartz, from September to November 2004, at Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brasil. An incomplete 52 factorial was used, which resulted in 13 combinations among potassium and magnesium rates, in mmol L-1: 0,4K/0,05Mg; 0,4K/1,35Mg; 0,4K/2,65Mg; 3,2K/0,7Mg; 3,2K/2Mg; 6K/0,05Mg; 6K/1,35Mg; 6K/2,65Mg; 8,8K/0,7 Mg; 8,8K/2Mg; 11,6K/0,05Mg; 11,6K/1,35Mg; 11,6K/2,65Mg, in a randomized block design, with four replications. Plants were first harvested 46 days after seedlings transplanting to the pots, and harvested again 28 days after the first harvest. At each harvest plants tops were separated into emergent leaves, newly expanded leaf laminae, mature leaf laminae and culms plus sheaths. After the second harvest the roots were collected by passing tap water through 0.25 and 1.00 mm screens. Potassium and magnesium rates combinations highly influenced the proportion of potassium, magnesium and calcium in plant tops in both growth periods, and the roots dry weight and length. These nutrients rates combinations also determined forage yield and concentrations of calcium and manganese in the newly expanded leaf laminae at the second harvest. Potassium rates significantly changed the number of tillers and leaves, leaf area, and zinc concentration in the newly expanded leaves at both growth periods, whereas in the first growth influenced forage yield, concentrations of calcium, copper, iron and manganese in the newly expanded leaf laminae, and in the root surface. Magnesium rates resulted in changes in SPAD values and chlorophyll concentrations in the two plant growths but, at second growth, promoted changes in leaf area, in root surface, and in concentrations of copper, iron and zinc in the newly expanded leaf laminae. Maximum responses of Tanzania grass were found when potassium was supplied between 8.4 and 10.9 mmol L-1 and magnesium between 1.7 and 2.3 mmol L-1 and when potassium contributed between 53 and 64 % and magnesium about 20 % to the total concentration of potassium, magnesium and calcium in plants tops. Visual symptoms of potassium and magnesium deficiencies in the plants were only observed with low rates supply of these nutrients.

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.

A discussão sobre adaptações de obras literárias em realizações cinematográficas já passou do campo moralista da fidelidade ou traição para uma discussão menos valorativa. Isso significou uma focalização no estudo da intertextualidade entre a adaptação cinematográfica e o romance original, tendo como pontos de observação o tipo de seleção feita no processo da realização fílmica, a concretização visual do texto literário, a atualização de determinados temas abordados na obra e o foco narrativo, por exemplo. O que se pretende com este trabalho é a análise da estrutura narrativa do romance O tambor (Die Blechtrommel) de Günter Grass e do filme homônimo dirigido por Volker Schlöndorff, observando a forma como o romancista articula a construção complexa de seu foco narrativo e como o cineasta trabalha essa estrutura em seu filme, o que resulta em diferentes formas de perceber e interpretar tanto o narrador-personagem quanto o universo no qual está inserido. / Debates on the adaptation of literary works to the cinema have already surpassed moral judgments related to fidelity and treason, finding a more objective approach. It implies, for example, the comparison between the movie adaptation and the original work focusing on intertextuality and using, as points for analysis, the selection of literary material made during the filmic realization process, the visual achievement of the literary text, the update of some of the themes brought out by the writer and the narrative focus, among others. This work aims at analyzing the narrative structure of Günter Grass novel The Tin Drum (Die Blechtrommel) and Volker Schlöndorffs homonymous movie by observing the complex articulation of Grass narrative focus and the directors rendering of that structure, which results in different ways of perceiving and interpreting both the narrating character and the universe he is placed in.

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.

Thesis (MSc. (Pasture Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / South Africa is regarded as a semi-arid area; only 28% of the country receives more than 600 mm rainfall recorded annually. Sustainable utilization of cool season fodder grasses in summer rainfall areas to produce winter animal feed remains a major problem. Farmers are affected by a shortage of adequate, good quality herbage for livestock during winter and dry periods on commercial farms. The study aimed to evaluate and compare the production potential of six Festulolium hybrids, three Dactylis species, and five Lolium hybrids and three grass-legume mixtures in the summer rainfall area. A total of 17 cultivars were evaluated for their DM production under the treatment of different fertilizer levels on three planting dates (16 March 2011, 21 April 2011 and 4 April 2012). The study was carried out at Hygrotech Seed Company (Experimental site), Dewagensdrift in Moloto Village outside Pretoria in the Gauteng Province. Data was collected on a monthly basis from sub-plots of 1 m x 1 m (m2) in 51 plots of 1.5 m x 6 m (9 m2), with nine rows that were 10 cm apart arranged under RCBD with three replicates per cultivar. Harvested fresh samples were taken, weighed, dried at 60ºC until they reached a constant dry weight and weighed to determine DM content. A Fischer’s protected LSD at the 5 % level was performed to compare the treatment means. Over a period of three years of study, it shows that the low fertilizer level resulted in the lowest DM production, with no significant difference occurring between medium and high fertilizer levels. To achieve optimum DM production with minimum cost medium fertilizer is recommended. The cultivars responded differently to the three different planting dates. The time of planting had an effect on DM production in winter. It is recommended that Festulolium hybrids and Lolium hybrids be planted earlier (March) for better DM production in winter. / National Research Foundation (NRF)

The most important problem in using bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) for turf at the northern limit of its adaptation is winter survival. Bermudagrass used for athletic complexes is exposed to the additional problem of uncontrolled or excessive traffic. This research was conducted to determine the effects of: 1) traffic and mineral nutrition; 2) clear plastic covers and cultural treatments and; 3) overseeding and late winter freezing on bermudagrass winter survival. Four separate experiments were conducted on field cultured Midiron bermudagrass. Various regimes of traffic, N and K fertility, clear plastic covers, cultural treatments and growth regulators were utilized to determine their affect on bermudagrass winter survival. A laboratory freeze was used, in two experiments, on plant samples taken from the field. Following the freezing procedure, the samples were then grown in the greenhouse. From these experiments, it was found that traffic applied just as turf growth initiates in the spring was the most damaging. Potassium fertility had no effect on post dormancy growth. Nitrogen did improve post dormancy growth of bermudagrass exposed to a late winter laboratory freeze and when plastic covers were applied during winter dormancy. Plastic covers enhanced post dormancy growth and offset the detrimental effect of imposed traffic. 'Stayz Green' turf colorant did increase early post dormancy growth. While, the cultivation treatments using a vertical mower alone and with an aerifier reduced early green up. Flurprimidal reduced early post dormancy growth of bermudagrass; while, mefluidide had no detrimental effect. Both growth regulators reduced the growth of the overseeded ryegrass, and mefluidide enhanced the competitiveness of bermudagrass in the ryegrass canopy. / M.S.

Within the Sceloporus scalaris species group, some species are oviparous while others are viviparous, suggesting the origin of viviparity is relatively recent. This interpopulation comparison focused on Sceloporus scalaris in Arizona because low elevation (1500 m) and high elevation (2500-2900 m) populations exhibit short and long periods of egg retention, respectively, and increased periods of egg retention are presumably an intermediate step in the evolution of viviparity. Low elevation populations had life histories typical of lowland Sceloporus: eggs are laid at embryonic stages 32-33, clutch sizes are relatively large, hatchlings are relatively small, and more than one clutch is produced per season. In contrast, montane populations retain eggs to embryonic stages 36-38, clutch sizes are relatively small, hatchlings are relatively large, and only one clutch is produced per season. In accord with their lengthy retention, eggshells of montane populations were thinner than those of lowland populations. The assumption that prolonged egg retention is mechanistically associated with relatively thin eggshells was tested by comparing the development of embryos in eggs retained in utero with that of control embryos in eggs incubated in Simulated nests where water and gases were presumably not limited. For the low elevation population, growth rates of embryos retained in utero as long as stage 39 were identical to those of control eggs at the same stages. However, water uptake by retained eggs was confined to the embryo whereas water uptake of control eggs was associated with both the embryo and extraembryonic tissues. These results suggest that the length of egg retention by S. scalaris is not constrained by eggshell thickness, and that the capacity to regulate the water balance of eggs may be an important component of the evolution of viviparity. / Master of Science

A study of the significance of Walt Whitman's use of geography in Leaves of Grass.