CAPES, PAE / Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar o efeito da adubação potássica em cobertura (0, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 e 500 kg de K2O ha-1) sobre a produção e valor nutritivo de forragem de alfafa implantada em sistema plantio direto. O experimento foi conduzido de setembro de 2010 a dezembro de 2011, em Pato Branco – PR. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos completamente casualizados com quatro repetições e sete tratamentos (doses de adubação potássica – K2O). As quantidades totais de adubação potássica foram divididas em três aplicações em cobertura (verão, outono e primavera) tendo como fonte o cloreto de potássio (KCl). As variáveis avaliadas foram: produção de matéria seca total (em um ano de avaliação), produção de matéria seca por estação do ano (primavera, verão, outono e inverno), produção de matéria seca por cortes, intervalo entre cortes, altura do dossel na ocasião do corte, concentração de potássio na parte aérea, valor nutritivo da forragem (FDA, PB e NDT), extração de potássio pela planta e teor de potássio no solo em profundidades. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância, a um nível de 5% de significância, ao teste de Tukey para as variáveis qualitativas, e à análise de regressão polinomial para as quantitativas. O nível de adubação potássica não influenciou nenhuma das variáveis exceto o teor de K no solo, que também foi influenciado pela data de coleta e profundidade de amostragem. Produção de MS, concentração de K na parte aérea, teor de proteína bruta e altura do dossel no momento do corte, apenas sofreram influência da data de coleta. / This trial aimed to evaluate the potassium fertilization effects (0, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 kg K2O ha-1) over forage production and nutritive value of alfalfa in the Southwestern Paraná. The experiment was carried out from September 2010 to December 2011 in Pato Branco – PR. Completely randomized blocks experimental design with four replications and seven treatments (potassium – K - fertilization levels) were used. The total amount of K was splitted out on three applications on cover (summer, fall and spring). Potassium chlorate (KCl – 60%) was used. The evaluated variable were: total dry matter production (one year round), dry matter production per harvest, harvests frequencies, sward canopy high in the harvests events, aboveground K concentration, forage nutritive value (NDA, CP, TDN), K plant uptake, and K concentration at different soil depths. The data were analyzed by variance analysis (5% significance). Tukey test was used for qualitative variables and polynomial regression analysis for quantitative variables. None variable was affected by potassium fertilization levels, except K concentration in the soil, this one was also affected by date and depth sampling. Dry matter production, aboveground K concentration, crude protein content, and sward canopy height at the harvests, were only affected by date sampling.

Background Hay fever is typically poorly managed, particularly in adolescents, in whom it is responsible for considerable morbidity and impairment in educational performance. Evidence-based training of professionals has the potential to improve outcomes, but it can be expensive and so warrants formal evaluation. This trial sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a training intervention for primary care-based health care professionals on adolescent disease-specific quality of life. Methods A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in UK general practices. Practices were centrally randomised to a short, intensive training course on the evidence-based management of hay fever (intervention arm) or distribution of guidelines (control arm). The primary outcome measure was the change in the validated Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire with Standardized Activities (RQLQ(S)) score in adolescents with hay fever between baseline and six weeks post-intervention (minimal clinically important difference = 0.5). Secondary outcome measures included health care professionals’ knowledge and confidence in managing hay fever, number of hay fever-related consultations, relevant treatments prescribed and symptom scores. Multi-level modelling using a random effects model was used to take account of between and within cluster variation, adjusting for strata, individual covariates and year of study. Results Thirty-eight general practices were randomised (20 in the intervention arm) and 246/341 patients (50.2% male, mean age 15 years) were included in the primary outcome analysis. Health care professionals’ self-assessed knowledge and confidence improved (prescribing/recommending treatment mean score 95% CI 1.4, 2.8), and the training was perceived to be of value. This did not however result in clinically or statistically significant improvements in RQLQ(S): -0.15, 95% CI -0.52 to +0.21. There were no differences in consultation frequency (95% CI -0.02, +0.63), treatments issued for hay fever (95% CI -0.24, +0.08) or symptom scores (95% CI - 1.03, +0.54). Conclusions Although attendance on this short, intensive hay fever training course was associated with professionals’ increased self-assessed confidence and understanding of the clinical management of hay fever, this did not translate into improvements in disease-specific quality of life or reduction in rhinitis symptoms in adolescents with hay fever.

M.Tech. / Allergic rhinitis is on the increase around the world affecting between 15-20% of the global population and is the most common chronic condition of children in South Africa. Luffeel® is a propriety complex homeopathic product manufactured by Biologische Heilmittel Heel. It is available in nasal spray and tablet form. These two forms are designed to work in combination with each other in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of a combination of Luffeel® nasal spray and Luffeel® tablets on allergic rhinitis using Phadiatop® tests, RAST Inhalant screens and subjective evaluation on symptoms such as nasal itching, sneezing, congestion, discharge, ocular redness and itching as indicators. This study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted at the University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein campus over a period of eight weeks. Thirty participants were recruited by poster advertisement. It can be concluded that Luffeel® nasal spray and Luffeel® tablets decrease the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, when compared to the placebo, thus giving persons suffering from allergic rhinitis an alternative treatment with no rebound or lethargic effects. It can also be concluded that this study that Luffeel® nasal spray and Luffeel® tablets has no significant effect on Phadiatop® and RAST inhalant screens over an eight week period. The results are inconclusive due to the small sample size and short time frame of the study.

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Diploma in Technology: Homoeopathy at Technikon Natal, 1994. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of simillimum and allergen treatment to patients allergic to mixed grass pollens in terms of patients' responses to RAST and patients' percept ion of the effectiveness of treatment in order to identify key issues calling for the selection of the most effective method of treatment. / M

Cover crops (CC) can contribute to production in pastures, but the diversity of CC mixtures and defoliation frequency (DF) may alter productivity. A 2-yr experiment conducted at Raymond, MS, quantified CC × DF effects on forage mass (FM) and nutritive value of winter CC and subsequent summer hay production. Treatments were factorial combinations of 10 CC (using several species of grasses, legumes, and brassicas) and three DF (harvested every 4 or 8-wk or cut and left as mulch) in a split-plot arrangement of a randomized complete block design experiment with three replications. Generally, mixtures with legumes had greater FM and better nutritive value. Summer hay production did not respond to difference in CC composition, however, harvesting of CC reduced summer hay but increased year-long FM. These results suggest that CC when harvested can contribute to forage production with improved nutritive value and can increase year-long FM, but summer hay production can benefit when the CC is left as mulch.

The data reported in this paper is obtained from a Rotation Experiment with Fertilizers, which has been conducted at the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, Blacksburg, Virginia since 1909. The soil is a Hagerstown silt loam. The plats have been fertilized with the same kinds of fertilizer since 1909. A rotation of corn, wheat, first and second year hay is followed on the plats. There are 4 series of plats, each series consisting of 13 plats. Four plats, one from each series, have been fertilized alike since 1909. Two of the 13 plats are checks which leaves 11 plats on which different fertilizers are applied. The experiment here reported is divided into two parts. Part 1 deals with the types and percentage of vegetation, in the hay, on the plays. Part II deals with the Nitrates, total Nitrogen, and Lime requirements of the soil on the different plats. / M.S.

Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO)-affected horses experience bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation in response to inhalation of irritants including hay molds. Steaming hay reduces fungal content, but the effect on the antigenic potential has not been investigated. We tested the hypothesis that RAO-affected horses develop less severe clinical disease when fed steamed versus non-steamed hay and this reduction coincides with decreased hay fungal content. Six RAO-affected horses in clinical remission were divided in two groups and fed steamed or non-steamed hay for 10 days using a two-way cross-over design. Hay was steamed using a commercial hay-steamer. Clinical assessment was performed daily. Full assessment, including airway endoscopy, tracheal mucous scores and maximal change in pleural pressure, was performed on days 1, 5, and 10. Bronchial fluid sampling and cytology were performed on days 1 and 10. Hay core samples were collected pre- and post-steaming and cultured to determine fungal and bacterial concentrations. Statistical analysis was based on data distribution and quantity and performed using SAS®. P-value <0.05 was significant. Steaming significantly decreased the number of bacterial and fungal colony-forming-units in hay. Horses fed non-steamed hay experienced a significant increase in clinical score and a trend towards airway neutrophilia, while parameters were unchanged in horses fed steamed hay. Only horses fed non-steamed hay experienced a significant increase in tracheal mucous score. Horses fed steamed hay gained significantly more weight compared to horses fed non-steamed hay, even though the amount of hay consumed not greater on a dry matter basis. These results indicate that steaming reduces the RAO-affected horse's response to hay which coincides with a reduction in viable fungal content of hay. / Master of Science

The curing or hay on the farm to retain its maximum feeding value, including minerals and vitamins, is of recognized importance. For several years, agricultural workers have realized that a limiting factor in the production of high quality hay in the Southeastern United States is the difficulty of proper curing. The climatic conditions found in the southern states are among the nations most favorable for the production of hay, but these same conditions make it almost impossible to cure high quality hay in the field. The average total rainfall for any one month during the hay curing season is not excessive, but numerous light showers at short intervals make the field curing of hay very difficult. In 1942 a survey of hay losses was made on 215 farms in nine Southwest Virginia counties. The results of the survey showed that 25% of the crop had been lost or damaged. Virginia's annual production of tame hay is about 1,500,000 tons. If the same ratio of loss was applied to the total crop of the state, it would mean that 375,000 tons of the annual hay crop were lost or damaged. Hay and grain drying by forced ventilation has been practiced successfully by farmers in the Southeast for the past decade. At the close of the 1948 hay drying season, there were 500 driers in operation on Virginia farms. Available data on the analysis of a number of barn and field dried samples indicate a decided advantage in favor of the barn dried hay, when considering the amount of leaves, green color, carotene, and protein retained. The design and testing of the drying equipment and forced ventilation systems have become an important part of the research work of the Agricultural Engineering Department, Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. With the increased use of supplemental heat in forced ventilation drying, a definite need has arisen for data showing the effect of the temperature and relative humidity or the air supply on the drying rate and equilibrium moisture content of hay. The equilibrium moisture content is that moisture content at which no further moisture will be removed from the hay by a particular combination of temperature and relative humidity. The elementary laws of thermodynamics and heat transfer show that the condition of the drying media has a definite effect on the rate at which a substance may be dried. A thorough investigation showed that the literature on this particular phase of hay drying is very limited; however, a number of articles have been published on closely related subjects, such as the humidity equilibrium of wheat, flour, flaxseed and various other common substances. Of the literature available the most applicable reports were those by Mr. Davis¹, "Supplemental Heat in Mow Drying of Hay - Part Two", and Dexter, Sheldon and Waldron², "Equilibrium Moisture Content of Alfalfa Bay". In Mr. Davis I report the drying rate factor for the 68°F. dew point only was given, and the study by Dexter, Sheldon and Waldron was limited to a constant temperature condition throughout the humidity range. Since practically all hay drying installations operate with varying dry bulb temperatures and varying relative humidities, this investigation was proposed for the purpose of providing data that would constitute an important contribution to the further study and design of hay drying systems. 1. Davis, R. B. Jr., "Supplemental Heat in Mow Drying of Hay - Part Two", U.S.D.A., V.P.I., Agr. Engr. Journal, June 1948. 2. Dexter, S. T., Sheldon, W. H., and Waldron, Dorothy I., Michigan State College. "Equilibrium Moisture Content of Alfalfa Hay". Agr. Engr. Journal, July 1947. / M.S.

3 pp. / Revised / The most effective weed control practice in alfalfa is maintaining a healthy crop and dense stand. Cultural practices that promote a vigorous stand can reduce the need for chemical weed control. Cultural practices that promote a healthy stand reduce the need for chemical weed control, but herbicides are sometimes necessary even in well-managed alfalfa.

Hay auctions have generally been understudied due to their unique market structure. Therefore, the factors that influence the price of hay at auction markets are not well-known. The price of hay at auction markets reflects the various characteristics that differentiate each lot of hay sold. This study is aimed at analyzing the determinants of Central Kentucky hay prices. A hedonic price model is estimated using data collected from a Central Kentucky hay auction. Known hay attributes include forage species, form, bale weight, and nutritive value. An important aspect of this analysis is to determine whether the quality measures of the hay are significant factors in determining hay prices in this auction setting. While price discovery of hay is important, it is also important to know about the insurance that is available to producers. Insurance for hay production is very limited with only two insurance programs available to Kentucky producers. An evaluation of the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program is conducted by simulating yields from an alfalfa producer and alfalfa trials from University of Kentucky Agriculture Research Centers in Princeton and Lexington, Kentucky. This analysis reveals the effectiveness of the coverage levels offered through the program for alfalfa producers in Kentucky.