Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The knowledge of P dynamics in grassland ecosystems may be important to prescription of changes caused by the addition of different sources of phosphate fertilizers in the P forms of soil, dry matter production and botanical composition of natural grasslands. The objective of this work was to evaluate the dynamics of P (a) the availability and forms of P; (b) total dry matter and contributions in dry matter and (c) dilution curves of P content from tissue of main species of natural grasslands after the application of different phosphate sources in three soil types under natural grasslands with or without historical of P applications. Treatments were P applications as Gafsa rock phosphate, simple superphosphate, triple superphosphate and control, arranged in randomized blocks with three replicates. In two experiments located in the city of Candiota - RS (Ultisol and Entisol), 100 kg ha-1 P2O5 were applied in September 2010. In the experiment of Santa Maria - RS (Alfisol), 180, 90, 100 e 100 kg ha-1 P2O5 were applied in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2010, respectively, which represent 470 kg ha-1 P2O5. The soil samples (0-10 cm) and herbage mass were evaluated in the spring and summer after applied the last treatment in each experiment. The Gafsa rock phosphate showed a potential to increase P availability in soils with low calcium content in natural grasslands, but increases were higher when superphosphate was used. The application of phosphate fertilizers in soils under grasslands increases the importance of inorganic fractions of labile P to the available P to plants, making them less dependent on the mineralization of organic fractions. The P fertilization response was higher where annual species occurrence prevailed. In pastures with historical of fertilization, contribution of main species to the total dry mass of pasture had changed. In Candiota city, species did not grow by a severe drought. In Santa Maria, species as Paspalum notatum, Aristida laevis and other plants aggregated as Other Species had increased biomass and P tissue content was diluted over the periods. The specie Eustachys ulignosa had responded in biomass to soluble phosphate additions. The evaluated phosphates sources did not alter the N content in the tissue of grassland species. / O conhecimento da dinâmica do fósforo nos ecossistemas campestres pode ser importante para a prescrição das alterações provocadas pela adição de diferentes fontes de fertilizantes fosfatados sobre as formas de P no solo, na produção de matéria seca e na composição botânica das pastagens naturais. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a influência da dinâmica do P (a) na disponibilidade e formas de P no solo; (b) na massa total de forragem e as contribuições de massa seca e (c) curvas de diluição de P no tecido das principais espécies componentes das pastagens naturais submetidas à aplicação de diferentes fontes de fosfato em três solos com e sem histórico de fertilização fosfatada. Os tratamentos consistiram na aplicação de P nas formas de hiperfostado de Gafsa, superfosfato simples, superfosfato triplo e testemunha, arranjados em blocos casualizados com três repetições. Nos dois experimentos instalados em Candiota (Luvissolo Úmbrico e Neossolo Litólico), foram aplicados 100 kg ha-1 P2O5 em setembro de 2010. No experimento de Santa Maria (Argissolo Vermelho) foram aplicados 180, 90, 100 e 100 kg ha-1 P2O5 nos anos de 1997, 1998, 2002 e 2010, respectivamente, totalizando 470 kg ha-1 de P2O5. As coletas de solo (camada 0-10 cm) e as massas de forragem foram avaliadas no período primavera-verão, após a última aplicação dos tratamentos em cada experimento. O hiperfosfato de Gafsa demonstrou ter potencial de disponibilização de P em solos ácidos com baixo teor de cálcio sob pastagens naturais, mas a disponibilização de P obtida com os superfosfatos foi maior. A aplicação de fertilizantes fosfatados em solos pobres sob pastagens naturais aumenta a importância das frações inorgânicas lábeis de P na disponibilização de P para as plantas, tornando-as menos dependentes da mineralização das frações orgânicas. A resposta da pastagem natural à fertilização fosfatada foi maior onde havia significativa contribuição de espécies anuais. O histórico de adição de fertilizantes fosfatados solúveis alterou a contribuição das principais espécies na massa seca total das pastagens naturais. Em Candiota, as espécies não apresentaram crescimento em função de forte estiagem. Em Santa Maria, as espécies Paspalum notatum, Aristida laevis e o componente Outras Espécies aumentaram a biomassa aérea e diluíram P do tecido ao longo dos períodos avaliados. A espécie Eustachys ulignosa respondeu a adição de fosfato solúvel. As fontes de fosfatos avaliados não alteraram o teor de N no tecido das plantas.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T16:24:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCA11MA069.pdf: 834150 bytes, checksum: 563a24902a48d02b1b4e6ce5c1d377a9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-25 / The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of introduction of Arachis pintoi in dwarf elephant grass pastures (Pennisetum purpureum) on herbage production and animal performance. The treatments were dwarf elephant grass (PG) fertilized with 200 kg N / ha and a mixed pasture of dwarf elephant grass and Arachis without the use of nitrogen fertilization (PAG). The animals used were 12 cross steers of Charolais (BW = 288 ± 5.2 kg) divided into four groups (two per treatment). The pastures were managed under intermittent stocking with an average herbage allowance of 5.4 kg of dry matter of green leaves/100 kg of bodyweight. The forage intake was estimated using the n-alkanes technique (C31-C32) and by disappearance of forage. The determination of the 15N (d15N) showed that 75% of N present in the Arachis was derived from biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). The herbage accumulation rate (95.5 kg DM/ ha.day), as well as green leaves biomass (GLB) (2310 kg DM / ha) were not affected by treatments. The methodology of herbage disappearance has proved an effective method to estimate forage intake. The DM disappearance (mean = 2.44% BW), average daily gain (mean = 0.76 kg) and stocking rate (mean = 3.8 AU / ha.day) were similar between treatments. In conclusion, the presence of Arachis in dwarf elephant grass pasture, at the proportion of 9.2% of total DM, was sufficient to maintain herbage production, but did not increased the herbage intake and animal performance. Future works should be conducted to evaluate animal response when the legume is provided at different spatial distribution / O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar o efeito da introdução do amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi) em pastos de capim elefante anão (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) sobre a produtividade primária de forragem e o desempenho animal. Os tratamentos experimentais foram capim elefante anão (CEA) adubado com 200 kg de N/ha e uma pastagem consorciada de capim elefante anão e amendoim forrageiro sem o uso de adubos industriais (CEL). Os animais utilizados foram 12 novilhos cruza Charolês (PV = 288 ± 5,2 kg) divididos em quatro lotes (dois por tratamento). Os pastos foram manejados sob lotação intermitente com oferta diária média de 5,4 kg de MS de folhas verdes/100 kg de peso vivo. O consumo de forragem foi estimado por meio das técnicas de pares de n-alcanos (C31-C32) e por desaparecimento da forragem. A determinação do 15N (d15N) revelou que 75% do N presente no amendoim forrageiro foi oriundo da fixação biológica de nitrogênio (FBN). A taxa de acúmulo total de matéria seca (média = 95,5 kg/ha.dia), bem como a matéria seca de biomassa verde (BVS = 2310 kg MS/ha) não foram influenciadas pelos tratamentos. A metodologia de desaparecimento de forragem demonstrou ser um método eficaz na estimativa do consumo de forragem. O desaparecimento de MS (média = 2,44 % PV), o ganho médio diário (média = 0,76 kg) e a taxa de lotação (média = 3,8 UA/ha.dia) foram semelhantes entre os pastos estudados. Em conclusão, a presença do amendoim forrageiro em pastos de pastos de capim elefante anão, na proporção de 9,2% da MS total, foi suficiente para manter a produtividade primária, mas não possibilitou incrementos no consumo de forragem e no desempenho animal. Trabalhos futuros devem ser conduzidos para avaliar a resposta animal quando a leguminosa é fornecida em condições de mais fácil acesso aos animais

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:34:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ItaniaMMA_DISSERT.pdf: 824423 bytes, checksum: afea5ac43f7f8530cfb948b922808ef4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-27 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of supplements feeding on growth of calves grazing a Panicum maximum cv. Momba?a pasture during the dry season. The experimental design was a randomized blocks with three treatments and three replications. The treatments were: mineral salt ad libidum; multiple mixture (MM) fed at 0.2% of live weight (PV); and, concentrate feed (SC) fed at 0.7% of PV. Thirty six weaned calves averaging eight months and 192 kg of initial live weight were utilized. The masses and pasture components, nutritive value and rate of forage growth were evaluated. Animal performance was measured as average daily gain (ADG) and live weight gain (LWG). The supplemental feeding was adjusted after weighing. There was no difference between periods for forage mass and leaf: stem ratio. The highest values for forage green mass, leaf blades mass and stem percentage were observed in the first trial period. The canopy height and the available forage on offer did not differ among treatments. The percentage of dead was higher for the last periods of evaluation. The leaf: stem ratio and the leaf percentage were greater in the second period. There was significant difference (p<0,05) among treatments for the ADG and were 250, 460 and 770 g/day for salt, MM and SC, respectively. The biggest LWG was observed in the treatment SC. contents of PB, DIVMO, NDF and LDA on leaf blades, thatched roofs and dead material dead not differ among treatments. The highest GPV was observed in the SC treatment. The contents of PB, DIVMO, NDF and LDA for leaf blades stem and dead material did not differ among treatments. Independent of the use supplements , it is possible to keep steers gaining weight, during dry season, since the stocking rate is appropriately adjusted / O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de suplementos na recria de bovinos em pastos de Panicum maximum cv. Momba?a na ?poca seca. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com tr?s tratamentos e tr?s repeti??es. Os tratamentos constitu?ram-se de: sal mineral ? vontade; mistura m?ltipla (MM), fornecida a 0,2% do peso vivo (PV); e, suplemento concentrado (SC), fornecido a 0,7% do PV. Foram utilizados 36 bezerros desmamados, com idade m?dia de oito meses e peso m?dio inicial de 192 kg. Mensalmente, os pastos foram amostrados para as estimativas de altura, massa de forragem (MF), massa de forragem verde (MFV), massa de l?mina foliar (MLF), porcentagens de folha (PF), colmo (PC) e morto (PM), rela??o folha:colmo (RFC) e folha:n?o folha, oferta de forragem e taxa de ac?mulo de forragem (TAF), sendo os dados agrupados em quatro per?odos. Os animais foram pesados a cada 28 dias e a produ??o animal foi avaliada quanto ao ganho m?dio di?rio (GMD) e ganho de peso vivo por ?rea (GPV). A quantidade de suplemento foi ajustada a cada pesagem. N?o houve diferen?a entre per?odos para a massa de forragem e rela??o folha:colmo. Os maiores valores para massa de forragem verde, massa de l?mina foliar e porcentagem de colmo foram observados no primeiro per?odo de avalia??o. A altura do dossel e a oferta de forragem n?o diferiram entre os tratamentos. A porcentagem de material morto foi maior nos ?ltimos per?odos de avalia??o. A rela??o folha:n?o folha e a porcentagem de l?mina foliar foram maiores no segundo per?odo. O GMD foi de 250, 460 e 770 g/animal/dia, respectivamente, para sal, MM e SC. O maior GPV foi observado no tratamento SC. Os teores de PB, DIVMO, FDN e LDA nas l?minas foliares, colmo e material morto n?o diferiram entre os tratamentos. Independente do uso de suplementos, ? poss?vel manter o ganho de peso dos animais durante a esta??o seca, desde que a taxa de lota??o seja ajustada de forma adequada

Introducing effective irrigation management in arid and semi-arid regions, like most areas of South Africa, is an indispensable way of maximising crop yield and enhancing productivity of scarce freshwater resources. Holistic improvements in agricultural water management could be realised through integrating the knowledge of crop-specific water requirements. In order to develop effective irrigation schedules for rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium capitatum x P. radens), greenhouse and field experiments were conducted at the Hatfield Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, from 28 October 2004 to 2006. Results from 20, 40, 60 and 80% maximum allowable depletion (MAD) levels of the plant available soil water (ASW) indicated that plant roots extracted most of the soil water from the top 40 cm soil layer, independent of the treatment. Both essential oil yield and fresh herbage mass responded positively to high soil water content. Increasing the MAD level to 60% and higher resulted in a significant reduction in herbage mass and essential oil yields. An increase in the degree of water stress apparently increased the essential oil concentration (percentage oil on fresh herbage mass basis), but its contribution to total essential oil yield (kg/ha oil) was limited. There was no significant relationship between MAD level and essential oil composition. For water saving without a significant reduction in essential oil yield of rose-scented geranium, a MAD of 40% of ASW is proposed. Response of rose-scented geranium to a one-month irrigation withholding period in the second or third month of regrowth cycles showed that herbage mass and oil yield were positively related. Herbage yield was significantly reduced when the water stress period was imposed during the third or fourth month of regrowth. A remarkable essential oil yield loss was observed only when the plants were stressed during the fourth month of regrowth. Essential oil content (% oil on fresh herbage mass basis) was higher in stressed plants, especially when stressed late, but oil yield dropped due to lower herbage mass. The relationship between essential oil composition and irrigation treatments was not consistent. Water-use efficiency was not significantly affected by withholding irrigation in the second or in the third month of regrowth. With a marginal oil yield loss, about 330 to 460 m3 of water per hectare per regrowth cycle could be saved by withholding irrigation during the third month of regrowth. The overall results highlighted that in water-scarce regions withholding irrigation during either the second or the third month of regrowth in rose-scented geranium could save water that could be used by other sectors of society. In greenhouse pot experiments, rose-scented geranium was grown under different irrigation frequencies, in two growth media. Irrigation was withheld on 50% of the plants (in each plot) for the week prior to harvesting. Herbage and essential oil yields were better in the sandy clay soil than in silica sand. Essential oil content (% oil on fresh herbage mass basis) apparently increased with a decrease in irrigation frequency. Both herbage and total essential oil yields positively responded to frequent irrigation. A one-week stress period prior to harvesting significantly increased essential oil content and total essential oil yield. Hence, the highest essential oil yield was obtained from a combination of high irrigation frequency and a one-week irrigation-withholding period. In the irrigation frequency treatments, citronellol and citronellyl formate contents tended to increase with an increase in the stress level, but the reverse was true for geraniol and geranyl formate. Leaf physiological data were recorded during the terminal one-week water stress in the glasshouse pot trial. Upon rewatering, stomatal conductance (Gs) and transpiration rate (Rt) were significantly lower in the less often irrigated than in the more often irrigated treatments, while leaf water potential (yw) and relative water content (RWC) were the same for all plants, indicating that water stress had an after-effect on Gs and Rt. At the end of the stress period, Gs, Rt, yw and RWC were lower in the plants from the more often irrigated than from the less often irrigated treatments. Irrespective of irrigation treatment, one type of non-glandular and two types (different in shape and size) of glandular trichomes were observed. In water stressed-conditions, stomata and trichome densities increased, while the total number of stomata and trichomes per leaf appeared to remain more or less the same. Water stress conditions resulted in stomatal closure. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted

Num ecossistema de pastagem a interceptação da luz incidente é o passo inicial de uma seqüência de eventos que resulta na produção de forragem. Vários são os fatores que interferem no processo de interceptação da luz e, dentre eles, os mais expressivos são aqueles relacionados com o índice de área foliar, com as características estruturais e com o arranjo espacial de componentes do dossel forrageiro. O presente experimento teve como objetivo estudar a estrutura do dossel, a interceptação luminosa e o acúmulo de forragem em pastos de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu submetidos a lotação contínua por bovinos de corte. O experimento foi conduzido no Departamento de Zootecnia da USP/ESALQ. Os tratamentos corresponderam a quatro alturas de dossel (10, 20, 30 e 40 cm) mantidas constantes por meio de lotação contínua e taxa de lotação variável. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos completos casualizados com quatro repetições. As variáveis estudadas foram: índice de área foliar (IAF), ângulo foliar, interceptação de luz, composição botânica/morfológica da forragem, distribuição vertical dos componentes do dossel forrageiro e acúmulo de forragem. A composição da massa de forragem dos pastos não apresentou grande variação entre tratamentos, principalmente no que diz respeito à porcentagem de hastes (27%) e de folhas (21%). A quantidade absoluta e a porcentagem de material morto em relação aos outros componentes morfológicos do dossel aumentaram do verão (30%) até o início da primavera (61%). Quanto maior a altura do dossel, maior foi o deslocamento dos componentes morfológicos ao longo de seu perfil vertical durante o ano. Reduções acentuadas nos valores de IAF dos pastos mantidos a 20 (5,2 para 1,6), 30 (7,0 para 1,5) e 40 cm (7,5 para 2,1) do verão ao início da primavera, respectivamente, não foram acompanhadas por reduções em interceptação luminosa, que se manteve consistentemente acima de 98%. O componente material morto interferiu de foma significativa na interceptação de luz, além de ter apresentado um padrão “dinâmico” de posicionamento no perfil vertical do dossel ao longo do ano. Essa variação na estrutura vertical do dossel foi tão maior quanto mais altos foram mantidos os pastos, e seu efeito sobre os padrões de interceptação luminosa provocou grandes variações na produção de forragem ao longo do ano. De toda a forragem produzida, 65 e praticamente 100% foi acumulada durante o final da primavera e verão nos pastos mantidos a 10 e 40 cm, respectivamente. A produção total de forragem não diferiu entre os pastos mantidos a 10, 20 e 30 cm (aproximadamente 24 ton.ha-1.ano-1), sugerindo haver grande flexibilidade de manejo para essa espécie forrageira. As modificações no sentido vertical e horizontal na estrutura do dossel forrageiro tiveram impacto maior sobre a distribuição estacional do que propriamente sobre a produção total de forragem. / In a pastoral ecossystem the interception of incident radiation is the first step of a sequence of events that results in herbage production. Several are the factors interfering on the light interception process including sward leaf area index, structure and architecture. The objective of this experiment was to study sward struture, light interception and herbage acummulation of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu pastures submitted to continuous stocking by beef cattle. The experiment was carried out at Departamento de Zootecnia, USP/ESALQ. Treatments correspondended to four sward heights (10, 20, 30 and 40 cm) kept constant through continuous stocking and variable stocking rate, allocated to experimental units according to a complete randomized block design with four replications. The response variables evaluated were sward leaf area index (LAI), foliage angle, light interception, botanical and morphological composition and hebarge production. There was no significant change in hebarge mass composition with stems representing 27% and leaves 21% of the sward. Quantity and proportion of dead material relative to the other sward morphological components increased from Summer (30%) to early Spring (61%). The taller the swards, the larger was the shift in the position of the morphological components across the vertical sward profile throughout the year. Significant reductions in LAI values for the 20 cm (5,2 to 1,6), 30 cm (7,0 to 1,5) and 40 cm swards (7,5 to 2,1) from Summer to early Spring were not followed by reduction in light interception, which remained above 98% consistent by through out the year around. The dead material component played an important role on sward light interception, and its placement across the vertical sward profile exhibited a “dynamic” pattern of variation. This variation was more evident in taller swards and affected sward light interception, resulting in varying seasonalities of herbage production. From the total herbage yield, 65 and 100% was produced during late Spring and Summer on the 10 and 40 cm swards, respectively. There was no difference in total herbage production among swards maintained at 10, 20 and 30 cm (24 ton.ha-1.year-1), sugesting that there is a large flexibilitty in grazing management for Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. Modifications in both vertical and horizontal structure of the sward were more effective in changing the seasonal pattern of herbage production than determining herbage yield.

Irish agriculture is becoming increasingly regulated, with restrictions on fertiliser application rates and stocking rates to reduce nitrate (NO₀⁻) leaching losses. However these regulations have been, to date, based on minimal field research. The purpose of this study was to determine the actual leaching losses of nitrate from Irish dairy pasture at a range of stocking rates, and to investigate the effectiveness of the nitrification inhibitor DCD at reducing nitrate leaching losses where these are deemed excessive. In grazed pastures, a major source of leached nitrate is the urine patch, where a high rate of N is applied in one application. This trial recorded the losses from urine and non-urine areas of pasture separately. Nitrate leaching losses from three soils were recorded using lysimeters at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford, over two years. Total nitrate losses were higher from the freely drained Clonakilty and Elton soils than from the heavy Rathangan soil. Mean nitrate losses from urine patches ranged from 16 - 233 kg nitrate-N / ha⁻¹, and were reduced by up to 53% when DCD was applied. DCD also reduced peak and mean nitrate-N concentrations in many cases. In addition, DCD halved the nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission factor on the Rathangan soil, caused increases in pasture N content, and increased herbage yield in some treatments. The distribution of urine patches under dairy grazing was recorded using GPS at Kilworth, Co. Cork. Cows were also found to deposit 0.359 urine patches per grazing hour. A model was produced to predict field-scale nitrate leaching losses from dairy pasture at a range of stocking rates. At 2.94 cows per hectare, the highest stocking rate, annual field N loss was below 34 kg nitrate-N ha⁻¹, mean drainage N concentrations were below 5.65 mg nitrate-N L⁻¹ (the EU drinking water guideline value), and the worst-case-scenario autumn peak concentration did not exceed 21.55 mg nitrate-N L⁻¹ (above the EU Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) but below the World Health Organisation (WHO) drinking water limit). DCD reduced total annual field N loss by 21% (a conservative estimate), and also reduced mean and peak nitrate concentrations. Provided fertiliser application rates are at or below 291 kg N ha⁻¹, and based on current legislative values for drinking water quality, this trial does not support any blanket restrictions on the stocking rate of Irish dairy farms. However where particularly high water quality is required, DCD shows potential as a useful tool to achieve low nitrate concentrations.