ABSTRACT: Mechanical harvesting leaves in its wake a considerable amount of straw in the field, which can be effectively utilized to improve the soil condition and sugarcane yield. However, there is no specific information as to the quantity of straw mulch required to achieve such effects and as to whether it can be used in other sectors for bioelectricity and ethanol production. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of removing different amounts of straw from the field and its impact on the yield and industrial quality of sugarcane ratoons. The experiment was carried out on Rhodic soil where six treatments were evaluated including 0 %, 25 % (5 Mg ha−1), 50 % (10 Mg ha−1), 75 % (15 Mg ha−1), 100 % (20 Mg ha−1) straw on the soil surface and burned sugarcane (where 100 % of the straw was burned). The influence on yield and industrial quality was calculated using total soluble solids, Pol (Apparent sucrose content), apparent purity, total sugars, reducing sugars and fiber. Shifting the harvesting system from burned cane to growing under straw mulch improved crop yield as well as favoring sugar contents during water deficit conditions. The straw left on the soil did not affect industrial quality in any way during the trials; however, under drought conditions, treatments with 50 and 75 % of straw resulted in a 76 % higher yield compared to burned sugarcane, and 29 % more than the 0 %, 25 % to 100 % treatments of straw mulch thus favoring higher sugar production. The removal of 50 % of the straw caused no damage to the sugarcane crop.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes quantidades de palhada sobre o sistema radicular e a produtividade da cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum), de primeira e segunda soqueiras, em Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico. Seis tratamentos foram avaliados : 0, 5 (25%), 10 (50%), 15 (75%) e 20 Mg ha-1 (100%) de palhada e cana-queimada, na primeira e segunda soqueiras. Utilizou-se a cana-de-açúcar 'SP80-1816'. Avaliou-se a massa de raízes a 0,45 e 0,75 m de distância da linha de plantio, até 0,60 m de profundidade. Na primeira soqueira, os tratamentos com 50, 75 e 100% de palhada proporcionaram maior massa radicular até 0,20 m de profundidade, em comparação aos tratamentos cana-queimada, 0 e 5 Mg ha-1 (25%) de palhada. Os tratamentos com 50 e 75% de palhada proporcionaram produtividades 43% maiores do que a da cana-queimada (110 Mg ha-1). O tratamento com 10 Mg ha-1 (50%) foi suficiente para proporcionar aumento da massa radicular e da produtividade da cana-de-açúcar. O sistema radicular e a produtividade da cana-de-açúcar são favorecidos pela mudança do sistema de colheita de cana-queimada para o de cana sob palhada.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different amounts of straw on the root system and productivity of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), of first and second ratoons, in an Oxisol. Six treatments were evaluated: 0, 5 (25%), 10 (50%), 15 (75%), and 20 Mg ha-1 (100%) straw and burned sugarcane of the first and second ratoons. 'SP80-1816' sugarcane was used. Root mass at 0.45 and 0.75 m away from the row, and up to 0.60 m deep was evaluated. In the first ratoon, treatments with 50, 75 and 100% straw provided greater root mass up to 0.20-m depth, in comparison to treatments of burned sugarcane, and 0 and 5 Mg ha-1 (25%) straw. The treatments with 50 and 75% straw had 43% higher yields than burned sugarcane (110 Mg ha-1). The treatment with 10 Mg ha-1 straw (50%) was sufficient to provide increased root mass and productivity of sugarcane. The root system and the productivity of sugarcane are favored by the change of burned-sugarcane harvesting system to sugarcane under straw.

Folhas e cascas de algumas especies do gênero Byrsonima (Malpighiaceae) são empregadas popularmente contra diarréia. Contudo, não existem dados na literatura à respeito de investigacões químicas ou farmacológicas dos extratos de B. cinera. Neste estudo, nós avaliamos a atividade antidiarreica dos extratos metanólico e hidrometanólico das folhas de B. cinera em ratos Swiss. Os resultados mostraram que ambos os extratos reduziram signitivamente a motilidade intestinal. Investigacão fitoquímica do extrato metanólico levou ao isolamento e identificacão da (+)-catequina e da quercetina-3-O-a-L-arabinopiranosídeo. A atividade observada pode estar correlacaionada com a presença dessas substâncias nos extratos.

Leaves and bark of some Byrsonima species (Malpighiaceae) are popularly employed against diarrhoeal diseases. However, no data were reported in the literature about the chemisty and pharmacology of extracts from B. cinera leaves. In the present study we evaluated the anti-diarrhoeal activity of methanolic and hydromethanolic extracts obtained from the leaves of B. cinera in Swiss mice. Results showed that both extracts reduced significantly the gastrintestinal motility. Phytochemical evaluation of the methanolic extract led to the isolation and identification of (+)-catechin and quercetin-3-O-a-L-arabinopyranoside. The observed activity may be correlated to the presence of these compounds in the extract.

A cultura de alfafa (19% de MS), cortada com 10% dos perfilhos floridos, foi armazenada em 32 silos experimentais confeccionados a partir de baldes plásticos portando válvulas. A alfafa picada foi homogeneizada e submetida a quatro tratamentos com ou sem a adição de 12% de polpa cítrica peletizada: controle, Sil-All® (S. faecium, P. acidilactici, L. plantarum, amilase, hemicelulase e celulase), Silobac® (L. plantarum, S. faecium e Lactobacillus sp.) e Pioneer 1174® (S. faecium e L. plantarum). Os silos foram abertos após 133 dias para análise da composição bromatológica, perfil fermentativo e estabilidade aeróbia. Apenas na silagem não adicionada de polpa, todos os inoculantes aumentaram os teores de etanol, o Pioneer aumentou o pH e o Silobac reduziu a concentração de ácido acético. Independentemente da presença de polpa, todos os inoculantes diminuíram as perdas de MS; o Silobac e o Pioneer diminuíram a DIVMS e o Pioneer aumentou o N-NH3. Os inoculantes não afetaram as concentrações dos ácidos lático, propiônico ou butírico, bem como a estabilidade aeróbia, independentemente da presença da polpa. De forma geral, a adição de polpa cítrica melhorou a composição bromatológica e o perfil fermentativo, mas piorou as perdas e a estabilidade aeróbia.

Alfalfa crop (19.0% DM) was harvested at 35 days and ensiled in 32 plastic experimental silos, consisting of four treatments with or without 12% of citrus pulp: control, Sil-All® (S. faecium, P. acidilactici, L. plantarum, amylase, hemicellulase, and cellulase), Silobac® (L. plantarum, S. faecium, and Lactobacillus sp.) and Pioneer 1174® (S. faecium and L. plantarum). Silos were opened 133 days after ensiling and sampled to proceed chemical analyses. Only in citrus pulp-free silage, all inoculants increased ethanol concentration; Pioneer increased pH, and Silobac decreased acetic acid concentration, compared to control. Independently of citrus pulp, all inoculants decreased DM losses; Silobacâ and Pioneer decreased IVDDM, and Pioneer increased NH3-N. Inoculants did not influence lactic, propionic and butyric acids concentrations and neither aerobic stability. Citrus pulp improved chemical composition and fermentation characteristics, but worsened DM losses and aerobic stability.

Foram objetivos do presente estudo avaliar os efeitos da inoculação microbiana da silagem de alfafa sobre a digestibilidade total em carneiros. Doze carneiros machos e castrados foram distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado e os tratamentos corresponderam a silagem pré-secada de alfafa (média de 35,7% de MS e 19,6% de PB) controle ou inoculada com o produto Silobac (Lactobacillus plantarum e Pediococcus pentosaceus). O experimento teve duração total de 21 dias, sendo os cinco últimos destinados à coleta de fezes e urina. A inoculação aumentou a digestibilidade total da MS (inoculado = 62,5% vs. controle = 59,5%), dos ENN (70,9% vs. 65,7%), da FDN (53,8% vs. 48,8%), da FDA (52,5% vs. 44,7%), do amido (84,0% vs. 80,2%), o NDT (59,5% vs. 56,7%) e o consumo de MS (2,82 vs. 2,48% do PV), mas não alterou a digestibilidade total da PB (73,9% vs. 73,2%), EE (50,7% vs. 54,3%), FB (47,1% vs. 43,9%) ou a retenção nitrogenada (3,27 vs. 2,86 g de N/animal/dia).

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of microbially inoculated alfafa silage on total digestibility in wethers. Twelve wethers were randomly assigned to two treatments: alfalfa haylage (35.7% DM and 19.6% CP, on average) control or microbially inoculated with Silobac product (Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus). The experimental period extended for twenty-one days, the last five used for feces and urine collection. The inoculation increased total digestibility of DM (inoculated = 62.5% vs. control = 59.5%), NFE (70.9% vs. 65.7%), NDF (53.8% vs. 48.8%), ADF (52.5% vs. 44.7%), starch (84.0% vs. 80.2%), TDN (59.5% vs. 56.7%) and DM intake (2.82 vs. 2.48% of BW), but it did not influence total digestibility of CP (73.9% vs. 73.2%), EE (50.7% vs. 54.3%), CF (47.1% vs. 43.9%) or N retention (3.27 vs. 2.86 g of N/animal/day).