ABSTRACT Tifton 85 bermudagrass has been widely used in tropical and subtropical regions. Owing to its high forage yield, the fertilizer requirement of Tifton 85 is also high. Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense is an alternative to reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizers and decrease their environmental impact. However, the effects of inoculation in tropical grasses remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the productivity, pasture characteristics, and nutritive value of Tifton 85 bermudagrass inoculated with A. brasilense in association with nitrogen fertilization. The study evaluated four nitrogen levels (0, 100, 200, and 300 kg ha-1 ), inoculated and uninoculated, under cutting conditions. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a factorial arrangement, with two qualitative (inoculated with A. brasilense or uninoculated) and four quantitative levels (nitrogen doses) with three replications (24 plots). Botanical composition and morphological characteristics, leaf blade/stem+sheath ratio, nutritive value, and forage yield were evaluated. The inoculation increased the leaf blade/stem+sheath ratio and forage yield of Tifton 85, but did not affect crude protein concentration, neutral detergent fiber content, and total digestible nutrient content of the forage constituted by Tifton 85 leaf blades. The protein concentration and forage production corresponded linearly to the nitrogen dose increase.

RESUMO Sistemas forrageiros constituídos pelo consórcio gramínea-leguminosa equilibram a oferta de forragem e minimizam impactos ambientais, pela redução da fertilização nitrogenada. O amendoim forrageiro tem várias características que são adequadas aos consórcios forrageiros, mas ainda não foram adequadamente explorados. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o consórcio constituído por capim bermuda, cv. Tifton 85, e o amendoim forrageiro quanto à produção de forragem, proteína bruta e taxa de lotação. Em dois anos agrícolas, foram avaliados três sistemas forrageiros assim constituídos: (a) Tifton 85 (T) + 100 kg de N ha-1 ano-1 + amendoim forrageiro (T + AF + 100); (b) T + 100 kg de N ha-1 ano-1 (T + 100; controle, somente gramínea); e (c) T + 200 kg de N ha-1 ano-1 (T + 200; controle positivo, somente gramínea). Neste estudo foram avaliados o rendimento de forragem, características da pastagem e respostas das vacas em lactação. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado com três tratamentos (sistemas forrageiros) e três repetições (piquetes) e medidas repetidas (ciclos de pastejo dentro das estações do ano). O acúmulo de forragem, a concentração de proteína e a taxa de lotação foram de 15,1; 11,3 e 14,1 t de MS ha-1 ano-1; 17%, 16% e 17%; e 5,3; 4,9 e 6,1 UA ha-1 dia-1, respectivamente. Melhores resultados foram obtidos no consórcio forrageiro.

ABSTRACT Mixed pasture grass-legume systems balance forage supply and minimize environmental impacts by reducing the need for nitrogen fertilization. Pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi Krap. and Greg. “Amarillo”) has several traits that are suitable for mixed pastures but have not yet been adequately explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate a mixture of Tifton 85 bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and pinto peanut and evaluate forage yield, crude protein, and stocking density. A two-year study of three grazing systems was used with the following treatment combinations: (a) Tifton 85 (T) + 100 kg N ha-1 yr-1 + pinto peanut (T + PP+100); (b) T + 100 kg N ha-1 yr-1 (T + 100; control, pure grass); and (c) T + 200 kg N ha-1 yr-1 (T + 200; positive control, pure grass). In this study, forage yield, pasture characteristics and responses of lactating cows were evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments (grazing systems), three replicates (paddocks), and repeated measures (grazing cycles within seasons). Forage accumulation, crude protein concentration, and stocking rate were 15.1; 11.3 and 14.1 t DM ha-1 yr-1; 17%, 16%, and 17%; and 5.3; 4.9 and 6.1 AU ha-1 day-1, respectively. The grass-legume system yielded the best results.

RESUMO Os sistemas de produção leiteira, em sua maioria, utilizam as pastagens como base da alimentação dos animais, geralmente, constituídas apenas por gramíneas. Essa prática simplifica o manejo dos pastos, contudo, implica em custos elevados de produção, notadamente pelo uso de adubos nitrogenados. Uma alternativa para tornar os sistemas forrageiros mais sustentáveis é a introdução de leguminosas, possibilitando melhor distribuição de forragem no decorrer do tempo, além de reduzir custos com adubação. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar, ao longo do ano, três sistemas forrageiros (SF) com capim elefante (CE), azevém (AZ), espécies de crescimento espontâneo (ECE), como SF1(testemunha); CE + AZ + ECE + trevo vesiculoso, como SF2; e CE + AZ + ECE + amendoim forrageiro, como SF3. O capim elefante foi estabelecido em linhas afastadas a cada 4 m. No período hibernal realizou-se a semeadura do azevém entre as linhas de CE; e considerando os respectivos tratamentos o trevo vesiculoso foi semeado e o amendoim forrageiro foi preservado. Para avaliação foram usadas vacas da raça Holandesa. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos (SF), três repetições (piquetes) com medidas repetidas (pastejos). Os valores de massa de forragem foram de 3,46; 3,80 e 3,91 t ha-1, respectivamente para os tratamentos SF1, SF2 e SF3. Melhores resultados foram obtidos nos sistemas forrageiros consorciados com leguminosas.

ABSTRACT Most dairy production systems are pasture-based, usually consisting of sole grass species. This system facilitates pasture management, but results in high production costs, mainly because of nitrogen fertilizers. An alternative to making forage systems more sustainable is to introduce legumes into the pasture. Mixed pastures allow better forage distribution over time and reduce fertilization costs. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate, throughout the year, three forage systems (FS): FS1 (control) - elephant grass (EG), ryegrass (RG), and spontaneous species (SS); FS2 - EG + RG + SS + arrowleaf clover; and FS3 - EG + RG + SS + forage peanut. Elephant grass was planted in rows spaced 4 m apart. Ryegrass was sown between the EG lines, in the winter. Arrowleaf clover was sown according to the respective treatments and forage peanut was preserved. Evaluation was carried out using Holstein cows. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design, with three treatments (FS), and three repetitions (paddocks) with repeated measurements (grazing cycles). Forage mass achieved 3.46, 3.80, and 3.91 t ha-1 for the treatments FS1, FS2 and FS3, respectively. The forage systems intercropped with legumes produced the best results.

RESUMO Este trabalho foi realizado para avaliar três sistemas forrageiros constituídos por capim bermuda, cv. Coastcross-1 (CC) + 100 kg N ha -1 ano-1 + ervilhaca comum; CC + 100 kg N ha -1 ano-1 + trevo vesiculoso e CC + 200 kg N ha -1 ano-1. Foram realizados 13 ciclos de pastejo durante o período experimental (313 dias), dois, cinco, quatro e dois ciclos, no inverno, primavera, verão e outono, respectivamente. Para avaliação experimental foram utilizadas vacas em lactação da raça Holandesa. Foram avaliados a taxa de acúmulo diário, a produção de forragem, a taxa de desaparecimento, o consumo agronômico, a eficiência de pastejo, a oferta de forragem e a taxa de lotação. Os valores médios da produção de forragem e taxa de lotação foram 20,8; 17,6 e 19,7 t MS ha-1 e 7,0; 6,8 e 6,8 unidade animal ha-1 dia-1 para os respectivos sistemas de forrageiras. O consórcio constituído por Coastcross-1 + ervilhaca, adubado com 100 kg N ha -1 ano-1 e a pastagem de Coastcross-1 adubada com 200 kg N ha -1 ano-1 proporcionaram maior produtividade e melhor distribuição da forragem ao longo das estações.

ABSTRACT Three grazing systems with Coastcross-1 bermuda grass (CC) + 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 + common vetch; CC + 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 + arrowleaf clover; and CC + 200 kg N ha-1 year-1 were evaluated. Thirteen grazing cycles were performed during the experimental period (313 days), with two, five, four and two cycles respectively in winter, spring, summer and fall. Lactating Holstein cows were used in the evaluation. Daily accumulation rate, forage production, rate of forage disappearance, agronomic intake, grazing efficiency, herbage allowance and stocking rate were evaluated. Mean rates of forage yield and stocking rate were 20.8; 17.6 and 19.7 t DM ha-1 and 7.0; 6.8 to 6.8 animal units ha-1 day-1 for the respective forage systems. The mixture Coastcross-1 plus common vetch, fertilized with 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 and Coastcross-1 fertilized with 200 kg N ha-1 year-1 provided greater productivity and better distribution of forage throughout the seasons.

ABSTRACT Objective In this study, the effects of a green banana pasta diet on the oxidative damage from type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) were investigated. Materials and methods Formulations containing 25 (F25), 50 (F50), and 75% (F75) of green banana pasta were prepared and included in a 12-week diet of Wistar rats with alloxan-induced type 1 DM. The effects of these formulations in preventing oxidative damage in kidneys and liver homogenates of rats were evaluated using the TBARS assay (lipid peroxidation in liver) and the DNPH assay (protein oxidation in liver and kidneys). Furthermore, the effects of the formulations on the fasting glycemia, fructosamine levels, renal function (creatinine), liver function (enzymes aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]), and lipid profile (total cholesterol and fractions) in the serum of rats were evaluated in addition to the evaluation of the centesimal composition and microbiological analysis of the produced green banana pasta. Results An F75 diet prevented hyperglycemia in diabetic rats (p < 0.05) compared to the diabetic rats fed a standard diet (commercial feed). Notably, the protein oxidation in both the liver and kidneys were prevented in diabetic rats on the F50 or F75 diets compared to the control group, whereas the lipid peroxidation was only prevented in the liver (p < 0.05). Moreover, all formulations prevented an increase in the amount of triglycerides in the serum of the rats. The F25 and F50 diet prevented the increase of cholesterol, and the F75-based diet of ALT and fructosamine (p < 0.05) supported the anti-hyperglycemic effects and the protection against oxidative damage. Conclusion The green banana pasta (F75) diet showed great potential for preventing complications associated with diabetes.

ResumoObjetivou-se com esta pesquisa, avaliar o valor nutritivo de pastagens de capim elefante submetidas aos sistemas de produção orgânico e convencional. No sistema convencional, o capim elefante foi plantado em linhas afastadas a cada 1,2m. No sistema orgânico, o capim elefante foi plantado em linhas afastadas a cada 3m; no espaço entre as linhas, no período hibernal, foi semeado o azevém anual e, no período estival, permitiu-se o desenvolvimento de espécies de crescimento espontâneo. Foram utilizados 100kg de N/hacom fertilizantes químico e orgânico (esterco de bovino e chorume de suínos) para os respectivos sistemas de produção. O método de pastejo adotado foi o de lotação rotacionada, com tempo de ocupação de um ou dois dias, utilizando vacas em lactação que receberam complementação alimentar com concentrado à razão de 0,9% do peso corporal. Para a determinação da composição química (matéria mineral, matéria orgânica, proteína bruta e fibra em detergente neutro) e digestibilidade da forragem, foram retiradas amostras simulando o pastejo. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado com dois tratamentos (sistemas forrageiros), com três repetições (piquetes) e com medidas repetidas no tempo (estações do ano). Durante o período experimental, foram conduzidos oito e sete pastejos para os respectivos sistemas. Valores similares foram observados quanto à composição química e digestibilidade do capim elefante em ambos os sistemas. Tanto no sistema orgânico quanto no convencional, o valor nutritivo foi elevado, considerando-se a adubação, manejo e tempo de utilização da pastagem.

AbstractThe objective of this research was to evaluate the nutritive value on elephant grass pastures in two production systems. In the conventional system elephant grass was planted in rows 1.2 m apart from each other. In the organic system elephant grass was planted in rows 3 m apart from each other. In the space between alleys, in cool season, annual ryegrass was seeding; allowing the development of spontaneous growing species in the warm season. It was applied 100kg of N/ha with chemical and organic fertilizers (manure of cattle and pig slurry) in the respective pastures. Holstein cows receiving 0.9% of body weight complementary concentrate feed were used. Hand-plucked samples were collected to analyze chemical composition (mineral matter, organic matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber) and digestibility. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two treatments (systems) three replications (paddocks) with repeated measures (seasons). Eight and seven grazing cycles were performed during the experimental period for respective systems. Similar value was found in the chemical composition and digestibility of elephant grass in both pasture systems. The organic as much as conventional pasture systems showed high nutritive value considering the fertilization, management and utilization time.