Abstract The aim of the present study was to assess the agronomic performance and chemical composition of soil cultivated with palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) subjected to growing doses of liquid blood waste. The experiment followed the completely randomized blocks design with six treatments and four repetitions. The following doses of processed liquid blood waste were applied to test palisade grass’ yield: 0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 m3 ha-1. In addition, it was used in conjunction with chemical fertilization at a rate of 50 kg ha-1 of P2O5 and 100 kg ha-1 of N (this treatment was not managed with liquid blood residue). Palisade grass forage yield was influenced by the fertilization strategy (P<0.001) - the highest values observed for this variable were recorded under blood waste doses of 450 m3 ha-1 and 600 m3 ha-1. The 0.0 - 0.20 m soil layer affect the organic matter fraction. On the other hand, phosphorus (P) content presented differences between fertilization strategies; thus, it was possible observing that the waste dose of 450 m3 ha-1 accounted for the highest availability of nutrients. The application of blood liquid waste as alternative source of organic fertilizers can be feasible, because it promotes significant increase in forage mass.

Resumen El objetivo fue evaluar el comportamiento agronómico y la composición química de suelos cultivados con pasto insurgente (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) sometido a dosis crecientes de residuos sanguíneos líquidos. El experimento siguió el diseño de bloques completamente al azar con seis tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones. Las siguientes dosis de residuos sanguíneos líquidos procesados se aplicaron para analizar el rendimiento del pasto insurgente: 0, 150, 300, 450 y 600 m3 ha-1. Además, se utilizó en conjunto con la fertilización química a razón de 50 kg ha-1 de P2O5 y 100 kg ha-1 de N (este tratamiento no se manejó con residuos sanguíneos líquidos). El rendimiento de forraje de pasto insurgente estuvo influenciado por la estrategia de fertilización (P<0.001) - los valores más altos observados para esta variable se registraron bajo dosis de residuos sanguíneos de 450 m3 ha-1 y 600 m3 ha-1. La capa de suelo de 0.0 a 0.20 m afecta a la fracción de materia orgánica. Por otro lado, el contenido de fósforo (P) presentó diferencias entre las estrategias de fertilización; así, fue posible observar que la dosis de residuos de 450 m3 ha-1 resultó en la mayor disponibilidad de nutrientes. La aplicación de residuos sanguíneos líquidos como fuente alternativa de fertilizantes orgánicos puede ser factible, ya que promueve un aumento significativo de la masa forrajera.

ABSTRACT. The present study aimed to evaluate the residual effects of the application of biofertilizer and mineral fertilizer on sward structure and morphological components of Panicum maximum cv. Massai. The experimental design comprised randomized blocks with six treatments consisting of increasing doses of swine biofertilizer (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 Mg ha-1) and mineral fertilization (150 kg N ha-1, 33 kg P ha-1), with four replicates. The variables analyzed were pasture height, light interception, leaf area index, forage mass and morphological components. Plant height responded linearly and positively to biofertilizer levels in the three evaluations. The highest averages for light interception (51.63%) and leaf area index (1.64) were observed for the 240 days (40 Mg ha-1). Dry leaf mass was influenced by the increase in biofertilizer dose, with increments of 39.68%, 25.07% and 44.66% for the 240, 300 and 360 days, respectively, when compared to the control treatment. Mineral fertilization promoted lower mass of dead material and lower leaf area index but did not differ from biofertilizer for the other variables. The residual effect of swine biofertilizer was greater than that of mineral fertilization, with a minimum use of 20 Mg ha-1 a practical agronomic recommendation.

ABSTRACT This study examined the effect of different supplementation strategies for ewes in the last third of gestation, kept on a deferred Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu pasture, on their performance and the growth curve of their lambs. A total of 54 ewes, of no defined breed, with an average weight of 41.10±3.10 kg, were used in a completely randomized design, divided into three groups (18 ewes per treatment). In total, 61 lambs were born, 28 females and 33 males, with 3.70±0.55 and 3.68±0.69 kg birth weight, respectively. Treatments were as follows: multiple mixture ad libitum, concentrate supplement at 0.4% live weight (LW), and concentrate supplement at 0.8% LW. Average daily weight gain (ADG, g/animal/day) and total weight gain (TWG, kg/animal) were evaluated in ewes and lambs. Reproductive efficiency indices were measured in the ewes and biometric variables in the lambs. The ADG and TWG of ewes in the last third of gestation were higher in animals supplemented at 0.8% LW. Reproductive efficiency results were superior in ewes supplemented at 0.4% LW. The effect of ewe supplementation on lamb growth curve as estimated by the Gompertz model did not reveal differences between the curves of lambs born to ewes that received supplementation at 0.4 and 0.8% LW. However, supplementing ewes with a multiple mixture induced a reduction in the growth curve parameters of their lambs. The use of concentrated supplementation, at levels of 0.4 and 0.8% of LW, provides greater productive and reproductive performance for ewes and lambs.

ABSTRACT. This study aimed was the establishment of the genus Brachiaria in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The experiment was conducted from April to June 2016, as a randomized-block experimental design with five treatments and four replicates. Treatments were represented by five Brachiaria cultivars, namely, Marandu, Paiaguás, Piatã, Xaraés and Basilisk. Morphogenetic (leaf appearance rate, leaf elongation rate e stem elongation rate) and structural characteristics (final leaf length, tiller population density e number of leaves per tiller, forage mass, leaf blade mass, stem mass, senescent material mass and leaf:stem ratio) of the forage cultivars were evaluated. Canopy height fitted a linear regression model (P<0,05), with estimated daily increases of 0.50, 0.53, 0.53, 0.54 and 0.56 cm for cvs Basilisk, Marandu, Paiaguás, Piatã and Xaraés, respectively. The number of live leaves in cvs Basilisk and Paiaguás increased linearly (p < 0.05), by 4.3 and 2.8 leaves per tiller, respectively, during the 60-day period. The recommended height at which the growth of Brachiaria cultivars should be interrupted is upon reaching 25 to 35 cm. In the soil-climatic conditions of the Brazilian semi-arid region, the Brachiaria cultivars Basilisk, Marandu, Paiaguás, Piatã and Xaraés are established at 75 days after sowing, which is the recommended time for performing the first harvest or lenient grazing to stimulate tillering.

ABSTRACT. This study aimed to evaluate the morphogenic and structural characteristics of six Panicum maximum cultivars during the establishment period. A completely randomized block design with four replicates and six treatments (Tamani, Mombaça, Massai, Tanzania, Aruana and Zuri cultivars) was used. Morphogenic (leaf appearance rate, leaf elongation rate e stem elongation rate), structural (final leaf length, tiller population density e number of leaves per tiller) and productive (forage mass, leaf blade mass, stem mass, senescent material mass and leaf:stem ratio) characteristics were evaluated. There was no difference (p > 0.05) between the cultivars in terms of the number of live leaves per tiller (2.95 leaves/tiller). Mombaça cultivar had (p < 0.05) higher canopy height (50.64 cm) compared with other cultivars. The highest (p < 0.05) tiller population density was observed in Tamani (235.90 tillers m-2) and Massai (201.60 tillers m-2) cultivars. Leaf lifespan (54.18 days), phyllochron (17.40 days/leaf) and leaf senescence rate (0.87 cm tiller day-1) were not different (p > 0.05) between cultivars. However, leaf appearance rate was higher (p < 0.05) in Tanzania (0.07 leaves tiller day-1) than in Aruana cultivar (0.05 leaves tiller day-1). Leaf blade mass was higher (p < 0.05) in Mombaça cultivar (1518.31 kg DM ha-1), whereas Massai showed higher (p < 0.05) leaf:stem ratio (9.25). Panicum cultivars Tamani, Tanzania and Massai establishment after 75 days, while the other cultivars establish at 105 days of sowing in the Brazilian Northeast.