Extraction/exportation of macronutrients by cladodes of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear under different spacings and organic fertilization

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the extraction/exportation of macronutrients by cladodes of ‘Gigante’ cactos pear, grown under diferente spacings and doses of cattle manure applied to the soil 600 days after planting. Twelve treatments were used, three spacing (1.00 x 0.50; 2.00 x 0.25 and 3.00 x 1.00 x 0.25 m) and four doses of cattle manure (0, 30, 60 and 90 Mg ha-1 year-1), arranged in a 3 x 4 factorial scheme in randomized blocks, with three replicates. The extraction/exportation of N, P, K, S, Ca and Mg was determined, whose respective values for maximum dry matter production (21.8 Mg ha-1), with a cattle manure dose of 71.8 Mg ha-1 year-1 were: 287.9, 46.2, 924.2, 40.7, 609.7 and 249.1 kg ha-1, 600 days after planting. The amounts extracted/exported from N, P, K and Ca varied independently with spacings and manure doses, while Mg and S were dependent on the interaction between factors. The doses of manure are insufficient to meet the demand of extracted/exported K, Ca and Mg. The increments in the doses promote greater nutrient uptake by the plant. The extracted/exported macronutrients in largest amounts are: K, Ca, N, Mg, P and S, in this order

Nutrition and yield of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear cultivated with different spacings and organic fertilizer

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of macronutrients in cladodes and yield of cactus pear, cv. ‘Gigante’, cultivated with different cattle manure doses and plant spacings. The experimental design was randomized blocks in 4 x 3 factorial, with three replicates. The treatments consisted of the combination of four doses of cattle manure (0, 30, 60 and 90 Mg ha-1 year-1) with three spacings (1.00 x 0.50, 2.00 x 0.25 and 3.00 x 1.00 x 0.25 m). The contents of macronutrients and dry matter production of cladodes were assessed 600 days after planting. The plant spacings influenced the contents of nitrogen, potassium, calcium and sulfur in the cladodes of ‘Gigante’ cactus pear and there was interaction between spacing and manure dose for magnesium contents. The increment in cattle manure doses increases the contents of phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium and sulfur in the cladodes. The maximum dry matter production of cladodes is estimated at 21.8 Mg ha-1 year-1 at a dose of 71.8 Mg ha-1 year-1 of manure

Effect of Feeding Frequency on Intake, Digestibility, Ingestive Behavior, Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Quality of Male Feedlot Lambs

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding frequencies (one, two, three, and four times per day) on the performance of male feedlot lambs. Forty Santa Inês male lambs were used with an average age of 120 days approximately and initial body weight of 24.90 ± 1.8 kg (mean ± S.D.). The lambs were distributed to treatment groups in a completely randomized experimental design, with 10 animals per treatment, placed in individual pens. A standard diet consisted of Tifton-85 hay and concentrate with a ratio of 60:40, respectively. The different feeding frequencies did not influence (p > 0.05) the intake of nutritional components, blood parameters, weight gain, ingestive behavior, carcass characteristics, or meat quality of male feedlot lambs. The feeding frequency of 3 and 4 times per day promoted the highest digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF; p = 0.008) and total digestible nutrients (TDN; p = 0.002). The feeding frequency of 3 times per day promoted the highest digestibility of crude protein (CP; p = 0.005). The time devoted to rumination (min/kg DM) was increased (p = 0.029) when the diet was supplied once a day compared to the other feeding frequencies. Based on these results, the recommended feeding frequency for male feedlot lambs is once a day. When feeding at this frequency, the ingestive behavior, productivity, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of male feedlot lambs will not be compromised

Produção e valor nutritivo do capim-tanzânia fertilizado com nitrogênio e fósforo Production and nutritive value of tanzaniagrass fertilized with nitrogen and phosphorus

O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da adubação nitrogenada e fosfatada sobre a produção de matéria seca (MS) da parte aérea e das raízes, o teor e a produção de proteína bruta (PB) e de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN). Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 4 × 2, composto de quatro doses de nitrogênio (0, 50, 100 e 150 mg/dm³) e duas doses de P2O5 (0 e 45 mg/dm³) com quatro repetições. As sementes da gramínea foram estabelecidas em vasos com capacidade de 6,3 L, de modo que, após desbaste, permaneceram três plantas por vaso. Observou-se interação entre doses de nitrogênio e a produção de MS da parte aérea e de raízes. As produções estimadas de MS da parte aérea obtidas com associação de nitrogênio (0, 50, 100 e 150 mg/dm³) e P2O5 (45 mg/dm³) foram de 4,7; 18,5; 32,3 e 46,1 g/vaso e a produção de MS de raízes, de 6,3; 41,7; 77,1 e 112,5 g/vaso, respectivamente. As doses de nitrogênio e fósforo não influenciaram o teor de FDN, mas afetaram o de PB, que foi maior nas doses mais altas de nitrogênio sem adição de fósforo. A adubação com doses crescentes de nitrogênio associadas a P2O5 aumenta a produção e o valor nutritivo do capim-tanzânia.<br>The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse and aimed to evaluate the effect of N and P fertilization on dry matter (DM) production of shoots and roots, crude protein (CP) production and concentration, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration of Tanzania grass. It was used a completely randomized experimental design in a 4 × 2 factorial scheme, being four N doses (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg N/dm³) and two doses of P2O5 (0 and 45 mg P2O5/dm³), with four replicates. It was used pots with 6.3 L capacity, in which the grass seeds were sawed, leaving three plants in each pot. It was observed interaction among N and P doses for shoot and root DM production. Shoot DM production at the 45 mg of P2O5/dm³ dose were 4.7, 18.5, 32.3, and 46.1 g/pot whereas root production at the same P level were 6.3, 41.7, 77.1, and 112.5 g/pot, for 0, 50, 100, and 150 mg of N/dm³, respectively. There was no difference for NDF concentration as a function of N and P doses, but CP concentration increased with increasing N fertilization when P was not added. Increasing N fertilization in the presence of P fertilization increased the production and nutritive value of tanzaniagrass