Reclamation status of a degraded pasture based on soil health indicators

Pasture degradation is a concern, especially in susceptible sandy soils for which strategies to recover them must be developed. Microbiological and biochemical soil health indicators are useful in the guindace of soil management practices and sustainable soil use. We assessed the success of threePanicum maximum Jacq. cultivars in the reclamation of a pasture in a sandy Typic Acrudox in the northwest of the state of Paraná, Brazil, based on soil health indicators. On a formerly degraded pasture withUrochloa brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster, a trial with threeP. maximum (cv. Massai, Tanzânia, or Mombaça) was conducted. Lime and phosphate were applied at set-up, and mineral N and K as topdressing. A remnant of degraded pasture adjacent to the trial was used as control. Twenty-three chemical, physical, microbiological and biochemical attributes were assessed for the 0-10 cm topsoil. The procedures for reclamation improved most of the indicators of soil health in relation to the degraded pasture, such as soil P, mineral N, microbial biomass C, ammonification rate, dehydrogenase activity and acid phosphatase. CO2 evolution decreased, whereas microbial biomass C increased in the pasture under reclamation, resulting in a lower metabolic quotient (qCO2) that points to a decrease in metabolic stress of the microbial community. The reclamation of the pasture withP. maximum, especially cv. Mombaça, were evidenced by improvements in the microbiological and biochemical soil health indicators, showing a recovery of processes related to C, N and P cycling in the soil

Distribution of roots of west indian cherry plants/ <br> Distribuição do sistema radicular de aceroleiras

The knowledge of the amount and distribution of plant roots is essential to all crops because it gives useful information to irrigation, soil management and amendment. The aim of this research was to quantify and analyze the root distribution of West Indian cherry (Malpighia emarginata D.C.) through digital images using the trench profile method in a clayey oxisol in Londrina, State of Paraná (Brazil). The orchard was planted in a 4 x 4 spacing and was 5 years old. There were evaluated three rootstocks obtained by seeds and grafted on Camb-6, Cia-2 and Cia-3 genotypes. There was no difference regarding the amount of roots in row and inter-rows as well. The effective distance and depth (distance and depth until there are located 80% of the roots), in the row and inter-row had no difference regarding the evaluated plants. The effective depth of roots were 0.62 m in the row, and 0.65 m in the inter-row.O conhecimento sobre a quantidade e a distribuição das raízes das plantas é fundamental para a produção agrícola, pois auxilia na tomada de decisões relativas ao manejo do solo e à localização da irrigação e de fertilizantes. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar e comparar a quantidade e a distribuição das raízes de aceroleiras (Malpighia emarginata D.C.), por meio de imagens digitais, no método da trincheira, em Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico, em Londrina, Paraná. Foram avaliados porta-enxertos obtidos de sementes e enxertados com os clones Camb-6, Cia-2 e Cia-3. O espaçamento de plantio utilizado foi de 4 x 4 m e as plantas estavam com 5 anos de idade. Não houve diferença estatística quanto à quantidade de raízes entre as plantas, tanto na linha, quanto na entrelinha de plantio, bem como no total de raízes (linha + entrelinha). A distância e a profundidade efetivas (até onde localizamse 80 % das raízes) na linha e na entrelinha não mostraram diferença estatística entre as plantas avaliadas. A profundidade efetiva para os porta-enxertos com os clones Camb-6, Cia-2 e Cia-3 foi de 0,62 m na linha de plantio e 0,65 m na entrelinha

Effect of different concentrate levels in the pre and post parturition period on milk production and body score of dairy cows<br>Efeito de diferentes níveis de concentrado no período pré e pós-parto sobre a produção de leite e escore corporal de vacas leiteiras

This experiment was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effects of different levels of concentrate supplement in the pre and post-parturition periods on milk production and body score of dairy cow. 54 cows in a completely randomized design, distributed in 3 x 2 factorial arrangement, with 3 treatments, 2 periods and 9 repetitions for treatment, were used. The treatments with different levels of concentrate supplement (in dry basis) in the pre-parturition periods (PRE), were: PRE1 = 0% of the body weight (BW); PRE2 = 0.5% of the BW; PRE3 = 1.0% of the BW; and in the post-parturition (POS), were: POS1 = 1kg for each 2.5 kg of produced milk; POS2 = 1kg for each 2.0kg of produced milk and POS3 = 1kg for each 1.5kg of produced milk, above 6 kg of milk a day. The milk weight and body condition scores were evaluated every seven days. There was not significant difference among the treatments of PRÉ period for milk production, however, it was verified that the increase in the PRE supplementation, improved the average body condition of animals in post parturition period. In the treatments of POS period, there was positive and increasing effect with the increasing supplementation level, on milk production and medium body score of the animals. Improvement was not observed in the milk production with the increase of supplement in the PRE period, but in the POS period there was higher milk production with the increase supplement. There were not correlation among pre-parturition treatments and milk production, but there was correlation of these with body score to the parturition (r=0.66). There was correlation of supplement levels in the post parturition with medium body score (0.36) and with milk production (0.32). It can be concluded that the increasing supplement level in the pre-parturition period improves the body score but not the milk production of the animals. The increase of supplement in the post parturition period gets better so much the body score as the milk production.<p><p> Este experimento teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de diferentes níveis de suplementação concentrada nos períodos pré-parto e pós-parto, sobre a produção de leite e o escore corporal de vacas leiteiras. Utilizaram-se 54 vacas em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, distribuídas em esquema fatorial 3 x 2, sendo 3 tratamentos, 2 períodos e 9 repetições por tratamento. Os tratamentos compreenderam diferentes níveis de suplementação de concentrado (em base seca) nos períodos pré-parto (PRE): PRE1= 0% do PV; PRE2= 0,5% do PV; PRE3= 1,0% do PV; e no pós-parto (POS): POS1= 1kg para cada 2,5 kg de leite produzido; POS2= 1kg para cada 2,0kg de leite produzido e POS3= 1kg para cada 1,5kg de leite produzido, acima de 6 kg de leite por dia. A pesagem do leite e a avaliação de escore corporal foram realizadas a cada sete dias. Não houve diferença significativa entre os tratamentos do período PRE para produção de leite, no entanto verificou-se que o aumento na suplementação PRE melhorou a condição corporal média dos animais no período pós-parto (P < 0,05). Nos tratamentos do período POS, houve efeito positivo e crescente com o aumento do nível de suplementação, sobre a produção de leite e escore corporal médio dos animais (P < 0,05). Não se observou melhora na produção de leite com o aumento da suplementação no período PRE, mas nos tratamentos POS houve maior produção de leite com o aumento da suplementação (P < 0,05). Não houve correlação de tratamento pré-parto e produção de leite, mas houve correlação destes com escore corporal dos animais ao parto (r=0,66). Houve correlação de níveis de suplementação no pós-parto com escore corporal médio (0,36) e com produção de leite (0,32). Pode-se concluir que o aumento do nível de suplementação no período pré-parto melhora o escore corporal mas não a produção de leite dos animais, e o aumento de suplementação nos tratamentos pós-parto melhoram tanto o escore corporal quanto a produção de leite

Effect of different levels of concentrate supplement on the reproductive performance of dairy cows maintained to pastureEffect of different levels of concentrate supplement on the reproductive performance of dairy cows maintained to pasture

Este experimento teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de diferentes níveis de suplementação concentrada nos períodos pré-parto e pós-parto, sobre o desempenho reprodutivo de vacas leiteiras mantidas a pasto. Utilizaram-se 54 vacas em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, distribuídas em esquema fatorial 3x2 , sendo 3 tratamentos, 2 períodos e 9 repetições por tratamento. Os tratamentos compreenderam diferentes níveis de suplementação de concentrado (em base seca) nos períodos pré-parto (PRE): PRE1= 0% do PV; PRE = 0,5% do PV; PRE = 1,0% do PV; e no pós-parto (POS): POS1= 1kg para cada 2,5 kg de leite produzido; POS = 1kg para cada 2,0kg de leite produzido e POS = 1kg para cada 1,5kg de leite produzido, acima de 6 kg de leite por dia. Os animais foram submetidos à avaliação ultrasonográfica e de escore corporal a cada 7 dias. No período avaliado, 20 animais apresentaram cio e 13 animais conceberam. A média de intervalo entre parto-primeiro cio foi de 53 ,13 dias (p < 0,05). Com o aumento do nível de suplementação pós-parto, aumentou-se o número de animais que entraram em cio, sendo de 2, 4 e 7 animais para os tratamentos 1,2 e 3, respectivamente. O único tratamento em que todos os animais conceberam, foi o tratamento PRE e POS . Houve maior número de concepções entre os animais que receberam tratamento 2 e3 , tanto no pré quanto no pósparto, em relação aos que receberam o tratamento 1 (p < 0,05). O aumento do nível de suplementação nos tratamentos pré e pós-parto, provocaram diminuição linear do número de semanas para início de atividade folicular (IAF) e início de crescimento folicular (ICF). Houve correlação negativa entre o IAF (-0, 4), ICF (-0, 1) e escore corporal ao parto. Conclui-se que, o aumento no nível de suplementação tanto no pré quanto no pós-parto, aumenta a quantidade de animais que manifestam cio e concebem nos primeiros 120 dias pós-parto, assim como na manutenção da gestação. Ocorre diminuição linear no tempo para IAF e ICF à medida que se aumenta o nível de suplementação no pré e pós-parto, sendo estes correlacionados com o escore corporal ao parto.This experiment was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effects of different levels of concentrate supplement in the pre and post-parturition periods on the reproductive performance of dairy cow. 54 cows in a completely randomized design, distributed in x factorial arrangement, being treatments, periods and 9 repetitions for treatment, were used. The treatments with different levels of concentrate supplement (in dry basis) in the pre-parturition periods (PRE), were: PRE1 = 0% of body weight (BW); PRE = 0.5% of BW; PRE = 1.0% of BW; and in the post-parturition (POS), were: POS1 = 1kg for each .5 kg of produced milk; POS = 1kg for each .0kg of produced milk and POS = 1kg for each 1.5kg of produced milk, above 6 kg of milk a day. The ultrasonography evaluation and body score were evaluated every seven days. 0 animals presented estrus and 1 animals became pregnant in the evaluated period. The average interval between parturition-first estrus was of 53.13 days, varying from 19 to 105 days. The amount of animals that entered in the estrus in the 1 0 days of evaluation increased with the post parturition supplementation level, being of , 4 and 7 animals for the treatments 1, and , respectively. For the conception, the only treatment in that all the animals became pregnant, was the treatment PRE and POS . There was higher number of conceptions among the animals that received treatment and , so much in the pre as in the post-parturition, in relation to animals that received the treatment 1. The increasing supplement level in the treatments pre and postparturition caused lineal decrease of the number of weeks for beginning of follicular activity (BFA) and beginning of follicular growth (BFG). There was negative correlation among BFA (-0. 4), BFG (-0. 1) and body score to the parturition. It can be concluded that the increasing supplement level in the pre and post-parturition treatments, increases the amount of animals that manifest estrus and become pregnant in the first 120 days post-parturition, as well as, in the pregnant maintenance. Lineal decrease occurred in the time for BFA and BFG as increases the supplement level in the pre and post- parturition, being these correlated with the body score to the parturition

Soil quality indicators in a rhodic kandiudult under different uses in northern Parana, Brazil

Sustainable use of soil, maintaining or improving its quality, is one of the goals of diversification in farmlands. From this point of view, bioindicators associated with C, N and P cycling can be used in assessments of land-use effects on soil quality. The aim of this study was to investigate chemical, microbiological and biochemical properties of soil associated with C, N and P under different land uses in a farm property with diversified activity in northern Parana, Brazil. Seven areas under different land uses were assessed: fragment of native Atlantic Forest; growing of peach-palm (Bactrys gasipaes); sugarcane ratoon (Saccharum officinarum) recently harvested, under renewal; growing of coffee (Coffea arabica) intercropped with tree species; recent reforestation (1 year) with native tree species, previously under annual crops; annual crops under no-tillage, rye (Cecale cereale); secondary forest, regenerated after abandonment (for 20 years) of an avocado (Persea americana) orchard. The soil under coffee, recent reforestation and secondary forest showed higher concentrations of organic carbon, but microbial biomass and enzyme activities were higher in soils under native forest and secondary forest, which also showed the lowest metabolic coefficient, followed by the peach-palm area. The lowest content of water-dispersible clay was found in the soil under native forest, differing from soils under sugarcane and secondary forest. Soil cover and soil use affected total organic C contents and soil enzyme and microbial activities, such that more intensive agricultural uses had deeper impacts on the indicators assessed. Calculation of the mean soil quality index showed that the secondary forest was closest to the fragment of native forest, followed by the peach-palm area, coffee-growing area, annual crop area, the area of recent reforestation and the sugarcane ratoon area