HAYLAGE: A FORAGE CONSERVATION ALTERNATIVE

The objective was to cover and discuss the characteristics of haylage that makes it an alternative of forage conservation. The haylage is based on the dry matter content after a wilt process, then baled similar to hay and wrapped with plastic films in order to be conserved under anaerobic fermentation. The dry matter content after wilt exceeds 500 g kg-1. Conserved forages with high content of dry matter present stabilization at high pH, which favors bacteria of the genus Clostridium. The pH of the haylage, because it has a high content of dry matter in its confection, limits the capacity of bacterial fermentation, it does not produce sufficient acid and becomes resistant to pH drops, this characteristic must be considered along with other factors. The preservation quality of haylage cut under the same conditions of the hay presents similar chemical composition, therefore, when the haylage is preserved under ideal conditions, it is an alternative to replace the hay. The definition and characteristics of haylage clearly expresses that it is an alternative conservation to hay and silage

PCR identification of lactic acid bacteria populations in corn silage inoculated with lyophilised or activated Lactobacillus buchneri

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of inoculation with lyophilised and/or activated Lactobacillus buchneri on lactic acid bacteria populations in corn silage. Experimental treatments consisted of corn silage without additives or silage with the inoculants of L. buchneri (1 x 105 cfu/g) applied according to the manufacturer’s recommendations (1 g/tonne fodder) in the forms of the lyophilised inoculant and pre-activated inoculant. Purified isolates from corn silage with and without the inoculant were identified, and 93% of the isolates corresponded to the lactic acid bacteria of the species Lactobacillus plantarum. Among the isolates, no bacteria of the species L. buchneri were detected. The application of lyophilised or activated L. buchneri improved the microbiological profile and reduced ethanol production in corn silage, even without being identified among the isolates captured 70 days after ensilage. Highlights: Lactic acid bacteria showed greater development at 7 days of fermentation. Lactobacillus plantarum predominated at 70 days, representing 93% of the total LAB population. Lactobacillus buchneri improved its microbiological profile with decreased ethanol production.This study aimed to evaluate the effect of inoculation with lyophilised and/or activated Lactobacillus buchneri on lactic acid bacteria populations in corn silage. Experimental treatments consisted of corn silage without additives or silage with the inoculants of L. buchneri (1 x 105 cfu/g) applied according to the manufacturer’s recommendations (1 g/tonne fodder) in the forms of the lyophilised inoculant and pre-activated inoculant. Purified isolates from corn silage with and without the inoculant were identified, and 93% of the isolates corresponded to the lactic acid bacteria of the species Lactobacillus plantarum. Among the isolates, no bacteria of the species L. buchneri were detected. The application of lyophilised or activated L. buchneri improved the microbiological profile and reduced ethanol production in corn silage, even without being identified among the isolates captured 70 days after ensilage. Highlights: Lactic acid bacteria showed greater development at 7 days of fermentation. Lactobacillus plantarum predominated at 70 days, representing 93% of the total LAB population. Lactobacillus buchneri improved its microbiological profile with decreased ethanol production

Morphogenetic and structural characteristics of gamba grass subjected to nitrogen fertilization and different defoliation intensities

T This study aimed to evaluate the morphogenetic, structural, and productive characteristics of Andropogon gayanus cv. ‘Planaltina’ subjected to different nitrogen fertilization levels and defoliation intensities. The experiment was done in a completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement of six nitrogen doses (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 kg N ha-1) and two defoliation intensities (15 and 30 cm). The production and structure data were grouped into rainy and dry periods, while morphogenesis data were compared only among different fertilization and defoliation intensities. The total dry forage biomass (TDFB), dry mass of leaves (DML), dry mass of stems (DMS), and dead forage dry mass (DFDM) were then determined. In addition to these variables, the morphogenetic characteristics of the plants and the numbers of tillers alive and dead were evaluated. There was no interaction (P>0.05) between the effects of nitrogen fertilization doses and the intensity of defoliation on TDFB, DML, DMS, and DFDM in both of the evaluated phases (rainy and dry). It was also observed that the rates of leaf elongation, leaf appearance, and leaf blade elongation increased with nitrogen fertilization. On the other hand, the culm elongation rate and phyllochron decreased as the dose applied increased. The defoliation intensity did not influence (P>0.05) the morphogenetic characteristics examined, nor did it affect the senescence rate of nitrogen in leaves and number of live leaves per tiller. The number of dead tillers increased linearly during the rainy period. Based on these results, to improve the efficiency of production of gamba grass it is recommended that it be managed with a defoliation intensity of 30 cm and nitrogen fertilization of 286.52 kg N ha-1 year-1

CARACTERÍSTICAS AGRONÔMICAS DE VARIEDADES DE Opuntia cochenillifera E Nopalea cochenillifera SOB DIFERENTES DENSIDADES DE PLANTIO

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of planting density of two varieties of forage palm of the genus Nopalea and Opuntia on the morphological and productive characteristics. The experiment was established in a randomized block design with three replications in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. composed of two planting densities: 40.000 and 20.000 ha-1 plants and two forage cactu varieties: Palmepa-PB01 and Palmepa-PB04 (Nopalea cochinilifera and Opuntia ficus indica, respectively), the Palmepa-PB01 variety presented mean values ​​of 62.33 and 71.33 cm for height and plant width, respectively, presenting values ​​33 and 32% higher than the Palmepa-PB04, The area index of the cladodes was higher for the density of 40.000 ha-1 plants, with 2.01 m² m-², presenting a value of 54.22% in relation to the density of 20,000 ha-1 plants, which presented 0.92 m² m -², The planting density of 20.000 ha-1 plants was 19% higher relative to the density of 40.000 ha-1 plants, The Palmepa-PB01 variety was 18.18% higher than the Palmepa-PB04 variety with a yield of 40.70 tons ha-1, The Palmepa-PB01 variety is more productive than Palmepa-PB04 recommending its planting at the lowest planting density.Um bom manejo da palma forrageira é de suma importância para o desenvolvimento satisfatório e obter altas produções da palma forrageira. Vale ressaltar que práticas ideais de manejo possibilitam a planta expressar seu melhor potencial produtivo, principalmente em regiões com elevada sazonalidade de produção e irregularidade de chuvas como o semiárido brasileiro. Objetivou-se nesse estudo avaliar a influência da densidade de plantio de duas variedades de palma forrageira dos gêneros Nopalea e Opuntia sobre as características morfológicas e produtivas. O experimento foi estabelecido em um delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições, em um arranjo fatorial 2 x 2, compostos por duas densidades de plantio: 40.000 e 20.000 plantas ha-¹ e duas variedades de palma forrageira: Palmepa-PB01 e Palmepa-PB04 (Nopalea cochinilifera e opuntia ficus indica, respectivamente), a variedade Palmepa-PB01 apresentou médias de 62.33 e 71.33 cm para altura e largura de planta, respectivamente, apresentando valores 33 e 32% superiores em relação a Palmepa-PB04. O índice de área dos cladódios foi maior para a densidade de 40.000 plantas ha-¹, com 2.01 m² m-², apresentando valor 54.22% em relação a densidade de 20.000 plantas ha-¹ que apresentou 0.92 m² m-². A densidade de plantio de 20.000 plantas ha-¹ foi 19 % superior em relação a densidade de 40,000 plantas ha-¹. A variedade Palmepa-PB01 foi 18.18 % superior em relação a variedade Palmepa-PB04 com um rendimento de 40.70 toneladas ha-¹. A variedade Palmepa-PB01 é mais produtiva que a Palmepa-PB04 recomendando seu plantio na menor densidade de plantio nas condições edafoclimáticas encontradas nesse estudo

Capim-elefante: Um recurso bioenergético

The sources of energy now used by man are not renewable and are in limit conditions. Therefore, the uncontrolled and unsustainable use of these sources of energy has caused the world energy complex to enter a state of alert, requiring the search for new alternative and renewable energy sources. The change of attitude in energy consumption tends to reduce the use of natural resources, reducing the impacts on the environment. For this change to happen the use of biomass as an energy source is an option. The energy from the plant biomass represents a great challenge for science, since fossil fuels and their derivatives are finite sources and threaten the environment. Among the forage plants that can be used for bioenergy production, elephant grass is highlighted because it has quantitative and qualitative characteristics that make possible its use to produce renewable energy, being necessary studies and technological adjustments for this to occur.As fontes de energia hoje usadas pelo homem não são renováveis e se encontram em condições limites. Logo, o uso sem controle e insustentável dessas procedências de energia fez com que o complexo energético mundial entrasse em estado de alerta, sendo necessária a busca por novos meios alternativos e renováveis de energia. A mudança de atitude no consumo de energia tende a diminuir o aproveitamento de recursos naturais, diminuindo os impactos no meio ambiente e para que essa mudança aconteça o uso de biomassa como fonte energética é uma opção. A energia oriunda da biomassa vegetal representa um grande desafio para a ciência, pois os combustíveis de origem fóssil e seus derivados são fontes finitas e ameaçam o meio ambiente. Dentre as plantas forrageiras que podem ser usadas para produção de bioenergia o capim-elefante ganha destaque por possuir características quantitativas e qualitativas que torna possível seu uso para fabricação de energia renovável, faltando apenas ajustes tecnológicos para que isso ocorra

Haylage: A forage conservation alternative

The objective was to cover and discuss the characteristics of haylage that makes it an alternative of forage conservation. The haylage is based on the dry matter content after a wilt process, then baled similar to hay and wrapped with plastic films in order to be conserved under anaerobic fermentation. The dry matter content after wilt exceeds 500 g kg-1. Conserved forages with high content of dry matter present stabilization at high pH, which favors bacteria of the genus Clostridium. The pH of the haylage, because it has a high content of dry matter in its confection, limits the capacity of bacterial fermentation, it does not produce sufficient acid and becomes resistant to pH drops, this characteristic must be considered along with other factors. The preservation quality of haylage cut under the same conditions of the hay presents similar chemical composition, therefore, when the haylage is preserved under ideal conditions, it is an alternative to replace the hay. The definition and characteristics of haylage clearly expresses that it is an alternative conservation to hay and silage