Composição botânica e controle de plantas daninhas no cultivo da palma forrageira (Opuntia e Nopalea)

Forage cactus (Opuntia and Nopalea) responds positively to cultural treatments such as weeding and weed cutting. However, the scarce labor and the high cost of labor is a challenge that producers, the scientific community and the government have to solve. The objective of this work was to evaluate 9 (nine) commercial herbicides and some mixtures of them in the control of weeds in the culture of forage cactus varieties Miúda (N. cochenillifera) and Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (O. stricta) in the municipality of Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brazil. Two experiments were carried out at the Experimental Station of the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco (IPA) in Caruaru-PE. The designs used were in randomized blocks with three replications. The treatments evaluated were: 1. No weed control, 2. Hand weeding, 3. Mowing, 4. DMA®806BR (2,4-D), 5. GLYPHOSATE ATAR 48® (glyphosate)+DIURON NORTOX 500 SC ® (diuron), 6. GLYPHOSATE ATAR 48® (glyphosate)+AMERIS® (tebuthiurom), 7. HEXAZINONE-D NORTOX (hexazinone+diuron), 8. VOLCANE® (MSMA), 9. GOAL®BR (oxyfluorfen), 10. TARGA®50 BR (kizalofop-p-ethyl), 11. FUSILADE® 250 EW (fluasifop-p-butyl), 12. AMERIS® (tebutiuron), 13. GLYPHOSATE ATAR 48® (glyphosate)+DIURON NORTOX 500 SC ® (diuron)+AMERIS® (tebuthiuron). The botanical composition of the invasive plants, bare soil, survival, toxicity and productivity of fresh and dry matter of cactus were evaluated in the two years of cultivation. Among the identified species, those with the highest densities were: Ageratum conyzoides, Nicandra physalodes, Scoparia dulcis, Conyza bonariensis, Amaranthus viridis, Acanthospermum hispidum, Alternanthera tenella, Senegalia tenuifolia, Cordia goeldiana, Senegalia tenuifolia, Turnera subulata and Poaceae. The herbicides GLYPHOSATE ATAR 48®+AMERIS®; AMERIS®; and GLYPHOSATE ATAR 48®+DIURON NORTOX 500 SC®+AMERIS® were the most efficient in controlling weeds, due to high percentages of bare soil (75 to 99.67%), low toxicity (<8.33%) and high productivity of fresh (120.69 to 167.05 t.ha-1) and dry (21.75 to 24.40 t.ha-1) matter. Dry and fresh matter productivity was positively correlated with each other, and between bare soil and plant survival. Complementary studies are needed to support the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply in the registration of products.A palma forrageira (Opuntia e Nopalea) responde positivamente aos tratos culturais como capina e roço das plantas daninhas. No entanto, a mão de obra escassa e o custo elevado da mão de obra é um desafio que os produtores, comunidade científica e governo tem que solucionar. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar 9 (nove) herbicidas comerciais e algumas misturas deles no controle de plantas daninhas na cultura da palma forrageira variedades Miúda (N. cochenillifera) e Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (O. stricta) no município de Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brasil. Foram realizados dois experimentos na Estação Experimental do Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco (IPA) em Caruaru-PE. Os delineamentos utilizados foram em blocos ao acaso com três repetições. Os tratamentos avaliados foram: 1. Ausência de controle de plantas daninhas, 2. Capina manual, 3. Roçagem, 4. DMA®806BR (2,4-D), 5. GLIFOSATO ATAR 48® (glifosato)+DIURON NORTOX 500 SC® (diurom), 6. GLIFOSATO ATAR 48® (glifosato)+AMERIS® (tebutiurom), 7. HEXAZINONA-D NORTOX (hexazinona+diurom), 8. VOLCANE® (MSMA), 9. GOAL®BR (oxifluorfem), 10. TARGA®50 BR (quizalofope-p-etílico), 11. FUSILADE® 250 EW (fluasifope-p-butílico), 12. AMERIS® (tebutiurom), 13. GLIFOSATO ATAR 48® (glifosato)+DIURON NORTOX 500 SC® (diurom)+AMERIS® (tebutiurom). A composição botânica das plantas invasoras, solo descoberto, sobrevivência, toxicidade e produtividade de matéria fresca e seca da palma foram avaliadas nos dois anos de cultivo. Dentre as espécies identificadas as que tiveram as maiores densidades foram: Ageratum conyzoides, Nicandra physalodes, Scoparia dulcis, Conyza bonariensis, Amaranthus viridis, Acanthospermum hispidum, Alternanthera tenella, Senegalia tenuifolia, Cordia goeldiana, Senegalia tenuifolia, Turnera subulata e Poaceae. Os herbicidas GLIFOSATO ATAR 48®+AMERIS®; AMERIS®; e GLIFOSATO ATAR 48®+DIURON NORTOX 500 SC®+AMERIS® foram os mais eficientes no controle das plantas daninhas, devido a altas percentagens de solo descoberto (75 a 99,67%), baixa toxicidade (<8,33%) e elevada produtividade de matéria fresca (120,69 a 167,05 t.ha-1) e seca (21,75 a 24,40 t.ha-1). A produtividade de matéria seca e fresca foi correlacionada positivamente entre si, e entre o solo descoberto e a sobrevivência das plantas. Estudos complementares são necessários para subsidiar o Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento no registro de produtos

CONSIDERAÇÕES SOBRE A PRODUÇÃO LEITEIRA NO SEMI-ÁRIDO PERNAMBUCANO

A comparison of milk production cost for different production systems indicate that Brazilpresents one of the lower costs, compared with the main milk producing regions of the world,mostly due to being pasture-based. Pernambuco state main milk producing area is Agreste,with yields similar to those of the most productive regions of Brazil. The production systemsof this region are based on native and cultivated pastures and forage cactus. Cultivated pastures in the area are mostly on various stages of degradation, and research has indicated their closurefor the rain season, and phosphorus and nitrogen fertilization. Forage cactus use allows reductionin concentrated feed use, allowing yields of up to 12 kg milk by cow by day, when cows are fedforage cactus, urea and a fiber source. This paper proposes a milk exploration system based onforage cactus and pastures for Pernambuco state ‘Agreste’ and ‘Sertão’ region.A comparação dos sistemas de produção de leite de vaca nas principais regiões produtorasmundiais indica que o Brasil apresenta um dos menores custos, principalmente por ser baseadoem pastagens. A principal região produtora de leite em Pernambuco é o Agreste, comprodutividade similar a dos estados mais produtivos do Brasil. Os sistemas de produção destazona fitogeográfica têm nas pastagens nativas e cultivadas e na palma forrageira as principaisfontes de alimentação. A maioria das pastagens cultivadas apresenta variados estádios dedegradação, sendo indicado pela experimentação vedá-las durante a estação chuvosa e adubarcom fósforo e nitrogênio. A utilização da palma forrageira permite a diminuição do uso deconcentrados, permitindo produtividades de até 12 kg de leite por vaca por dia quandoalimentadas com palma, uréia e uma fonte de fibra. Neste trabalho é proposto um sistema deexploração de leite calcado na utilização da palma e das pastagens para as regiões Agreste eSertão de Pernambucano

Is the total mixed ration the best option for feeding crossbred dairy cows using diets based on cactus cladodes on family farms?

The study aimed to evaluate the effects on the performance of lactating cows of different strategies for supplying diets based on cactus cladodes. Eight Girolando cows at 97 ?? 7.6 days into lactation, producing 12.2 ?? 0.26 kg milk/day, were assigned to 4 treatments in two 4 ?? 4 Latin squares. The feeding strategies were: total mixed ration (TMR) based on a mixture of concentrates, cactus cladodes [Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw.] and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) fed after milking; concentrate fed during milking with cactus cladodes and sugarcane offered later (Con/CC+SC); cactus cladodes combined with concentrate fed after milking with sugarcane offered later (CC+Con/SC); and sugarcane combined with concentrate fed after milking with cactus cladodes offered later (SC+Con/CC). Intakes of neutral detergent fiber (NDF; 4.54 ?? 0.09 kg/d) and total digestible nutrients (TDN; 9.30 ?? 0.50 kg/d) were similar (P>0.05) for all feeding strategies and there was no effect of feeding strategy on milk yield (12.2 ?? 0.26 kg/d). The different feeding strategies did not change the ingestive behavior or performance of lactating Girolando cows. Since the shortage of labor prohibits the feeding of TMRs on family farms because of labor required for preparation, these rations would be appropriate only on large farms where the costs of machines to prepare diets efficiently might be available. Cows fed concentrate during milking spent longer to consume the concentrate than the time to milk, resulting in inefficient usage of scarce labor. Appropriate feeding strategies for family farms appear to be SC+Con/CC and CC+Con/SC, i.e. partial separation of dietary ingredients, and all feeding should be done after milking

Acceptability by Girolando heifers and nutritional value of erect prickly pear stored for different periods

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o valor nutricional da palma orelha-de-elefante-mexicana (OEM) (Opuntia stricta), armazenada por diferentes períodos, e sua aceitabilidade por novilhas Girolando. Foram utilizadas cinco novilhas distribuídas em quadrado latino 5x5. Os tratamentos foram os seguintes: palma OEM, sem armazenamento; OEM armazenada por três períodos pós-colheita – 7, 14 e 21 dias; e palma‑miúda (PM) (Nopalea cochenillifera) sem armazenamento, como tratamento controle. As dietas oferecidas aos animais foram compostas de palmas dos diferentes tratamentos, assim como silagem de cana-de-açúcar e farelo de soja, e foram avaliadas quanto à composição químico-bromatológica, consumo e digestibilidade dos nutrientes. O comportamento ingestivo das novilhas foi avaliado. A palma OEM não diferiu da PM quanto à matéria orgânica, proteína bruta, fibra em detergente neutro corrigida quanto às cinzas e proteína, carboidratos não fibrosos, carboidratos totais, extrato etéreo e matéria mineral; no entanto, a palma OEM diferiu da PM quanto à matéria seca e à fibra em detergente neutro indigestível, quando armazenada por diferentes períodos. O peso das novilhas variou em 1,35 kg, com a baixa inclusão de concentrado na dieta. A palma orelha-de-elefante-mexicana mantém constante seu valor nutricional e sua aceitabilidade pelas novilhas Girolando, após armazenamento por diferentes períodos até 21 dias.The objective of this work was to evaluate the nutritional value of erect prickly pear (EPP) (Opuntia stricta), stored for different periods, and its acceptability by Girolando heifers. Five heifers were distributed in a 5x5 Latin square. The treatments were as follows: EPP without storage time; stored EPP for three post‑harvest periods – 7, 14, and 21 days; and cochineal nopal cactus (CNC) (Nopalea cochenillifera) without storage time, as a control treatment. The diets offered to the animals were composed of cacti of the different treatments, as well as sugarcane silage and soybean meal, and were evaluated for their chemical composition, intake, and nutrient digestibility. The ingestive behavior of the heifers was evaluated. The cactus EPP did not differ from the CNC for organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein, nonfibrous carbohydrates, total carbohydrates, ether extract, and mineral matter; however, EPP stored for different periods differed from CNC for dry matter and indigestible neutral detergent fiber. Heifer weights varied 1.35 kg with the low inclusion of concentrate in the diet. The cactus erect prickly pear maintains constant both its nutritional value and its acceptability to Girolando heifers, after storage for different periods up to 21 days

Sugarcane and cactus cladodes plus urea: a new option for Girolando dairy heifers

This study was performed to identify the ideal amount of concentrate required for a diet based on cactus cladodes, sugarcane, and urea used to feed heifers. Twenty Girolando heifers (160 +/- 8.39 kg) were randomly distributed into four experimental treatments with 0, 0.40, 0.80, or 1.20 kg day(-1) of concentrate. The basal diet contained [on dry matter (DM) basis] 38.1% sugarcane, 56.5% cactus cladodes [Opuntia stricta (Haw). Haw], 0.5% common salt, 1.1% mineral mixture, and 3.8% urea plus ammonium sulfate. The concentrate contained [on DM basis] 87% corn meal and 13% soybean meal. The basal diet and the concentrate were formulated to provide 13% crude protein (CP). The intake of DM (4.34-4.96 kg day(-1)), organic matter (3.96-4.98 kg day(-1)), CP (0.57-0.64 kg day(-1)), non-fibrous carbohydrates (2.20-2.61 kg day(-1)), and metabolizable energy (10.3-12.4 Mcal day(-1)) increased linearly with concentrate amount. Final body weight (196-224 kg), total body weight gain (36.9-61.2 kg), and average daily body weight gain (0.51-0.85 kg day(-1)) increased linearly with concentrate amount. The nitrogen balance was positive and increased linearly (54.8-62.3 g day(-1)) with concentrate amount. Based on the data, we recommend supplying six-monthold Girolando heifers (160 kg body weight) 1.20 kg concentrate day(-1) added to a diet based on sugarcane and cactus cladodes plus urea for better productive and economic performance

Consórcio palma-sorgo irrigado com diferentes lâminas de água no Semiárido brasileiro

The objective of this work was to evaluate the productive performance, biological efficiency, and the competitive ability of the forage cactus-sorghum intercropping under different irrigation depths with saline water in the Brazilian Semiarid Region. The experiment was carried out in Serra Talhada, in the state of Pernambuco, between 2014 and 2015, in a randomized complete block design, with four replicates, and a 5x3 factorial arrangement in split plots, with one year of forage cactus cycle and two years of sorghum cycles. The plots were composed by four irrigation water depths based on the fractions of 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the reference evapotranspiration, besides dry conditions; and the subplots consisted of three cropping systems (single crop of forage cactus, single crop of sorghum, and intercropping of forage cactus-sorghum). The increase of water irrigation depths increased the yields of sorghum in single crop and of the forage cactus-sorghum intercropping. The intercropping system promoted production stability with a higher system productivity index (SPI) for forage cactus-sorghum intercropping (6,279.02 kg ha-1 DM) than for forage cactus in single crop (4,626.98 kg ha-1 DM). The relative density coefficient (12.33) was indicative of the great compatibility of the intercropping system. The forage cactus-sorghum association shows biological advantage and competitiveness capacity, with a higher productive index than their monocultures.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho produtivo, a eficiência biológica e a habilidade competitiva do consórcio palma-sorgo sob irrigação com diferentes lâminas de água salina, no Semiárido brasileiro. O experimento foi realizado em Serra Talhada, PE, entre 2014 e 2015, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, em arranjo fatorial 5x3, com parcelas subdivididas, tendo sido um ano de ciclo de palma e dois ciclos de sorgo. As parcelas foram compostas por quatro lâminas de irrigação com base nas frações de 25, 50, 75 e 100% da evapotranspiração de referência, além das condições de sequeiro, e as subparcelas consistiram de três sistemas de plantio (palma solteira, sorgo solteiro e consórcio palma-sorgo). O aumento das lâminas de água incrementou a produtividade do sorgo e do consórcio palma-sorgo. O consórcio promoveu estabilidade na produção, com índice de produtividade do sistema (IPS) palma-sorgo (6.279,02 kg ha-1 MS) maior que o de palma em cultivo solteiro (4.626,98 kg ha-1 MS). O coeficiente de adensamento relativo (12,33) foi indicativo de ótima compatibilidade do consórcio. A associação palma-sorgo apresenta vantagem biológica e capacidade competitiva com maior índice produtivo que os dos seus monocultivos