Vermicompost and trichoderma in the development of cherry group tomato seedlings

Trichoderma is used as crop growth promoters. However, they may have harmful effects at higher concentrations. The objective of this work was to evaluate the vermicompost effect formulated with different concentrations of sandy soil, bioenriched with higher than recommended doses of trichoderma, on the germination, initial development and chemical composition of the cherry tomato Creole shoot. The treatments (T) used were substrate composed of vermicompost and sandy soil at 25 kg kg-1 (low), 50 kg kg-1 (medium) and 75 kg kg-1 (high), respectively. The Ecotrich bioproduct was added to the substrate at the following concentrations T1) 0.0; T2) 108; T3) 109; T4) 1010 cfu L-1. Afterwards, three cherry tomato seeds were sown per cell in trays containing the mixture, totaling 90 seeds per treatment. At 30 DAS, height, stem diameter, chlorophyll a, b and total, fresh and dry root and shoot phytomass, root volume and area, leaf area and leaf chemical analysis were evaluated. Bioproduct concentrations, compared to control without trichoderma, did not provide superior results for shoots and roots at 30 DAS. However, plants cultivated with higher concentration of vermicompost were less negatively affected at higher doses of the bioproduct

Supplementation of suckling beef calves with different levels of crude protein on tropical pasture

The effects of supplementation with different levels of crude protein on performance, intake and nutrient digestibility and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in suckling beef calves on pasture were assessed. Fifty-five calves, with an average age of 100 days and an initial average body weight of 110 ± 7.5 kg and their respective dams, were used. The experimental design was completely randomised with five treatments and 11 replications. The experimental treatments for calves were as follows: control = calves received only mineral mixture; supplementation levels = calves received supplement containing 8, 19, 30 or 41 % of crude protein (CP, at a rate of 0.5 % of body weight (BW)). The cows received only mineral mixture ad libitum. Supplemented calves had higher (P  0.1). However, intake of dry matter forage (DMF) presented cubic profiles (P < 0.1), with CP levels in the supplements. Supplementation increased (P < 0.1) the digestibility of nutrients, except for the digestibility of neutral detergent fibre. Supplementation increased (P < 0.1) the production of microbial nitrogen and N losses in urine. It can be concluded that multiple supplementations optimise the performance of beef calves on creep feeding. The intake of supplements with CP levels between 8 and 30 % partially replaces of the pasture ingested by calves and increases the digestibility of the diet

Performance and nutritional evaluation of beef cattle raised on pasture, castrated at different ages, with and without supplementation

The objective of this study was to evaluate performance and nutritional traits of beef cattle raised on pastures, castrated at different ages, with and without supplementation. Forty-four crossbred young bulls with predominance of Zebu breed at initial average age of 120±30 days were used in the experiment. Animals were distributed in a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement with four ages of castration and two supplementation systems. The animals were distributed into four groups and placed on Brachiaria decumbens Stapf pastures, where they were fed concentrate supplementation or mineral salt ad libtum (control). Animals were castrated at 120, 240 and 360 days of age with average body weight of 115, 175 and 276 kg, castrated or not, in each supplementation group. Concentrate supplement composition and the amount supplied to the animals varied according to the time of the year and development phase of the animals. Trials were carried out to evaluate nutritional variables in each of the following phases: suckling, growth in the dry season and growth in the dry/rainy transition season. Concentrate supplementation improved the use of pasture, although it may have caused substitutive effect in all seasons evaluated. Castration of the animals before the dry season impaired animal development until the following dry/rainy transition season, especially when carried out during weaning. Concentrate supply may reduce some effects of this stress

Levels of multiple supplements or nitrogen salt for beef heifers in pasture during the dry season

The study assessed performance, microbial protein synthesis, intake and digestibility of nutrients by beef heifers receiving levels of multiple supplements or nitrogen salt, in a self-controlled intake, on pasture, during the dry season. Thirty-five beef heifers, from 6 to 9 months of age and average initial body weight of 203.4 + 4.5 kg, were used. Study factors were: control - mineral mixture; nitrogen salt - 50% of urea + mineral mixture, at proportion of 1:1, and 50% of corn (75% of crude protein); levels of multiple supplementation - multiple supplements with different percentages of intake controller mixture (urea + mineral mixture, at the proportion of 1:1), corn and soybean meal (45% of crude protein). Supplement consumptions observed were: 115, 173, 572 and 1214 g/animal/day for animals fed on nitrogen salt, low, medium and high levels of multiple supplement, respectively. Supplemented animals had greater average daily gain, evidencing the positive linear effect of the levels of multiple supplementation on average daily gain. Overall, there were no significant differences between average daily gain of animals fed on multiple supplements or nitrogen salt. Supplementation increased the intake and digestibility of nutrients, except for digestibility of neutral detergent fiber, although the intake of digested neutral detergent fiber increased. Supplementation increased the production of microbial nitrogen as well as nitrogen losses in urine, although the quantity of nitrogen assimilated by bacteria, proportionally to intake, was higher. Supplementation improves nutritional parameters and weight gain

Replacement of soybean meal by cottonseed meal 38% in multiple supplements for grazing beef heifers

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of using multiple supplements with different levels of cottonseed meal 38% on intake, total apparent digestibility of dietary components, efficiency of microbial synthesis and productive performance of beef heifers in Brachiaria decumbens pasture during the rainy season. It was used 25 Nellore heifers and 10 crossbred heifers with predominance of Zebu breed at 16 months of age and with 249.8 ± 0.6 kg of body weight. It was used a complete random experimental design with five treatments and seven replicates. Supplements contained approximately 30% of crude protein (CP) and soybean meal replaced by cottonseed meal 38% at the levels 0; 33; 67 and 100%, (CS0, CS33, CS67 and CS100, respectively) evaluated in relation to a control group, which received only mineral mixture (MM) ad libitum. Daily weight gain was 397, 546, 570, 525 and 542 g, respectively, for the groups MM, CS0, CS33, CS67 and CS100. There was no effect of the levels of cottonseed meal 38% on daily weight gain, which differed among animals fed supplement and control group, however. Intakes of crude protein and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) in kg/day were greater in groups under supplementation. Coefficients of total apparent digestibility of CP and NFC were greater in animals fed supplements in relation to the control group. Increase on the replacement level of soybean meal by cottonseed meal had a positive linear effect on coefficients of total apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter and CP. There was no difference on microbial efficiency, expressed as g of crude protein per kg of TDN consumed by the animals under supplements and the ones of the control group, neither it was observed difference among levels of replacement of soybean meal by cottonseed meal. The use of cottonseed meal 38% replacing soybean meal in the diet does not harm performance of grazing beef heifers.Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do uso de suplementos múltiplos com diferentes níveis de farelo de algodão 38% o sobre o consumo, a digestibilidade aparente total de componentes da dieta, a eficiência de síntese microbiana e o desempenho produtivo de novilhas de corte em pastagem de Brachiaria decumbens no período das águas. Utilizaram-se 25 novilhas nelores e 10 novilhas mestiças com predominância de sangue zebu com 16 meses idade e 249,8 ± 0,6 kg de peso corporal. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado com cinco tratamentos e sete repetições. Os suplementos continham aproximadamente 30% de proteína bruta (PB) e substituição do farelo de soja pelo farelo de algodão 38% nos níveis de 0; 33; 67 e 100%, (CS0, CS33, CS67 e CS100, respectivamente), avaliados em relação a um grupo controle, que recebeu apenas mistura mineral ad libitum (MM). O ganho médio diário foi 397, 546, 570, 525 e 542 g, respectivamente, para os grupos MM, CS0, CS33, CS67 e CS100. Não houve efeito dos níveis de farelo de algodão 38% sobre o ganho médio diário, que diferiu, no entanto, entre os animais que receberam suplemento e os do grupo controle. Os consumos em kg/dia de proteína bruta e carboidratos não-fibrosos (CNF) foram maiores nos grupos sob suplementação. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente totais da PB e dos CNF foram maiores nos animais que receberam suplemento em relação aos do grupo controle. O aumento do nível de substituição do farelo de soja pelo farelo de algodão teve efeito linear positivo sobre os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente totais da MS, matéria orgânica e PB. Não houve diferença na eficiência microbiana, expressa em g de proteína bruta por kg de NDT consumido entre os animais sob suplementados e os do grupo controle, assim como não foi observada diferença entre os níveis de substituição do farelo de soja pelo farelo de algodão. O uso de farelo de algodão 38% em substituição ao farelo de soja na dieta não prejudica o desempenho de novilhas de corte em pastejo

Replacement of soybean meal by treated castor meal in supplements for grazing heifer during the dry-rainy season period

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of multiple supplement with different levels of castor meal (Ricinus communis L.) treated with calcium oxide on intake, on the total apparent digestibility of dietary components, on the efficiency of microbial synthesis and on the performance of beef heifers grazing Brachiaria decumbens during the dry-rainy transition period. The experimental area was composed of five 2.5-ha paddocks with availability of potentially digestible dry matter of 2,858.4 kg/ha. It was used 25 Nellore heifers and 10 crossbred with predominance of Zebu breed heifers at 13 months of age and body weight of 210 ± 0.8 kg in a completely randomized experimental design. Supplements contained approximately 25% of crude protein (CP) and they were formulated with 0; 33; 67 and 100% of castor meal replacing soybean meal. Daily weight gain was 366.1 g for animals in the control group and 439.7; 478.9; 556.3; and 493.9, respectively for those fed supplements with 100% of soybean meal and 33, 67 and 100% castor meal. There was no effect of treated castor meal levels on daily weight gain of the animals, which was higher in those animals fed supplements. Levels of castor meal had decreasing linear effect on intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), ether extract (EE), digested dry matter and digestible neutral detergent fiver and on the intake of total digestible nutrients. Coefficients of apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CP, EE and non-fibrous carbohydrates were greater for animals under supplementation. Microbial efficiency, expressed in g of crude protein per kg of consumed TDN, did not differ among groups. Replacement of soybean meal by castor meal treated with calcium oxide does not harm animal performance.Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de suplementos múltiplos com diferentes níveis de farelo de mamona (Ricinus communis L.) tratado com óxido de cálcio sobre o consumo, a digestibilidade aparente total de componentes da dieta, a eficiência de síntese microbiana e o desempenho produtivo de novilhas de corte em pastagem de Brachiaria decumbens durante o período de transição seca-águas. A área experimental foi composta de cinco piquetes de 2,5 hectares, com disponibilidade de matéria seca potencialmente digestível de 2.858,4 kg/ha. Utilizaram-se 25 novilhas da raça Nelore e 10 mestiças com predominância de sangue zebu com idade e peso médio iniciais, respectivamente, de 13 meses e 210 ± 0.8 kg de peso corporal em um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado. Os suplementos continham aproximadamente 25% de proteína bruta (PB) e foram formulados com 0; 33; 67 e 100% de farelo de mamona em substituição ao farelo de soja. O ganho médio diário foi de 366,1 g para os animais do grupo controle e 439,7; 478,9; 556,3; e 493,9, respectivamente, para aqueles alimentados com os suplementos com 100% de farelo de soja e com 33, 67 e 100% de farelo de mamona. Não houve efeito dos níveis de farelo de mamona tratado sobre o ganho médio diário dos animais, que foi maior naqueles que receberam suplemento. Os níveis de farelo de mamona tiveram efeito linear decrescente sobre os consumos de matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), extrato etéreo (EE), matéria seca digerida e fibra em detergente neutro digestível e o consumo de nutrientes digestíveis totais. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da MS, MO, PB, EE e carboidratos não-fibrosos foram maiores para os animais sob suplementação. A eficiência microbiana, expressa em g de proteína bruta por kg de NDT consumido, não diferiu entre os grupos. A substituição do farelo de soja por farelo de mamona tratado com óxido de cálcio não prejudica o desempenho dos animais