Deois flexuosa (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) in Perennial Forage Species (Poaceae): Quali-quantitative Impacts and Tolerance Expression.

This study aimed to characterize the quantitative and qualitative damage caused by Deois flexuosa (Walker) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) adults in Axonopus catharinensis cv. SCS 315 Catarina and Cynodon dactylon (Tifton 85 and Jiggs cultivars) under different infestation densities and, consequently, the expression of tolerance-type resistance. For this purpose, potted plants were infested with different insect densities (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 adults m-2). The impact of the infestation levels was assessed in the first growth cycle (10-day coexistence period) and in the regrowth (40 days after the first cut, without infestation) based on crop yield and chemical-bromatological composition as well as on photosynthetic pigments and hydrogen peroxide content. The principal component analysis relating infestation density and chemical-bromatological parameters showed a positive correlation between infestation density of D. flexuosa and the contents of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and the dry matter (DM). On the other hand, infestation density inversely correlated with the tillering rate, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids), and iron content. In general, the impacts on DM production and chemical-bromatological composition were lower in A. catharinensis cv. SCS 315 Catarina when compared to the Cynodon species, possibly because A. catharinensis has higher tillering capacity and does not show a reduction in the photosynthetic pigments, which may act as compensating factors to D. flexuosa damage. Our results demonstrate that the A. catharinensis cultivar expresses tolerance-type resistance to D. flexuosa and constitutes an interesting option for pasturelands formation and diversification where this spittlebug species is an emerging pest.

Phosphorus sources residual effects on Tifton 85 production and nutritive value cultivated in a tropical weathered soil / Efeito residual de fontes de fósforo na produção e valor nutricional do Tifton 85 cultivado em solo tropical

Acid reactions and low available phosphorus in tropical soils limit forage yield. The aim was to evaluate soil chemical characteristics pH, P and Mg, forage nutritive values, critical soil and plant P levels and the residual effect of each source. The experiment was in a greenhouse with a Rhodic Haplustox, loam texture. Experimental design was a 5 x 4 factorial with five replicates which phosphate fertilizers were triple superphosphate, reactive rock phosphates Gafsa and Arad, and fused magnesium phosphate powder and coarse, applied at rates of 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg kg-1 P and a control treatment without P. The effectiveness of rock phosphates increased due to their residual effect. The coarse fused magnesium phosphate resulted in the lowest efficiency. The P critical level in soil and plant were 18 mg kg-1 and 2.4 g kg-1, respectively. The increase of phosphorus rates provided an increase in crude protein content

Reações ácidas e baixo fósforo disponível em solos tropicais limitam a produção de forragem. O objetivo foi avaliar as características químicas do solo pH, P e Mg, valores nutritivos das forragens, níveis críticos de P no solo e nas plantas e o efeito residual de cada fonte. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação com Latossolo vermelho distrófico, textura média. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualisado em fatorial 5 x 4, com cinco repetições cujos adubos fosfatados eram superfosfato triplo, fosfatos de rocha reativa Gafsa e Arad e fosfato de magnésio em pó e grosso, aplicados nas doses de 30, 60, 90 e 120 mg kg-1 de P e um tratamento controle sem P. A eficácia dos fosfatos rochosos aumentou devido ao seu efeito residual. O fosfato de magnésio fundido grosso resultou na menor eficiência. O nível crítico de P no solo e na planta foi de 18 mg kg-1 e 2,4 g kg-1, respectivamente. O aumento das taxas de fósforo proporcionou um aumento no teor de proteína bruta

Efeito da vegetação em sistemas alagados construídos para tratar águas residuárias da suinocultura / Effect of vegetation in constructed wetlands treating swine wastewater

RESUMO No presente trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a influência da vegetação em sistemas alagados construídos (SACs) na remoção de poluentes da água residuária da suinocultura (ARS). O experimento foi constituído por três SACs, construídos em escala piloto. O SAC1 foi utilizado como controle, não sendo nele cultivada nenhuma espécie vegetal. No SAC2 foi plantada a taboa (Typha latifolia ), e no SAC3, o capim tifton-85 (Cynodon spp.). Quanto à remoção de demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO) e de sólidos suspensos totais (SST), não se constatou diferença entre os SACs (p>0,05), no entanto a eficiência de remoção de demanda química de oxigênio (DQO) foi diferente entre os SACs (p<0.05) - o SAC1 foi mais eficiente que o SAC2. Com exceção de Mg, o cultivo do capim tifton-85 e da taboa não influenciou (p>0,05) a remoção de macro nem de micronutrientes. A forma de cultivo nos SACs nem mesmo o tipo de espécie cultivada tiveram influência considerável na remoção de matéria orgânica, de macro e de micronutrientes da ARS.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the influence of vegetation in constructed wetlands (CWs) in removing swine wastewater (SWW) pollutants. The experiment consisted of three CWs, built on a pilot scale. CW1 was used as control, and no plant species were cultivated in it. In CW2, cattail (Typha latifolia ) was planted, and in CW3, bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.). No difference was observed between the CWs regarding the removal of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) (p>0.05). Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was different between the CWs (p<0.05) - CW1 was more efficient than CW2. With the exception of Mg, bermudagrass and cattail cultivation did not influence (p>0.05) the removal of macro and micronutrients. The form of cultivation in the CWs and even the type of species cultivated had considerable influence in the removal of organic matter and nutrients of SWW.

Gas Exchanges and Dehydration in Different Intensities of Conditioning in Tifton 85 Bermudagrass: Nutritional Value during Hay Storage.

The present study aimed at evaluating the intensity of Tifton 85 conditioning using a mower conditioner with free-swinging flail fingers and storage times on dehydration curve, fungi presence, nutritional value and in vitro digestibility of Tifton 85 bermudagrass hay dry matter (DM). The dehydration curve was determined in the whole plant for ten times until the baling. The zero time corresponded to the plant before cutting, which occurred at 11:00 and the other collections were carried out at 8:00, 10:00, 14:00, and 16:00. The experimental design was randomised blocks with two intensities of conditioning (high and low) and ten sampling times, with five replications. The high and low intensities related to adjusting the deflector plate of the free iron fingers (8 and 18 cm). In order to determine gas exchanges during Tifton 85 bermudagrass dehydration, there were evaluations of mature leaves, which were placed in the upper middle third of each branch before the cutting, at every hour for 4 hours. A portable gas analyser was used by an infrared IRGA (6400xt). The analysed variables were photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (gs), internal CO2 concentration (Ci), transpiration (T), water use efficiency (WUE), and intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi). In the second part of this study, the nutritional value of Tifton 85 hay was evaluated, so randomised blocks were designed in a split plot through time, with two treatments placed in the following plots: high and low intensity of cutting and five different time points as subplots: cutting (additional treatment), baling and after 30, 60, and 90 days of storage. Subsequently, fungi that were in green plants as well as hay were determined and samples were collected from the grass at the cutting period, during baling, and after 30, 60, and 90 days of storage. It was observed that Tifton 85 bermudagrass dehydration occurred within 49 hours, so this was considered the best time for drying hay. Gas exchanges were more intense before cutting, although after cutting they decreased until ceasing within 4 hours. The lowest values of acid detergent insoluble nitrogen were obtained with low conditioning intensity after 30 days of storage, 64.8 g/kg DM. The in vitro dry matter of Tifton 85 bermudagrass did not differ among the storage times or the conditioning intensities. There was no fungi present in the samples collected during the storage period up to 90 days after dehydration, with less than 30 colony forming units found on plate counting. The use of mower conditioners in different intensities of injury did not speed up the dehydration time of Tifton 85.

Desempenho produtivo e análise de crescimento de capins do gênero Cynodon em resposta à frequência de desfolhação / Productive performance and growth analysis of Cynodon grasses in response to frequency of defoliation

No Brasil, a produção das pastagens é um importante componente da bovinocultura pois o pasto é o principal recurso alimentar utilizado na alimentação do maior rebanho comercial de bovinos do mundo. Assim, é imprescindível o conhecimento dos fatores de manejo que interferem na produção de forragem, tornando mais clara a tomada de decisões dentro do sistema de produção. Contudo, para algumas plantas forrageiras, a exemplo das gramíneas do gênero Cynodon, informações técnico-científicas ainda são escassas em regiões tropicais, especialmente para genótipos recentemente introduzidos, como os capins Jiggs e Vaquero. Isso leva ao estreitamento de oportunidades de utilização eficiente desses materiais, uma vez que diferenças entre Cynodons, por sutis que sejam, sugerem a necessidade de manejos diferentes para que cada genótipo externe seu potencial. O estudo de plantas forrageiras colhidas sob diferentes regimes de desfolhação pode ajudar na diferenciação do potencial de produção e utilização de espécies e cultivares dentro de estratégias de manejo estabelecidos a partir de determinação dos limites ecofisiológicos do manejo proposto. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever e explicar características produtivas, morfológicas e estruturais dos capins Tifton 85, Jiggs e Vaquero e parâmetros de crescimento dos capins Jiggs e Tifton 85 em resposta às frequências de desfolhação de 14, 28 e 42 dias. O experimento foi conduzido na Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, campus da USP, localizado em Piracicaba SP, no período de 21 de dezembro de 2010 a 21 de dezembro de 2011.

In Brazil, forage production is key because it is the main feed resource used to feed the largest commercial cattle herd in the world. Thus, it is essential to know the management factors that influence forage production, and that can be uses in decision-making within the production system. However, for some forages, suchas grasses of the genus Cynodon, technical and scientific information are still scarce in tropical regions, especially for recentlyintroduced genotypes, such as Jiggs and Vaquero bermudagrasses. This narrows the range of opportunity for efficient use of these materials, since differences between Cynodons, for subtle they are, suggest the need forgenotype-specific management so that each grass can be used to its full potential. The study of forages harvested under different frequencies of defoliation can help differentiate yield potential and best utilization methods of species and cultivars under such managements if they are established from information on the ecophysiological limits resulting from the management proposed. The objective of this study was to describe and explain productive, morphological and structural traits, Tifton 85, Jiggs and Vaquero bermudagrasses, and growth patterns of Tifton 85 and Jiggs bermudagrasses in response to frequencies of defoliation (every 14, 28 and 42 days). The trial was carried out at Escola Superior de Agricultura /"Luiz de Queiroz/", USP, in Piracicaba - SP, from December 21, 2010 through December 21, 2011. A completely randomized design was used with a factorial arrangement, with four replications.

Recuperação de matéria seca e composição química de silagens de gramíneas do gênero Cynodon submetidas a períodos de pré-emurchecimento / Recovery of dry matter and chemical composition of Cynodon sp. stargrass silage under periods of pre-wilting

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de períodos de pré-emurchecimento das gramíneas Estrela- Africana-Branca [Cynodon plectostachyus (K. Schum.) Pilg.] e Tifton 85 (Cynodon sp.) sobre algumas características de suas silagens. Utilizou-se delineamento inteiramente casualizado com dez tratamentos e três repetições. Os tratamentos foram dispostos em esquema fatorial 2x5, sendo duas gramíneas (Estrela-Africana-Branca e Tifton 85) e cinco períodos de pré-emurchecimento da forragem (0, 1, 2, 3 e 4 h). As gramíneas foram cortadas aos 50 dias de rebrotação e permaneceram ensiladas por 55 dias em silos experimentais. O pré-emurchecimento promoveu aumento no teor de matéria seca da forragem cortada e da silagem das gramíneas Tifton 85 e Estrela Africana Branca. Houve diminuição nos teores de N-amoniacal (N-NH3/N-total) da silagem do capim-estrela-africana-branca, a uma taxa de 1,66 unidade percentual por hora de pré-emurchecimento, mas não houve alteração nessa variável da silagem do capim-tifton 85. A silagem do capim-tifton 85 apresentou maior recuperação de matéria seca, maior teor de FDN e menor teor de proteína bruta do que a silagem do capim-estrela-africana-branca. O pH e o teor de FDA das silagens não foram influenciados pelo pré-emurchecimento.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of periods of pre-wilting of stargrass [Cynodon plectostachyus (K. Schum.) Pilg.] and Tifton 85 bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) on some characteristics of their silage. Arandomized design with ten treatments and three replications was used. The treatments were arranged in a 2x5 factorial, two grasses (stargrass and Tifton 85) and five periods of pre-wilting of forage (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 h). The grasses were harvested at 50 days regrowth and stored for 55 days in experimental silos. The pre-wilting caused an increase in dry matter content of forage and silage of both, Tifton 85 and stargrass. There was a decrease in the levels of ammonia-N (N-NH3/N-total) of the stargrass silage at a rate of 1.66 percentage unit per hour of pre-wilting, but there was no change in this variable of Tifton 85 silage. The Tifton 85 silage presented higher dry matter recovery and content of NDF and lower protein content than the silage stargrass. The pH and ADF content of the silage were not affected by pre-wilting.