RESUMEN La región nororiental de Brasil es responsable del 95% de la producción total de melón del país y del 97% del total de melón exportado. Esto se debe principalmente a las condiciones edafoclimáticas y a los paquetes tecnológicos utilizados en el país en cuanto a estrategias de fertilización. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los efectos de la fertilización de cobertura con fuentes de potasio asociadas o no con la fertilización con Ekosil™ en la siembra sobre las características fisicoquímicas del melón cantalupo. El estudio se realizó en un diseño de bloques completos al azar, con un arreglo factorial 4x2 (fertilización de cobertura de nitrato de potasio [NP], cloruro de potasio [CP], sulfato de potasio [SP] y Ekosil™ [EK], con o sin fertilización con Ekosil™ en la siembra). Los parámetros evaluados en frutos fueron: peso fresco (PF), contenido de sólidos solubles (SS), acidez titulable (AT), relación SS/AT (RA) y pigmentos (clorofila [CL] y carotenoides [CA]). No se observó efecto de los tratamientos sobre el pH, CL y CA (P>0.05). Se observó la interacción de la fertilización en la siembra y la fertilización de cobertura para las otras variables (P<0.005). El PF fue mayor para CP y EK, con la aplicación de Ekosil™ en la siembra. Sin Ekosil™, SP, NP y EK dieron como resultado frutos más pesados. Los SS fueron mayores con SP al usar Ekosil™, y para SP y CP sin fertilización con Ekosil™ en la siembra. El CP y NP resultaron en mayor AT, y la RA fue mayor con SP. Bajo las condiciones edafoclimáticas de la región de Pontal do Triângulo Mineiro, la fertilización de cobertura con sulfato de potasio, sin fertilización con Ekosil™ en la siembra, da como resultado melones cantalupos más pesados y dulces.

ABSTRACT The northeastern region of Brazil is responsible for 95% of the country's total melon production and 97% of total exported melons. This is mainly due to the edaphoclimatic conditions and the technological packages employed in the country for fertilization strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of topdressing potassium fertilizers associated or not with sowing fertilization with Ekosil™ on the physicochemical traits of cantaloupes. The study was conducted in a randomized complete block design, with a 4x2 factorial arrangement (topdressing potassium nitrate [PN], potassium chloride [PC], potassium sulfate [PS] and Ekosil™ [EK], with or without sowing fertilization with Ekosil™). The evaluated traits in the fruits were: fresh mass (FM), soluble solids content (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio (RA) and pigment contents (chlorophyll [CL] and carotenoids [CA]). No effect of treatments was observed on pH, CL, and CA (P>0.05). Interaction of sowing and topdressing fertilization was observed for the other variables (P<0.005). The FM was greater for PC and EK with sowing fertilization with Ekosil™. Without Ekosil™, PS, PN and EK resulted in heavier fruits. The SS was greater for PS when using Ekosil™ and for PS and PC without sowing fertilization with Ekosil™. The PC and PN resulted in greater TA, and the RA was greater for PS. Under the edaphoclimatic conditions of the Pontal do Triângulo Mineiro region, topdressing fertilization with potassium sulfate, without sowing fertilization with Ekosil™, resulted in heavier and sweeter cantaloupes.

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of crude glycerin on feed intake, performance, carcass characteristics, and total digestibility of Nellore bulls. In experiment 1, cattle (n = 30) were fed a control diet without crude glycerin and diets containing 7.5, 15, 22.5, and 30% crude glycerin, for 103 d. Animals were harvested and data of carcass characteristics were collected. In experiment 2, a digestibility trial was performed using indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF) as internal marker, and five rumen-cannulated steers. Both experiments were conducted as a randomized complete block design and data were analyzed using mixed procedures. In experiment 1 no differences were observed among treatments on dry matter intake, and performance variables. Regarding carcass characteristics, no effect was observed, except for carcass fat estimates, which were greater in treatments with crude glycerin. In experiment 2, crude glycerin promoted a decrease in digestibility of fibrous fractions NDF and HEM, and increased digestibility of crude protein by 6%. Although it caused negative effect on digestibility of fibrous fraction of diets, crude glycerin can be a good energy source for Nellore bulls, since no losses are observed on performance and carcass characteristics when animals are fed up to 30% of this by-product.

Objetivou-se avaliar a composição químico-bromatológica e a digestibilidade "in vitro" da matéria seca (DIVMS) de silagens de capim-elefante em diferentes tempos (70; 90 e 110 dias) de crescimento do capim, com inclusão (0, 5, 10 e 15%) do farelo da vagem de algaroba. Foi utilizado um delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC), arranjado em um esquema fatorial, com quatro repetições. Como silos experimentais foram utilizados tubos do tipo PVC com 100 mm de diâmetro. Passados 30 dias da ensilagem, os silos foram abertos e retiradas amostras para determinação da composição químico-bromatológica e DIVMS. A inclusão do farelo da vagem de algaroba (FVA) elevou os teores de MS e PB. Não foi observada interação (p > 0,01) concentração do FVA × idade de corte do capim-elefante nos teores de MS, PB e FDN das silagens. Foi observada diminuição (p < 0,01) nos teores de FDN, FDA e MM com a inclusão do FVA. Houve aumento linear (p < 0,01) na DIVMS com o aumento na concentração do FVA e diminuição (p < 0,01) na DIVMS com o aumento da idade de corte do capim-elefante. A inclusão do farelo da vagem de algaroba contribui para melhorar a composição química e a digestibilidade das silagens.

This study evaluated the chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of elephant grass silages at different growth stages (70, 90 and 110 days), with the addition (0, 5, 10 and 15%, on a fresh matter basis) of mesquite pod meal. A completely randomized design (CRD) was used in a factorial arrangement with four replications. PVC pipes 100 mm in diameter were used as experimental silos. After 30 days of ensilage, samples were taken from the open silos to determine chemical composition and IVDMD. The inclusion of mesquite pod meal (MPM) increased (p < 0.01) the concentrations of DM and CP. No interaction (p > 0.01) was detected between MPM concentrations and elephant grass cutting age for DM, CP and NDF contents in the silages. A decrease (p < 0.01) was observed in NDF, ADF and MM concentrations with the inclusion of MPM. There was a linear increase (p < 0.01) in IVDMD with increasing levels of MPM; and IVDMD decreased (p < 0.01) with increasing cutting age of the elephant grass. The inclusion of mesquite pod meal contributed to improve the chemical composition and digestibility of silages.

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da adição de três concentrações (3, 6, e 9%) das tortas de nabo forrageiro (Raphanus sativus) e de pinhão manso (Jatropha curcas) sobre os teores de matéria seca, proteína bruta, extrato etéreo, fibra em detergente neutro, fibra em detergente ácido, lignina, nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente ácido, nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente neutro, digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca, valores de pH e concentrações de N-NH3 em silagens de capim-elefante. Utilizou-se delineamento inteiramente casualizado em arranjo fatorial [(2×3)+1]. Foram utilizados silos experimentais de PVC e o material ensilado permaneceu por 62 dias. A adição das tortas proporcionou aumento nos teores de matéria seca (P<0,05). As frações fibrosas foram diminuídas (P<0,05) com a inclusão das tortas no momento da ensilagem do capim e os teores de PB aumentados (P<0,05). A torta de nabo forrageiro proporcionou a manutenção dos valores de pH e de N-NH3 em níveis ideais e a de pinhão manso, adicionada a 9%, elevou esses valores (P<0,05). A DIVMS foi diminuída (P<0,05) quando as tortas foram adicionadas. As tortas de nabo forrageiro e pinhão manso podem ser utilizadas em pequenas quantidades na ensilagem do capim-elefante por melhorarem as características químicas e fermentativas das silagens. Contudo, a torta de pinhão manso apresenta limitações para alimentação animal, pois apresenta compostos tóxicos, sendo necessários estudos para sua identificação e eliminação.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of three concentrations (3, 6, and 9%) of forage turnip (Raphanus sativus) and physic nut (Jatropha curcas) cakes on dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin, acid detergent insoluble nitrogen neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen contents, in vitro dry matter digestibility, pH values and concentrations of N-NH3 in elephant grass silages. It was used an entirely randomized design in factorial arrangement [(2×3)+1]. Experimental PVC silos were used and ensiled material was kept for 62 days. The addition of cakes increased the dry matter contents (P<0.05). The fibrous fractions were reduced (P<0.05) with the inclusion of cakes during the grass ensilage and the CP contents increased (P<0.05). The forage turnip cake provided the same pH and N-NH3 values in ideal levels and the physic nut, added to 9%, increased those values (P<0.05). IVDMD was reduced (P<0.05) when the cakes were added. These co-products can be used in small amounts for elephant grass ensilage in order to provide improvement in chemical and fermentation characteristics of the silages. Nevertheless, physic nut cake shows limitations for its use in animal feeding due to the presence of toxic compounds, making necessary studies for their identification and elimination.

Objetivou-se avaliar o consumo e a digestibilidade total e parcial de dietas utilizando milho, casca de soja e polpa cítrica associados ao farelo de girassol ou ureia em novilhos confinados. Foram utilizados quatro novilhos ½ Aberdeen Angus vs. ½ Nelore, providos de cânulas no rúmen e duodeno, com 18 meses de idade e 360 kg de peso médio inicial. As dietas foram constituídas por duas fontes energéticas (milho grão e polpa cítrica) associadas a duas fontes nitrogenadas (ureia e farelo de girassol), totalizando quatro tratamentos, numa proporção volumoso:concentrado de 40:60. O delineamento utilizado foi o quadrado latino com quatro tratamentos e quatro períodos de 21 dias cada. O consumo médio diário de matéria seca foi influenciado (p < 0,05) entre as dietas, e o maior valor foi atribuído à dieta milho e farelo de girassol. A digestibilidade aparente de todos os componentes, exceto da proteína bruta, foi maior (p < 0,05) para as dietas com polpa cítrica. Não houve efeito (p > 0,05) entre as dietas para as digestibilidades ruminal e intestinal. A utilização de coprodutos na alimentação animal não prejudicou a digestibilidade das dietas, sendo indicados como ingredientes de elevado potencial de utilização em dietas para bovinos de corte.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intake and total and partial digestibility of diets using corn, soybean hulls and citrus pulp associated with sunflower meal or urea in feedlot steers. Four steers ½ Aberdeen Angus vs. ½ Nellore, fitted with rumen and duodenum cannulas, with 18 months old and 360 kg of initial weight. The diets were composed of two energy sources (corn and citrus pulp) associated with two nitrogen sources (urea and sunflower meal), in a total of four treatments, with forage:concentrate ratio of 40:60. The statistical design was a Latin square with four treatments and four periods of 21 days each. The average daily dry matter intake was influenced (p < 0.05) by the diets, with the highest value was observed in corn and sunflower meal diet. The apparent digestibility of all components, except the crude protein, was higher (p < 0.05) for diets with citrus pulp. There was no effect (p > 0.05) among diets for ruminal and intestinal digestibility. The use of co-products in animal feed did not impair the digestibility of diets and are shown as high potential ingredients for use in beef cattle diets.

Esta pesquisa foi realizada visando-se avaliar a degradação ruminal da matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB) e fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) de silagens de capim-elefante colhido aos 70; 90 e 110 dias após rebrota, com inclusão de 0; 5; 10 e 15% de vagem de algaroba triturada, com base na matéria natural, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado arranjado em parcelas subdivididas. Amostras de cada silagem foram incubadas no rúmen de duas vacas Jersey por 3; 6; 12; 24; 48; 72 e 96 h, sendo os saquinhos referentes ao tempo zero apenas lavados em água para determinação da fração solúvel. Não houve interação (P > 0,05) tempo de incubação x inclusão de vagem de algaroba x idade de corte para degradabilidade da MS, embora tenha ocorrido interação destes fatores para degradabilidade da PB e FDN. A maior degradabilidade efetiva (DE) da MS (42,54%) foi observada para 15% de inclusão de vagem de algaroba. A DE da PB foi maior (69,04%) para silagem de capim-elefante com 70 dias de idade com 15% de vagem de algaroba. A inclusão de vagem de algaroba triturada à silagem de capim-elefante melhora a degradabilidade da MS, PB e FDN, enquanto o avanço da idade após rebrota resulta em redução destes parâmetros.

This research was carried out to evaluate the ruminal degradation of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of silages of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) cutting in 70; 90 and 110 days after regrowth with inclusion of 0; 5; 10 and 15% of mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) meal, based on natural matter in a completely randomized design, in split plot arrangement. Samples of silages were incubated in the rumen of two Jersey cows for 3; 6; 12; 24; 48; 72 and 96 h, and the bags at time "zero" were only washed with water to determine the soluble fraction. There was not interaction (P > 0.05) incubation time × inclusion of mesquite pods × cutting age of the grass for DM degradability, there was only interaction (P < 0.05) between these factors for CP and NDF degradability. The most effective DM degradability (42.54%) was observed for 15% inclusion of mesquite pods. The effective CP degradability was higher (69.04%) for elephant grass silage with 70 days after regrowth with 15% of mesquite pods. The inclusion of mesquite pods in elephant grass silages improve DM, CP and NDF degradability, while increment of the age after regrowth result in reduction of this parameters.