The objective of the present study was to evaluate the feeding behavior of feedlot Nellore bulls fed two levels of concentrate (650 and 710 g/kg dry matter) with or without the inclusion of 350 g babassu mesocarp meal/kg dry matter in the concentrate. Twenty-eight animals at 18 months of initial age and 356.66±19.25 kg initial body weight were used. A completely randomized design was used with treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Increase in concentrate level from 650 to 710 g/kg dry matter did not change the feeding time, of 194.41 and 189.64 minutes/day, respectively. The inclusion of 350 g babassu mesocarp meal/kg dry matter in the concentrate increased the feeding time from 173.92 to 210.12 minutes/day, ensuring similar energy intake in relation to the diets without this byproduct. Rumination time was not changed by increasing the concentrate level in diets with 350 g babassu mesocarp meal/kg dry matter in the concentrate, with average values of 420.48 and 398.09 minutes/day for the levels of 650 and 710 g concentrate/kg dry matter, respectively. However, in diets without babassu mesocarp meal, the rumination time was reduced by the concentrate level, with average values of 452.14 and 409.76 minutes/day for 650 and 710 g of concentrate/kg dry matter, respectively. Time spent on other activities increased from 810.23 to 860.00 minutes/day with increase in the concentrate level, which was not changed in the diets containing babassu mesocarp meal. The inclusion of babassu mesocarp meal in the diet altered the feeding behavior of feedlot cattle, due to the need to increase the feeding time to maintain the energy intake.

O feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) é um dos principais constituintes da dieta do brasileiro, por ser excelente fonte protéica e, portanto, um produto agrícola de grande importância econômico-social. A interação do feijoeiro com bactérias fixadoras de N atmosférico pode aumentar a produtividade e diminuir os custos de produção. No presente trabalho, avaliou-se, no campo, a eficiência agronômica de estirpes previamente selecionadas de rizóbio em simbiose com o feijoeiro, comparadas à estirpe recomendada para a produção de inoculantes comerciais (CIAT 899). A diversidade fenotípica da população nativa foi avaliada pela análise das características culturais e pela análise de proteína total por eletroforese em gel poliacrilamida (SDS-PAGE). Verificou-se que a inoculação no campo com as estirpes UFLA 02-100, UFLA 02-86 e UFLA 02-127 promoveu rendimento de grãos semelhante ao da testemunha, com 70 kg ha-1 de N, e à inoculação com a estirpe de referência CIAT 899. Não houve relação entre os grupos fenotípicos de perfil protéico total e caracterização cultural constituídos pelas estirpes nativas do solo. As populações nativas que nodularam feijão mostraram-se bastante diversas fenotipicamente e não incluíram estirpes similares às estirpes introduzidas como inoculantes.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an economically and socially highly relevant staple food and an excellent protein source for the Brazilian population. Symbiosis of beans and N2 fixing bacteria can increase yields and decrease yield costs. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of previously selected rhizobia strains compared to the recommended strain (CIAT 899). Phenotypic diversity of rhizobia native populations was evaluated by cultural characteristics and analysis of total protein profiles by polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Field inoculations with strains UFLA 02-100, UFLA 02-86 and UFLA 02-127 increased grain yields similarly to the control with 70 kg ha-1 N-urea and strain CIAT 899, compared to the control without inoculation and mineral N. No relation was observed between the phenotypic grouping according to cultural characteristics or protein profiles. Native bean-nodulating populations are quite diverse and do not include strains similar to the strains introduced as inoculants.

O caupi (Vigna unguiculata L.) é de grande importância nutricional, social, econômica e estratégica, principalmente para as regiões Norte e Nordeste, e vem ultrapassando as barreiras regionais, com amplas perspectivas no agronegócio brasileiro. A interação do caupi com bactérias fixadoras de N atmosférico pode aumentar a produtividade e diminuir os custos de produção. No presente trabalho, avaliou-se no campo a eficiência agronômica de estirpes previamente selecionadas de rizóbio em simbiose com o caupi, comparadas à estirpe recomendada até 2004, para a produção de inoculantes comerciais (BR 2001). Posteriormente, a diversidade fenotípica das populações nativas foi avaliada pela análise das características culturais e pela análise de proteína total por eletroforese em gel poliacrilamida (SDS-PAGE). Verificou-se que a inoculação no campo com as estirpes UFLA 03-84 e INPA 03-11B contribuiu, de forma significativa, para o aumento no rendimento de grãos, sendo semelhante ao da testemunha, com 70 kg ha-1 de N, e superior ao da estirpe BR 2001. A população nativa apresentou alta diversidade fenotípica cultural e de padrões protéicos. As estirpes inoculadas foram bastante distintas fenotipicamente de estirpes que compõem a população nativa.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) is one of the main food crops in the north and northeast of Brazil nowadays, being planted on large areas in other Brazilian regions as well, with bright prospects in the Brazilian agribusiness. Symbiosis of cowpea and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB) can raise yields and decrease yield costs. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of previously selected rhizobia strains compared to the strain recommended until 2004 (BR 2001). The phenotypic diversity of native rhizobia populations was evaluated by cultural characteristics and analysis of total protein profiles by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In field inoculations with strains UFLA 03-84 and INPA 03-11B grain yields increased similarly as in the control treatment with 70 kg ha-1 N-urea and outmatched the treatment with BR 2001 inoculation. Native cowpea-nodulating populations have a high phenotypic diversity and do not resemble the strains introduced as inoculants.