ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of sorghum silage, Buffel grass hay and forage palm fodder in the diet of dairy goats by means of performance tests and economic viability of different roughage sources. Eight Anglo-Nubian goats, multiparous, weighing around 40.13 ± 2.76 kg of live weight were used. The experiment lasted 84 days, consisting of four periods of 21 days, distributed in two Latin squares (4x4). The treatments represented by diets with different volumetric sources: SSCF: (sorghum silage+ forage palm+ concentrate); BHCF: (Buffel grass hay + cactus forage+ concentrate); SS: (sorghum silage+ concentrate) and BH: (Buffel grass hay + concentrate). Nutritional intake, digestibility, feed behavior, milk production and chemical composition and economic analysis were evaluated. Animals fed the BHCF diet had higher nutrient intakes and consequently were more productive in fat, protein, lactose, fat free solids and total solids. The BHCF diet led to a higher gross income in Brazilian currency. The safety margin of the SSCF diet presented the highest percentage, with 43.06%, and the BHCF diet, the lowest percentage, of 14.89. The association of forage palm with sorghum silage and Buffel grass hay can be used as a bulky source in lactating goat diets.

RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar agronomicamente 14 genótipos de sorgo no semiárido brasileiro. Utilizou-se delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados com os tratamentos representados pelos genótipos de sorgo e três repetições. Foram avaliadas matéria seca (MS), altura da planta (AP), número de folhas vivas, produção de matéria verde (PMV), produção de matéria seca (PMS), lamina foliar (LF), colmo, panícula (PAN), material morto (MM), acúmulo de água (ACA), eficiência do uso da chuva (EUC) e capacidade de suporte (CS). Houve efeito entre todas as variáveis. O genótipo com maior percentual de MS foi BRS 655 (26,42%). Houve efeito para PMV, os genótipos com maior produção foram BRS 655, BRS 506, B1141340, 13F04(1141572) e PONTA NEGRA, com valores de 48.517, 48.500, 44.879, 44.788, 43.549 kg/ha. Os genótipos que apresentaram maior PMS foram BRS 655, B1141340, 13F04(1141572), BRS 506 e PONTA NEGRA, com valores de 12.426, 10.344, 9.778, 9.756 e 9.176 kg/ha, respectivamente e também apresentaram maiores valores para EUC, ACA e CS. Houve correlação positiva significativa entre variáveis produtivas (PMV com PMS, AP, EUC e ACA) e correlação negativa não significativa (PMV com LF e PAN) com variáveis morfométricas. Houve formação hierárquica de quatro grupos, sendo os grupos I e III compostos pelos genótipos mais produtivos. O genótipo BRS 655 pode ser recomendado para o cultivo, pois possui características agronômicas desejáveis.

SUMMARY This study agronomically evaluated 14 sorghum genotypes in the Brazilian semi-arid region. A randomized complete block design, with the treatments represented by sorghum genotypes and three replicates, was used. The dry matter (DM), plant height (PH), number of live leaves, fresh matter production (FMP), dry matter production (DMP), leaf blade (LB), stem, panicle (PAN), dead material, water accumulation (WA), efficiency of rainwater use (ERU) and carrying capacity (SC) were measured. There was an effect of genotype among all the variables. The genotype with the highest percentage of DM was BRS 655 (26.42%). The genotypes BRS 655, BRS 506, B1141340, 13F04 (1141572) and PONTA NEGRA produced the most FMP, with values of 48,517, 48,500, 44,879, 44,788 and 43,549 kg/ha, respectively. Not only did the genotypes BRS 655, B1141340, 13F04 (1141572), BRS 506 and PONTA NEGRA present the highest DMP, with values of 12,426, 10,344, 9,778, 9,756 and 9,176 kg/ha, respectively, but also the highest values for ERU, WA and SC. There was a significant positive correlation between productive variables (FMP with DMP, PH, ERU and WA) and a nonsignificant negative correlation between morphometric variables (FMP with LB and PAN). A hierarchical formation of four groups was observed, with groups I and III composed of the most productive genotypes. BRS 655 can be recommended for cultivation since this genotype has desirable agronomic characteristics.

Abstract The salinity of irrigation water can affect the growth and development of most plants of commercial interest. Aiming to study these aspects in passion fruit culture, an experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of bovine biofertilizer and potassium fertilization on gas exchange and production of the passion fruit ‘BRS Giant Yellow’ irrigated with non-saline and saline water. The treatments were arranged in randomized blocks with sub-subdivided plots using the 2×(3×5) scheme, which refers to two levels of electrical conductivity of the irrigation water as the main plot (0.35 and 4.00 dS m−1) and the combination of three potassic fertilization practices (without fertilization, fertilized with conventional and slow release KCl) with five doses of bovine biofertilizer (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of dose of 15 L m−2) in the subplots, with three replicates and 12 plants per plot. The physiological variables and the productivity were evaluated in two harvests, and the data were submitted to statistical evaluation of samples repeated in time. The application of bovine biofertilizer and potassium in soil with a sandy texture irrigated with saline water did not inhibit the degenerative effect of the salts on the photosynthetic rates of the plants. The salinity of the irrigation water reduced stomatal conductance, transpiration and net photosynthesis of the plants, but in the second crop, the instantaneous water use efficiency was higher. Although the productivity decreased from the first to the second harvest, the biofertilizer associated with potassic fertilization increased the yield of the crop, which surpassed the average of Brazil, the Brazilian Northeast and the State of Paraiba, Brazil.

Resumen La salinidad del agua de riego puede afectar el crecimiento y desarrollo de la mayoría de las plantas de interés comercial. Con el objetivo de estudiar estos aspectos en el cultivo de la maracuyá, se realizó un experimento para evaluar los efectos del biofertilizante bovino y la fertilization potásica sobre el intercambio gaseoso y la producción de frutos de maracuyá, BRS Giant Yellow irrigado con agua salina y no salina. Los tratamientos se realizaron en bloques al azar con parcelas sub-subdivididas, utilizando el esquema fatorial 2×(3×5), haciendo referencia a dos niveles de conductividad eléctrica del agua de riego como parcela principal (0,35 y 4,00 dS m−1), y en las subparcelas la combination de tres prácticas de fertilization potásica (sin fertilizatión, fertilizada con KCl convencional y de liberación lenta) con cinco dosis de biofertilizante bovino (0, 25, 50, 75 y 100% de dosis de 15 L m−2), con tres repeticiones y 12 plantas por parcela. Se evaluaron la conductividad estomática, transpiratión, fotosíntesis líquida, concentración interna de carbono, eficiencia en el uso del agua, eficiencia instantánea de la carboxilación y productividad de plantas de maracuyá en dos cosechas, por lo que los datos fueron sometidos a la evaluation estadística de muestras repetidas en el tiempo. La aplicación de biofertilizante bovino y potasio en suelo de textura arenosa irrigada con agua salina no inhibió la acción degenerativa de las sales a las tasas fotosintéticas de las plantas. La salinidad del agua de riego redujo la conductividad estomática, la transpiratión y la fotosíntesis líquida de las plantas, pero en la segunda cosecha, la eficiencia en el uso instantáneo del agua fue superior. A pesar de la productividad decreciente de la primera para la segunda cosecha, el biofertilizante bovino asociado a la fertilización potásica elevo el rendimiento de la cultura, que superó la media de Brasil, del Nordeste brasileño y del Estado de Paraíba, Brasil.

RESUMOA reposta das plantas ao estresse salino é um fenômeno extremamente complexo, que envolve alterações morfológicas, fisiológicas e bioquímicas alterando, dentre outros, os teores foliares de clorofila e carotenoides, comprometendo o crescimento, o desenvolvimento e a produção das plantas. O experimento foi desenvolvido em ambiente protegido do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Areia, PB, no período de julho de 2011 a junho de 2012. Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar os teores de clorofila a, clorofila b, clorofila total, relação clorofila a/b e produção de biomassa da parte aérea e radicular em plantas de noni submetidas à irrigação e lavagem do solo com águas de salinidade crescente. Os tratamentos foram distribuídos em blocos ao acaso num fatorial 5 × 2 com quatro repetições e duas plantas por parcela, correspondentes aos níveis de condutividade elétrica de 0,5; 1,5; 3,0; 4,5 e 6,0 dS m-1 da água de irrigação, em vasos sem e com dreno na parte final inferior para a lixiviação dos sais do solo. O aumento da salinidade da água de irrigação compromete os teores foliares de clorofila a, b, total, carotenoides e a produção de biomassa de plantas de noni mas em menor intensidade nas plantas de todos os tratamentos com a lixiviação dos sais com as próprias águas utilizadas na irrigação.

ABSTRACTThe response of plants to salt stress is an extremely complex phenomenon that involves morphological, physiological and biochemical changes, modifying the leaf contents of chlorophyll and carotenoids, among others and affecting plant growth, development and production. An experiment was carried out from July 2010 to June 2011, in order to evaluate the contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, the chlorophyll a/b ratio and biomass accumulation of shoots and roots of noni plants, when subjected to irrigation and leaching with water of increasing salinity. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, at the Center of Agricultural Sciences of the Federal University of Paraíba, in the municipality of Areia-PB, Brazil. Treatments were distributed in randomized blocks, in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme with four replicates and two plants per plot, and corresponded to levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water (0.5; 1.5; 3.0; 4.5 and 6.0 dS m-1) in pots with and without leaching. The increase in irrigation water salinity impairs the leaf contents of chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids and biomass production of noni plants, but to a lesser extent in all the treatments in which same irrigation water was used for leaching.