Effect of Amazonian tree species on soil and pasture quality in silvopastoral systems / Efeitos de espécies arbóreas amazônicas sobre o solo e qualidade daforragem em sistemas silvipastoris

With the expansion of livestock in the Amazon region, a high percentage of pasture areas are degraded and unproductive. Novel strategies are needed, including the use of native tree species, to simultaneously achieve economic and ecosystem benefits. This study aimed at assessing the effects of five multipurpose native tree species on soil fertility and forage quality of Urochloa brizantha pastures in the southern Amazon. Soil and forage samples were collected under the crown and adjacent to 25 isolated trees belonging to five species during a dry and a rainy season. The presence of native trees positively affected the level of potassium, calcium and manganese in the soil, as well as the mineral matter and crude protein of the forage, especially in the dry season, suggesting a protective effect against the seasonal drought. The tree species had variable effects on soil fertility and forage quality. Soil under Apeiba tibourbou had higher potassium levels, while the forage under Handroanthus serratifolius had higher protein and fiber content. Our results indicate that it is important to diversify silvopastoral systems in the Amazon through the use of native tree species, contributing to the design of novel silvopastoral strategies in the region. Common multipurpose tree species with widespread natural distribution could be used as a complementary aspect of pasture management to provide a protective effect against drought, contribute to enhanced nutrient cycling and even increase forage quality.

Com a expansão da pecuária na região amazônica, um alto percentual de pastagem está degradada e improdutiva. São necessárias novas estratégias, incluindo o uso de espécies de árvores nativas, para obter simultaneamente benefícios econômicos e ecossistêmicos. Este estudo objetivou avaliar os efeitos de cinco espécies arbóreas nativas multifuncionais na fertilidade do solo e qualidade da forragem em pastagens de Urochloa brizantha na Amazônia Meridional. Para isso, amostras de solo e forragem foram coletadas sob a copa e áreas adjacentes de 25 árvores isoladas pertencentes a cinco espécies durante uma estação seca e uma chuvosa. A presença de árvores nativas afetou positivamente o nível de potássio, calcio e magnésio no solo, bem como aumentou a matéria mineral e proteína bruta da forragem, especialmente na estação seca, sugerindo um efeito protetivo contra a seca sazonal. As espécies arbóreas tiveram efeitos variáveis sobre a fertilidade do solo e qualidade da forragem. O solo sob Apeiba tibourbou apresentou aumento nos teores de potássio, enquanto a forragem sob Handroanthus serratifolius apresentou melhor qualidade no que se refere a proteínas e fibras. Nosso estudo indica a importância da diversificação dos sistemas silvipastoris na Amazônia por meio do uso de espécies arbóreas nativas, contribuindo para o desenho de estratégias silvipastoris inovadoras na região. Espécies arbóreas multifuncionais comuns de ampla distribuição natural podem ser utilizadas como um aspecto complementar do manejo de pastagens para fornecer um efeito protetivo contra a seca, aprimorar a ciclagem de nutrientes e aumentar a qualidade da forragem.

Effect of Amazonian tree species on soil and pasture quality in silvopastoral systems / Efeitos de espécies arbóreas amazônicas sobre o solo e qualidade daforragem em sistemas silvipastoris

With the expansion of livestock in the Amazon region, a high percentage of pasture areas are degraded and unproductive. Novel strategies are needed, including the use of native tree species, to simultaneously achieve economic and ecosystem benefits. This study aimed at assessing the effects of five multipurpose native tree species on soil fertility and forage quality of Urochloa brizantha pastures in the southern Amazon. Soil and forage samples were collected under the crown and adjacent to 25 isolated trees belonging to five species during a dry and a rainy season. The presence of native trees positively affected the level of potassium, calcium and manganese in the soil, as well as the mineral matter and crude protein of the forage, especially in the dry season, suggesting a protective effect against the seasonal drought. The tree species had variable effects on soil fertility and forage quality. Soil under Apeiba tibourbou had higher potassium levels, while the forage under Handroanthus serratifolius had higher protein and fiber content. Our results indicate that it is important to diversify silvopastoral systems in the Amazon through the use of native tree species, contributing to the design of novel silvopastoral strategies in the region. Common multipurpose tree species with widespread natural distribution could be used as a complementary aspect of pasture management to provide a protective effect against drought, contribute to enhanced nutrient cycling and even increase forage quality.(AU)

Com a expansão da pecuária na região amazônica, um alto percentual de pastagem está degradada e improdutiva. São necessárias novas estratégias, incluindo o uso de espécies de árvores nativas, para obter simultaneamente benefícios econômicos e ecossistêmicos. Este estudo objetivou avaliar os efeitos de cinco espécies arbóreas nativas multifuncionais na fertilidade do solo e qualidade da forragem em pastagens de Urochloa brizantha na Amazônia Meridional. Para isso, amostras de solo e forragem foram coletadas sob a copa e áreas adjacentes de 25 árvores isoladas pertencentes a cinco espécies durante uma estação seca e uma chuvosa. A presença de árvores nativas afetou positivamente o nível de potássio, calcio e magnésio no solo, bem como aumentou a matéria mineral e proteína bruta da forragem, especialmente na estação seca, sugerindo um efeito protetivo contra a seca sazonal. As espécies arbóreas tiveram efeitos variáveis sobre a fertilidade do solo e qualidade da forragem. O solo sob Apeiba tibourbou apresentou aumento nos teores de potássio, enquanto a forragem sob Handroanthus serratifolius apresentou melhor qualidade no que se refere a proteínas e fibras. Nosso estudo indica a importância da diversificação dos sistemas silvipastoris na Amazônia por meio do uso de espécies arbóreas nativas, contribuindo para o desenho de estratégias silvipastoris inovadoras na região. Espécies arbóreas multifuncionais comuns de ampla distribuição natural podem ser utilizadas como um aspecto complementar do manejo de pastagens para fornecer um efeito protetivo contra a seca, aprimorar a ciclagem de nutrientes e aumentar a qualidade da forragem.(AU)

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of dry standardizedextract of Apeiba tibourbou Aubl, in mice

Due to its chemical composition and use in folk medicine, the dry standardized extract of Apeiba tibourbou Aubl. (Tiliaceae) leaves (DSEAT) was tested to assess its hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The animals were treated with DSEAT previously for 7 days, at doses of 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg and 18 mg/kg of rosmarinic acid; the liver damage was induced by administering CCl4 intraperitoneally (i.p.) at days 3 and 7, and 1 h before treating with DSEAT. The hepatoprotective activity was assessed using various biochemical assays such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gammaglutamyltransferase (GGT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and histopatological studies. DSEAT doses of 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg were not capable of protecting the liver against CCl4. However, the dose of 50 mg/kg reduced AST by 31.50% the dose of 25 mg/kg reduced GGT by 57.18% compared to the CCl4 (p < 0.05). In the liver, DSEAT dose of 50 mg/kg and rosmarinic acid reduced MDA by 27.45% and 63.61%, respectively, whereas in plasma, MDA was reduced in all the groups treated with DSEAT and rosmarinic acid. In conclusion, DSEAT exhibits hepatoprotective effect only at low doses and antioxidant activity in vivo after peroral administration. The experimental protocol was approved by the Animal Research Ethics Committee of UFG (CEUA, no. 177/2011).

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of dry standardizedextract of Apeiba tibourbou Aubl, in mice

Due to its chemical composition and use in folk medicine, the dry standardized extract of Apeiba tibourbou Aubl. (Tiliaceae) leaves (DSEAT) was tested to assess its hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The animals were treated with DSEAT previously for 7 days, at doses of 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg and 18 mg/kg of rosmarinic acid; the liver damage was induced by administering CCl4 intraperitoneally (i.p.) at days 3 and 7, and 1 h before treating with DSEAT. The hepatoprotective activity was assessed using various biochemical assays such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gammaglutamyltransferase (GGT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and histopatological studies. DSEAT doses of 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg were not capable of protecting the liver against CCl4. However, the dose of 50 mg/kg reduced AST by 31.50% the dose of 25 mg/kg reduced GGT by 57.18% compared to the CCl4 (p < 0.05). In the liver, DSEAT dose of 50 mg/kg and rosmarinic acid reduced MDA by 27.45% and 63.61%, respectively, whereas in plasma, MDA was reduced in all the groups treated with DSEAT and rosmarinic acid. In conclusion, DSEAT exhibits hepatoprotective effect only at low doses and antioxidant activity in vivo after peroral administration. The experimental protocol was approved by the Animal Research Ethics Committee of UFG (CEUA, no. 177/2011).(AU)