Effects of Grass-Based Crop Rotation, Nematicide, and Irrigation on the Nematode Community in Cotton.

Plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes - bacterivores, fungivores, omnivores, predators - comprise the nematode community. Nematicide application and crop rotation are important tools to manage plant-parasitic nematodes, but effects on free-living nematodes and nematode ecological indices need further study. The nematicide fluopyram was recently introduced in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) production and its effects on the nematode community need assessment. This research was conducted in 2017 and 2018 at a long-term field site in Quincy, FL where perennial grass/sod-based (bahiagrass, Paspalum notatum) and conventional cotton rotations were established in 2000. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of fluopyram nematicide, crop rotation phase, and irrigation on free-living nematodes and nematode ecological indices based on three soil sampling dates each season. We did not observe consistent effects of crop rotation phase on free-living nematodes or nematode ecological indices. Only omnivores were consistently negatively impacted by fluopyram. Nematode ecological indices reflected this negative effect by exhibiting a degraded/ stressed environmental condition relative to untreated plots. Free-living nematodes were not negatively impacted by nematicide when sod-based rotation was used.

Nitrogen-mediated effects of elevated CO2 on intra-aggregate soil pore structure.

Soil pore structure has a strong influence on water retention, and is itself influenced by plant and microbial dynamics such as root proliferation and microbial exudation. Although increased nitrogen (N) availability and elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (eCO2 ) often have interacting effects on root and microbial dynamics, it is unclear whether these biotic effects can translate into altered soil pore structure and water retention. This study was based on a long-term experiment (7 yr at the time of sampling) in which a C4 pasture grass (Paspalum notatum) was grown on a sandy loam soil while provided factorial additions of N and CO2 . Through an analysis of soil aggregate fractal properties supported by 3D microtomographic imagery, we found that N fertilization induced an increase in intra-aggregate porosity and a simultaneous shift toward greater accumulation of pore space in larger aggregates. These effects were enhanced by eCO2 and yielded an increase in water retention at pressure potentials near the wilting point of plants. However, eCO2 alone induced changes in the opposite direction, with larger aggregates containing less pore space than under control conditions, and water retention decreasing accordingly. Results on biotic factors further suggested that organic matter gains or losses induced the observed structural changes. Based on our results, we postulate that the pore structure of many mineral soils could undergo N-dependent changes as atmospheric CO2 concentrations rise, having global-scale implications for water balance, carbon storage, and related rhizosphere functions.

Soil Bacterial Diversity Responds to Long-Term Establishment of Perennial Legumes in Warm-Season Grassland at Two Soil Depths.

The introduction of rhizoma peanut (RP Arachis glabrata Benth) into bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) may require time to develop stable plant-soil microbe interactions as the microbial legacy of the previous plant community may be long-lasting. A previous study showed that <2 years of introducing rhizoma peanut into bahiagrass pastures minimally affected soil bacterial diversity and community composition. In this study, we compared the effects of the long-term inclusion of rhizoma peanut (>8 years) into bahiagrass on soil bacterial diversity and community composition against their monocultures at 0 to 15 and 15 to 30 cm soil depths using next-generation sequencing to target bacterial 16S V3-V4 regions. We observed that a well-established RP-bahiagrass mixed stand led to a 36% increase in bacterial alpha diversity compared to the bahiagrass monoculture. There was a shift from a soil bacterial community dominated by Proteobacteria (~26%) reported in other bahiagrass and rhizoma peanut studies to a soil bacterial community dominated by Firmicutes (39%) in our study. The relative abundance of the bacterial genus Crossiella, known for its antimicrobial traits, was enhanced in the presence of RP. Differences in soil bacterial diversity and community composition were substantial between 0 to 15 and 15 to 30 cm soil layers, with N2-fixing bacteria belonging to the phylum Proteobacteria concentrated in 0 to 15 cm. Introducing RP into bahiagrass pastures is a highly sustainable alternative to mineral N fertilizer inputs. Our results provide evidence that this system also promotes greater soil microbial diversity and is associated with unique taxa that require further study to better understand their contributions to healthy pastures.

Multi-allelic gene editing in an apomictic, tetraploid turf and forage grass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) using CRISPR/Cas9.

Polyploidy is common among grasses (Poaceae) and poses challenges for conventional breeding. Genome editing technology circumvents crossing and selfing, enabling targeted modifications to multiple gene copies in a single generation while maintaining the heterozygous context of many polyploid genomes. Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé; 2n=4x=40) is an apomictic, tetraploid C4 species that is widely grown in the southeastern United States as forage in beef cattle production and utility turf. The chlorophyll biosynthesis gene magnesium chelatase (MgCh) was selected as a rapid readout target for establishing genome editing in tetraploid bahiagrass. Vectors containing sgRNAs, Cas9 and nptII were delivered to callus cultures by biolistics. Edited plants were characterized through PCR-based assays and DNA sequencing, and mutagenesis frequencies as high as 99% of Illumina reads were observed. Sequencing of wild type (WT) bahiagrass revealed a high level of sequence variation in MgCh likely due to the presence of at least two copies with possibly eight different alleles, including pseudogenes. MgCh mutants exhibited visible chlorophyll depletion with up to 82% reductions in leaf greenness. Two lines displayed progression of editing over time which was linked to somatic editing. Apomictic progeny of a chimeric MgCh editing event were obtained and allowed identification of uniformly edited progeny plants among a range of chlorophyll depletion phenotypes. Sanger sequencing of a highly edited mutant revealed elevated frequency of a WT allele, probably due to frequent homology-directed repair (HDR). To our knowledge these experiments comprise the first report of genome editing applied in perennial, warm-season turf or forage grasses. This technology will accelerate bahiagrass cultivar development.

Lanthanum Promotes Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) Roots Growth by Improving Root Activity, Photosynthesis and Respiration.

Lanthanum (La), one of the most active rare earth elements, promotes the growth of turfgrass roots. In this study, the mechanisms by which La influences bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) growth were evaluated by the analyses of root growth, root activity, cell wall polysaccharide content, respiration intensity, ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, the subcellular distribution of mitochondria, transcription in roots, photosynthetic properties, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and chlorophyll content. The application of 0.3 mM La3+ increased root activity, respiration intensity, AAO activity, and the number of mitochondria in the mature cells of bahiagrass roots. La could significantly improve the net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and chlorophyll fluorescence of bahiagrass. Differentially expressed genes identified by high-throughput transcriptome sequencing were enriched for GO (Gene Ontology) terms related to energy metabolism and were involved in various KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways, including oxidative phosphorylation, TCA (Tricarboxylic Acid) cycle, and sucrose metabolism. These findings indicate that La promotes bahiagrass root growth by improving root activity, photosynthesis, and respiration, which clarifies the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of La and provides a theoretical basis for its use in artificial grassland construction and ecological management projects.

Performance of growing beef cattle consuming bahiagrass hay treated with calcium oxide and molasses.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of Pensacola bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) hay treated with calcium oxide (CaO) and molasses on performance of growing beef cattle supplemented or not with cottonseed meal. In Exp. 1, growing Bos indicus influenced heifers (n = 59; 250 ± 29 kg body weight [BW]) and steers (n = 37; 256 ± 45 kg BW) were used. In Exp. 2, heifers (n = 56; 249 ± 26 kg BW) and steers (n = 8; 249 ± 20 kg BW) from Exp. 1 were used. Both experiments were randomized complete block designs and consisted of 56-d periods in which cattle were weighed every 14 d. On day 0, cattle were weighed after a 16-h water and feed withdrawal, stratified by sex, breed, and BW, and blocked by initial BW. Cattle were allotted to 24 and 16 dormant bahiagrass pastures (1.34 ha each) in Exp. 1 and Exp. 2, respectively. Pastures were located in two different areas within 0.52 km of each other and were stratified by location and randomly assigned (n = 8 pastures/treatment) to treatment. In Exp. 1 treatments were: 1) untreated dry hay (DH); 2) hay treated with 10% molasses (dry matter [DM] basis) + water (to 65% DM; MOL); or 3) hay treated with 5% CaO (DM basis) + 10% molasses (DM basis) + water (to 65% DM; CAO). In Exp. 2 only treatments MOL and CAO were applied, and cottonseed meal was provided at 0.3% of cattle BW/d (as fed basis). In both experiments, data were analyzed using pasture as the experimental unit. The model included the fixed effects of treatment, sex, and their interaction (Exp. 1). Location and block were included as random effects. In both experiments, initial and final BW were not affected by treatment (P ≥ 0.362 and P ≥ 0.283, respectively) or sex (P ≥ 0.512 and P ≥ 0.495, respectively) and no treatment × sex interaction was observed in Exp. 1 (P > 0.05). Additionally, no effects of treatment (P ≥ 0.515), sex (P ≥ 0.285), or treatment × sex interaction (Exp. 1; P = 0.582) were observed on average daily gain (average of -0.03 kg in Exp. 1 and 0.537 kg in Exp. 2). Bahiagrass hay treated with molasses alone or in combination with CaO failed to improve performance of growing beef cattle. However, when protein supplementation via cottonseed meal was provided, cattle did not experience weight loss.

Soil bacterial and fungal communities of six bahiagrass cultivars.

BACKGROUND: Cultivars of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) are widely used for pasture in the Southeastern USA. Soil microbial communities are unexplored in bahiagrass and they may be cultivar-dependent, as previously proven for other grass species. Understanding the influence of cultivar selection on soil microbial communities is crucial as microbiome taxa have repeatedly been shown to be directly linked to plant performance. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine whether different bahiagrass cultivars interactively influence soil bacterial and fungal communities. METHODS: Six bahiagrass cultivars ('Argentine', 'Pensacola', 'Sand Mountain', 'Tifton 9', 'TifQuik', and 'UF-Riata') were grown in a randomized complete block design with four replicate plots of 4.6 × 1.8 m per cultivar in a Rhodic Kandiudults soil in Northwest Florida, USA. Three soil subsamples per replicate plot were randomly collected. Soil DNA was extracted and bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA and fungal ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 genes were amplified and sequenced with one Illumina Miseq Nano. RESULTS: The soil bacterial and fungal community across bahiagrass cultivars showed similarities with communities recovered from other grassland ecosystems. Few differences in community composition and diversity of soil bacteria among cultivars were detected; none were detected for soil fungi. The relative abundance of sequences assigned to nitrite-oxidizing Nitrospira was greater under 'Sand Mountain' than 'UF-Riata'. Indicator species analysis revealed that several bacterial and fungal indicators associated with either a single cultivar or a combination of cultivars are likely to be plant pathogens or antagonists. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a low impact of plant cultivar choice on the soil bacterial community composition, whereas the soil fungal community was unaffected. Shifts in the relative abundance of Nitrospira members in response to cultivar choice may have implications for soil N dynamics. The cultivars associated with presumptive plant pathogens or antagonists indicates that the ability of bahiagrass to control plant pathogens may be cultivar-dependent, however, physiological studies on plant-microbe interactions are required to confirm this presumption. We therefore suggest that future studies should explore the potential of different bahiagrass cultivars on plant pathogen control, particularly in sod-based crop rotation.

Preference of cattle grazing conterminous monocultures of centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) and bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) with contrasting regrowth durations.

This study conducted four experiments to assess preference of cattle between centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides; CG) and bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum; BG) under manipulated vegetation conditions. In each experiment, three Japanese Black cows (Bos taurus) were individually allowed to graze four plots of conterminous monocultures of CG and BG (30 min for each 10 × 10 m plot). Vegetation of the plots was the combinations of two patch sizes (coarse and fine; 5 × 10 m and 5 × 5 m, respectively) × two relative availabilities of the grasses (CGtall /BGshort and CGshort /BGtall ). Tall and short patches were created by varying regrowth durations after cutting, and almost always offered a clear CG-BG contrast in availability (height and mass) and quality (digestibility and protein) with the trade-off relationship. Cows always preferred or equally selected CG to BG, with the preference being affected by the relative availability of grasses in three of the four experiments but not by the patch size at all. Test of intake rate maximization on both short-term and daily bases indicated that cows chose between the grasses to simultaneously enhance daily potential intake of dry matter, digestible energy and protein. The results strengthen the value of CG as a forage.

Sward characteristics, nutritive value and choice by cattle of conterminous monocultures of centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) and bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum).

In south-western Japan, centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides; CG) offers a novel option for a warm-season perennial for grazing use in areas where bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum; BG) can be grown. However, the potential of CG as a forage has not been fully explored because of the short history as a forage crop. We conducted four experiments to evaluate CG (cv. TifBlair) in comparison with BG (cv. Pensacola) in terms of sward characteristics, nutritive value and choice by animals. In each experiment, four Japanese Black cows (Bos taurus) were individually allowed to graze conterminous monocultures of CG and BG (5 × 10 m each) for 30 min. Irrespective of regrowth durations and fertilizer rates, CG was consistently shorter, leafier and denser, contained lower acid detergent fiber and cellulose, and was preferred or equally selected by cows, as compared with BG. Furthermore, CG maintained sufficient levels of crude protein (80-89 g/kg DM) to ensure voluntary intake of ruminant animals under extended regrowth(‡) and without fertilizer, whereas BG failed to do so (65 g/kg DM). CG provided higher digestible dry matter than BG when crude protein concentration exceeded 86 g/kg DM. The results indicate advantages of CG as a forage.

Effects of Bahiagrass and Nematicides on Meloidogyne arenaria on Peanut.

A field infested with Meloidogyne arenaria and with a history of peanut yield losses was divided into two equal parts. One-half of the field (bahia site) was planted to bahiagrass in 1986 and maintained through 1987. The other half (peanut site) was planted to soybean in 1986 and peanut in 1987 with hairy vetch planted each fall as a cover crop. In 1988 identical nematicide treatments including 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), aldicarb, and ethoprop were applied to the two sites, and the sites were planted with the peanut cultivar Florunner. At mid-season, population levels of M. arenaria second-stage juveniles in the bahia site were relatively low, compared with those in the peanut site. At harvest, however, population levels were high in both sites. No nematicide treatment increased yields over the untreated control in either site (P

Population Dynamics of Plant Nematodes in Cultivated Soil: Effect of Sod-based Rotations in Tifton Sandy Loam.

In an 8-year sod-based rotation study, nematode population densities varied with different row-crop sequences and grass sods. In continuous row-crop rotations (cotton-corn-peanut), cotton and corn favored rapid increase of Belonolaimus longicaudatus and Trichodorus christiei. Numbers of Pratylenchus brachyurus were quite variable on all crops. Peanuts favored an increase of Criconemoides ornatum but suppressed the other three species. 'Coastal' bermudagrass supported more than twice the number of B. longicaudatus than did 'Pensacola' bahiagrass. Numbers of T. christiei and P. brachyurus also were larger on bermudagrass than on bahiagrass. Numbers of C. ornatum were largest in row-crop sequence culture. Average numbers of B. longicaudatus, T. christiei, and P. brachyurus in a sod-based, 3-years of row-crop sequence were smallest when cotton and corn did not follow each other. These nematodes were further suppressed when the sequence corn-peanut-cotton followed bahiagrass. Numbers of C. ornatum were smallest when corn and cotton followed each other, except after 3 years of bahiagrass. Nematode populations were less influenced by row-crop sequence following bermudagrass than they were following bahiagrass.

Rotations of Bahiagrass and Castorbean with Peanut for the Management of Meloidogyne arenaria.

The relative value of 'Hale' castorbean (Ricinus communis) and 'Pensacola' bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) as rotational crops for the management of Meloidogyne arenaria and southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii) in 'Florunner' peanut (Arachis hypogaea) production was studied for 3 years in a field experiment in southeast Alabama. Peanut following 2 years of castorbean (C-C-P) yielded 43% higher than monocultured peanut without nematicide. At-plant application of aldicarb (30.5 g a.i./100 m row in a 20-cm-wide band) to monocultured peanut resulted in an average 38.9% increase in yield over the 3 years of the experiment. Peanut yield following 2 years of bahiagrass (B-B-P) was 36% higher than monocultured peanut without nematicide. Aldicarb application had no effect on southern blight, but both C-C-P and B-B-P rotations reduced the incidence of the disease in peanut. Juvenile populations of M. arenaria in soil at peanut harvest time were lower in plots with C-C-P than in those with the B-B-P rotation, and both rotations resulted in lower numbers of juveniles in soil than in the untreated monocultured peanut.

Bahiagrass for the Management of Meloidogyne arenaria in Peanut.

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) cultivars Argentine, Pensacola, and Tifton-9 were non-hosts for Meloidogyne arenaria, M. incognita, and Heterodera glycines in a greenhouse experiment using field soil infested with these nematodes. The effect of Pensacola bahiagrass in rotation with peanut (Arachis hypogaea) on M. arenaria was studied in 1986 and 1987 in a field at the Wiregrass substation near Headland, Alabama. Each year soil densities of second-stage juveniles of M. arenaria, determined near peanut harvest, were 96-98% lower under bahiagrass than under peanut. In 1987 peanut yields in plots following bahiagrass were 27% higher than in plots under peanut monoculture. Juvenile population densities in bahiagrass-peanut plots were 41% lower than in plots with continuous peanut. Using bahiagrass for reducing population densities of M. arenaria and increasing peanut yield was as effective as using aldicarb at the recommended rates for peanut.

Rotations with Coastal Bermudagrass, Cotton, and Bahiagrass for Management of Meloidogyne arenaria and Southern Blight in Peanut.

The efficacy of coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) as a rotation crop for controt of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne arenaria) in 'Florunner' peanut (Arachis hypogoea) was evaluated in a 3-year field trial. Coastal bermudagrass-peanut rotation (CBP) was compared with peanut monoculture without nematicide (P - ) and peanut monoculture with aldicarb (P + ). The performance of CBP was also compared with 'Pensacola' bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum)-peanut (BP), and 'Deltapine 90' cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)-peanut (CP) rotations. Each rotation crop was grown for 2 years (1991, 1992) and peanut was planted without nematicide the third year (1993). In contrast with peanut, the alternate crops of bahiagrass, bermudagrass, and cotton did not support M. arenaria populations. In 1993, the lowest numbers of M. arenaria second-stage juveniles (J2) in soil were in plots with CP and BP; these rotations resulted in the highest peanut yields. CBP failed to increase peanut yield and resulted in the highest population densities of M. arenaria J2. In 1993, aldicarb reduced J2 densities in the soil but did not increase peanut yields. Rotations of BP and CP reduced incidence of southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii) in peanut, but neither CBP nor aldicarb affected the disease.

Velvetbean and Bahiagrass as Rotation Crops for Management of Meloidogyne spp. and Heterodera glycines in Soybean.

Soybean (Glycine max) yield often is limited by the phytoparasitic nematodes Meloidogyne spp. and Heterodera glycines in the southeastern United States. We studied the effects of rotation with bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), velvetbean (Mucuna pruiens), or continuous soybean, aldicarb, and soybean cultivar on yield and population densities in two fields infested with a mixture of Meloidogyne spp. and H. glycines. Velvetbean and bahiagrass reduced population levels of both nematode species to near zero prior to planting soybean. At harvest, both nematode populations were equal in soybean following bahiagrass and continuous soybean but were lower following velvetbean. Both bahiagrass and velvetbean as previous crops were equal in producing significantly (P < 0.003) higher yield than continuous soybean. Velvetbean increased subsequent soybean yield by 98% and bahiagrass increased subsequent soybean yield by 85% as previous crops compared to continuous soybean. The major differences between the two rotation crops were yield response of the nematode-susceptible cultivars and at-harvest nematode populations. Velvetbean tended to mask genetic differences among cultivars more so than bahiagrass. Velvetbean also produced a more long-term effect on nematode populations, with numbers of both Meloidogyne spp. and H. glycines lower in soybean following velvethean than following bahiagrass or continuous soybean.

Bahiagrass, corn, cotton rotations, and pesticides for managing nematodes, diseases, and insects on peanut.

Florunner peanut was grown after 1 and 2 years of Tifton 9 bahiagrass, corn, cotton, and continuous peanut as whole-plots. Pesticide treatments aldicarb (3.4 kg a.i./ha), flutolanil (1.7 kg a.i./ha), aldicarb + flutolanil, and untreated (control) were sub-plots. Numbers of Meloidogyne arenaria second-stage juveniles in the soil and root-gall indices of peanut at harvest were consistently lower in plots treated with aldicarb and aldicarb + flutolanil than in flutolanil-treated and untreated plots. Percentages of peanut leaflets damaged by thrips and leafhoppers were consistently greater in flutolaniltreated and untreated plots than in plots treated with aldicarb or aldicarb + flutolanil but not affected by cropping sequences. Incidence of southern stem rot was moderate to high for all chemical treatments except those that included flutolanil. Stem rot loci were low in peanut following 2 years of bahiagrass, intermediate following 2 years of corn or cotton, and highest in continuous peanut. Rhizoctonia limb rot was more severe in the peanut monoculture than in peanut following 2 years of bahiagrass, corn, or cotton. Flutolanil alone or combined with aldicarb suppressed limb rot compared with aldicarb-treated and untreated plots. Peanut pod yields were 4,186 kg/ha from aldicarb + flutolanil-treated plots, 3,627 kg/ha from aldicarb-treated plots, 3,426 kg/ha from flutolanil-treated plots, and 3,056 kg/ha from untreated plots. Yields of peanut following 2 years of bahiagrass, corn, and cotton were 29% to 33% higher than yield of monocultured peanut.

Evaluation of alfalfa inter-seeding effect on bahiagrass baleage fermentation and lactating Holstein performance.

BACKGROUND: Previous research indicates that bahiagrass may be successfully conserved as baleage, but nutritive value is typically low for lactating dairy cows. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of adding modest amounts of alfalfa forage (22%), achieved by inter-seeding alfalfa into an existing bahiagrass pasture, on baleage nutritive value and lactation performance of Holstein cows. Forage treatments employed were monoculture bahiagrass baleage (MBB; negative control), bahiagrass-alfalfa mixture baleage (BAB) and conventional corn silage (CCS; positive control). Thirty six mid lactation Holstein cows [34.8 ± 5.8 kg 3.5% fat-corrected milk and 112 ± 19 d in milk (DIM)] were stratified according to milk yield and DIM and assigned randomly to 1 of 3 forage treatments. Cows were trained to Calan feeding gates and were offered a common CCS-based TMR in a 10-d covariance period followed by a 42-d treatment feeding period. RESULTS: The BAB contained more protein and less NDF than MBB (12.6 vs 10.3% CP and 71.8 vs 76.6% NDF). Diet DMI was similar for MBB and BAB (19.5 vs 21.6 kg/hd/d), but cows consumed more of the CCS diet (25.5 kg/hd/d) than either baleage-based diet. Cows offered BAB tended to produce more milk than cows offered MBB based TMR (28.4 vs 26.1 kg/hd/d), but both baleage diets generated less milk than CCS-based diets (33.1 kg/hd/d). Milk composition was similar across diets except for milk protein concentrations which were higher for CCS than either MBB or BAB diets; however, milk urea nitrogen (MUN) was lowest for cows fed CCS diets. Cow BW gain was higher for BAB than MBB implying that a portion of the higher energy contributed by the alfalfa was being used to replenish weight on these mid lactation cows. CONCLUSIONS: Data from this study indicate that alfalfa inter-seeded in bahiagrass sod that produces BAB with as little as 22% alfalfa may improve nutritive value compared to monoculture bahiagrass baleage and marginally improve lactation performance of Holstein cows. However, the CCS diet was vastly superior to either MBB or BAB-based diets for milk production.

Avaliação de sistemas alimentares para terneiros desmamados aos três meses de idade / Evaluation of feeding systems for calves weaned at three months old

Objetivando avaliar o desempenho de torneiros desmamados aos 3 meses de idade em quatro diferentes sistemas alimentares: S1 - Campo Nativo + Silagem de Sorgo (Sorghum bicolor), S2 - Campo Nativo + Pastagem cultivada de inverno (Avena strigosa + Lolium multiflorum); S3 - Pensacola (Paspalum notatum var. Saurae) + silagem de sorgo; e S4 - Pensacola + pastagem cultivada de inverno, bem como a qualidade destes sistemas expresso em proteína bruta e digestibilidade in vitro da matéria orgânica, foi realizado um experimento nas dependências da Pulquéria Agropecuária, em São Sepé, Depressão Central do RS, em solo da unidade de mapeamento Cerrito, classificado como Laterítico Bruno Avermelhado distrófico. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualisado, tendo os animais como repetições. Utilizaram-se 30 torneiros cruza Nelore x Charolés, em pastejo contínuo com lotação variável. O período experimental foi de 244 dias (verão/outono e inverno/primavera). Os animais foram pesados com intervalos médios de 28 dias. O sistema S4, apresentou um Ganho Médio Diário de peso (545g) superior aos demais (P<0,05), não diferindo significativamente do sistema S2 (475g), no total do período experimental. Quando analisados os períodos em separados, verifica-se que no verão/outono, não houve diferença significativa entre campo nativo e pensacola, porém no inverno/primavera verifica-se que os animais submetidos à pastagem cultivada apresentaram desempenho superior aqueles submetidos à silagem de sorgo acrescida de um suplemento.

A trial was conducted to evaluate lhe performance of calves weaned of three months old in four systems: S1 - Natural pasture + Sorghum bicolor silage; S2 - Natural pasture + Winter pasture (Avena strigosa + Lolium multiflorum); S3 - Bahiagrass (Paspalurn notatum var. Saurae) + Sorghum silage and S4 - Bahiagrass + Winter pasture. The experiment was installed in Pulquéria Agropecuária, São Sepé, RS, in a Ridish-Brown Latheritic Soil. It was evaluated the crude protein and in vitro organic matter digestibility of the forage. Thirty calves, Nelore x Charolais Breed, were used as replications, in a completely randomized design. with continuous grazing and variable stocking rate in the pastures. The experimental period was of 244 days (summer/autumn and winter/spring ). The calves were weighted at a 28 day intervals. S4 system presented a daily live weight gain (545g) higher than lhe others (P<0.05), except for the S2 system (475g), in the total experimental period.