O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de frequências e intensidades de desfolhação sobre os componentes da biomassa e a estrutura do dossel em capim-aruana (Panicum maximum 'Aruana IZ-5'), pastejado sob lotação rotativa com ovinos. Avaliaram-se duas frequências de desfolhação (FD), com níveis de interceptação de 85 e 95% da radiação fotossinteticamente ativa (Irfa) incidente no topo do dossel, e duas intensidades de desfolhação (ID), com índices de área foliar residual (IAFr) de 1,0 e 1,8. Utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com arranjo fatorial 2x2. Os componentes da biomassa e as características estruturais nas condições de pré-pastejo foram afetados principalmente pela FD, com a redução da biomassa de colmos verdes e de forragem morta, e, ainda, pela elevação da altura da primeira lígula viva. Pastos manejados com menor FD proporcionaram menor relação lâmina foliar/colmo, com média de 1,65, e os pastos com maior FD apresentaram média de lâmina foliar/colmo de 2,40. Os componentes da biomassa residual foram afetados pela ID, com maior biomassa de forragem verde residual em pastos manejados com IAFr de 1,8. Os pastos manejados com 95% de Irfa e IAFr de 1,8 apresentaram biomassa de colmo verde residual e biomassa de forragem morta residual superiores aos dos demais manejos. Para pastejo por ovinos, o capim-aruana deve ser manejado com frequência de 85% de Irfa e intensidade de desfolhação correspondente a IAFr de 1,0.

Hydrogels are substances designed to retain significant quantities of water and slowly release it to support plant growth. This study produced and evaluated the use of a test hydrogel (TH), a natural polymer derived from cashew gum (Anacardium occidentale), on the growth, chemical composition, and mineral content of cactus pear genotypes. The TH was compared to a negative control (no hydrogel; NH), and to a positive control or commercial hydrogel (CH). The CH was a synthetic polyacrylamide-based hydrogel. The study was carried out in a completely randomized design with a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement (n = 36), involving three hydrogel types × three cactus pear genotypes [Elephant Ear (Opuntia stricta); Giant (Opuntia ficus-indica); and Sweet (Nopalea cochenillifera)]. There was a significant effect of interaction (p ≤ 0.05) between genotypes and hydrogel types on cladode area, plant height, dry biomass of cladodes, and macro- and micromineral content. The use of TH promoted greater growth and improved chemical and mineral composition (p ≤ 0.05) to cactus genotypes. The Sweet genotype hydrated with TH presented the highest crude protein accumulation (p ≤ 0.05). Cashew gum-based hydrogel improved both growth and chemical composition of the cactus genotypes, and it is an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic polymers.

Hydrogels are water-absorbing polymers that can hydrate forage plants in the soil. The objective was to evaluate the replacement of synthetic hydrogels derived from petroleum with biodegradable hydrogels in Mombaça grass pastures (Megathyrsus maximum). The experimental treatments consisted of no hydrogel (NH); synthetic commercial hydrogel (CH), made from a synthetic polyacrylamide product; and biodegradable test hydrogel (TH), obtained from cashew gum (Anacardium occidentale). The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with five replications and three treatments. The morphogenesis, production, chemical, and mineral composition of the Mombaça grass pasture were assessed. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and mean comparison using the Scott–Knott test at 5% probability. The leaf elongation rate showed 42.3 mm day⁻¹ in the treatment TH, which was higher (p < 0.05) than NH (35.0 mm day⁻¹). The green leaf mass yield was higher in TH than in NH and CH. On the other hand, hydration had no effect on the chemical composition. The mineral composition of Mombaça grass showed more Zn when TH was used. It can be concluded that biodegradable hydrogels can replace synthetic commercial hydrogels in pastures.

The aim of this study was to assess the quality of ground maize grain silage rehydrated with varying proportions of whey, in comparison with silage rehydrated with water, to determine the potential of using whey during silage production as a strategy to enhance process sustainability. The treatments included four different rehydration methods for the ground maize, with the control treatment adding 30% water to the maize grain, and whey being used to rehydrate the maize at three different rehydration levels (20%, 30%, and 40% whey). The highest effluent losses were observed in the treatment with 40% whey rehydration (7.86 kg/t fresh matter), and the pH was highest in the control treatment (5.51). The silage rehydrated with water contained the fewest lactic acid bacteria (0.90 log colony-forming units/g) and the lowest lactic acid concentration (2.71 g/kg dry matter). Stability loss occurred fastest in the silage rehydrated with water (41.6 hours), followed by the silage rehydrated with 40% whey (46.4 hours). Rehydration with whey enhanced the quality of the ground maize silage, promoting greater sustainability in both the processing and production of grain silage. (Submitted 20 February 2025; Accepted 5 August 2025; Published 27 August 2025)

Hydrogels are water-absorbing polymers that can hydrate forage plants in the soil. The objec-tive was to evaluate the replacement of synthetic hydrogels derived from petroleum by biode-gradable hydrogels in Mombaça grass pastures (Megathyrsus maximum). The experimental treat-ments consisted of: No hydrogel (NH); Synthetic commercial hydrogel (CH), made from a syn-thetic polyacrylamide product; and Biodegradable test hydrogel (TH), obtained from cashew gum (Anacardium occidentale). The experimental design was randomized blocks with five replica-tions and three treatments. Morphogenesis, production, chemical and mineral composition of the Mombaça grass pasture were assessed. The data was subjected to analysis of variance and mean comparison by the Snott-Knott test at 5% probability. Leaf elongation rate was 42.3 mm day-1 in the TH treatment, which was higher (P<0.05) than NH (35.0 mm day-1). Green leaf mass yield was higher in TH in comparison to NH and CH. On the other hand, there was no effect of hydration on chemical composition. The mineral composition of Mombaça grass showed more Zn when TH was used. It can be concluded that biodegradable hydrogels can replace synthetic commercial hydrogels in pastures.

Avaliou-se as características de crescimento, produção, composição química e teores de macro e micronutrientes da palma forrageira Doce em relação a três densidades de plantio e duas intensidades de corte em Savana Brasileira. Foi utilizado delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 2 × 3, com oito repetições. Os fatores corresponderam a duas densidades de plantio: fileira simples e fileira dupla; e três intensidades de corte do cladódio: matriz, primário e secundário. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância ANOVA e quando houve diferença significa pelo teste F, as médias dos tratamentos foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey. Os valores médios foram considerados diferentes quando p<0.05. A menor área de cladódio (p < 0.05) e menor altura da planta foram observados no cultivo com fileira simples preservando o cladódio matriz. Também foi observado maior teor de matéria seca e menor teor de matéria mineral (p< 0.05) para essa combinação de tratamento. Considerando as características agronômicas, produtivas e de composição química, da palma forrageira, recomenda-se a intensidade de corte com preservação dos cladódios primários ou secundários, associado ao cultivo em fileiras duplas.