To build climate-resilient livestock systems, public policies must be informed by bioclimatic zoning, enabling region-specific interventions and more efficient resource allocation. This study aimed to conduct bioclimatic zoning for dairy cattle farming in the state of Maranhão, Brazil. Big data analysis techniques and predictive geostatistical modeling were applied to historical (2012–2023) and future climate scenarios under intermediate (RCP4.5) and high-intensity (RCP8.5) greenhouse gas emissions. Kriging maps of THI revealed a decreasing north–south thermal gradient, with values exceeding 80 during critical years. Milk yield losses were more pronounced in high-producing cows, reaching up to 5 kg/cow/day under extreme heat. Areas identified as drought-prone exhibited spatial patterns consistent with THI distributions. The projections indicate that, under the RCP 4.5 scenario, over 60% of Maranhão will exhibit average THI values between 78 and 81 by the end of the century. Under the RCP 8.5 scenario, large areas of the state are expected to reach THI values above 86. Under these conditions, estimated milk production losses may exceed 4 kg/cow/day for moderate-yielding animals and 9 kg/cow/day for high-yielding ones, respectively. The results reinforce the importance of bioclimatic zoning to support informed policymaking in the context of climate change.

In the Amazon-Cerrado ecotone, increased costs from non-organic inputs and transportation render substrates more expensive, prompting the use of decomposed biomass from native palm stem for seedlig production. The study was carried out with the objective of evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of the decomposed biomass of babassu palms (BDB), carnauba (BDC), and buriti (BBU) compared to the commercial substrate (SC) via multivariate analysis. This study employed a database comprising 90 substrates, obtained from Maranhão, Brazil farms. These samples underwent physicochemical characterization following the Brazilian protocol for seedling substrates. The substrates based on BDB and BDC have pH and nutrient contents at acceptable values, in addition to lower potential acidity and high base saturation compared to BBU and SC substrates. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering revealed similarities between BDB, BDC and SC. Biomass decomposed from the stems of babassu and carnauba palms is recommended as an alternative substrate for seedling producers in the in the Amazon-Cerrado ecotone.

Globally, land degradation represents both an environmental and socioeconomic challenge, necessitating continuous monitoring due to its impacts on ecosystem services. Given the substantial changes in land use and land cover in Maranhão, this study aimed to evaluate land degradation across the state between 2001 and 2023, based on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 15.3.1. To this end, we integrated data on land cover (LC), soil organic carbon (SOC), and land productivity (LP) using the Trends.Earth algorithm (v.2.1.16), based on datasets from the MapBiomas platform (collections 9 and Beta) and MODIS (MOD13Q1 product), along with the application of the RESTREND model for climate adjustment. The results indicated that 39.56% of Maranhão’s territory showed signs of degradation, particularly in the central and northwestern (NW) regions, as well as parts of the southern (S) region. Stable areas accounted for 26.39%, while 32.08% were classified as improving, with notable trends in the southern and southeastern (SE) regions, suggesting vegetation recovery and more sustainable land management practices. The integrated analysis of LC, SOC stocks, and land productivity sub-indicators revealed that environmental degradation in Maranhão is strongly driven by the conversion of natural ecosystems into agricultural and livestock areas, especially in the central-eastern and NW regions. In conclusion, the findings highlight a misalignment with the SDG 15.3.1 target but also point to zones of stability and recovery, indicating potential for mitigation, restoration, and the implementation of sustainable land management strategies.

Reducing losses during pig transport is essential for breeders and transporters, particularly in semi-arid regions, where high temperatures exacerbate transport-related stress and risk of losses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of transport duration (short vs. long trips) on animal welfare and production losses during the commercial transport of weaner pigs in a semi-arid region. A total of 20 commercial journeys were monitored, with transport times of 30 min (15 km) and 150 min (170 km). Upon arrival, physiological and behavioral stress indicators were assessed in 960 weaner pigs (26.4 ± 2.8 kg body weight, 48 per journey). Production losses were determined by calculating the percentage of injured pigs (NAI), fatigued pigs (NANI), and those that were dead on arrival (DOA), whereas the total loss was expressed by the sum of NAI + NANI + DOA. Weaner pigs transported for 30 min exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) rectal temperature, respiratory rate, and stress biomarkers (cortisol and creatine kinase levels). Additionally, this group showed a higher percentage (p < 0.05) of “sitting” pigs and a lower percentage of “lying” pigs in transit, as well as a higher frequency of agonistic behavior after transport compared to those transported for 150 min. Furthermore, higher production losses were recorded in the 30 min transport group, primarily due to the increased percentage of fatigued pigs and DOA pigs. Therefore, shorter transport operations in the Brazilian semi-arid region increased the risk to animal welfare and productive losses, likely due to handling-induced stress during loading.

A resistência ou tolerância de plantas daninhas a herbicidas é uma importante lacuna de produtividade da soja. A adoção de pulverizações sequenciais, misturas de herbicidas e rotação de mecanismos de ação podem ser efetivas no controle antecipado destas espécies. Objetivou-se analisar o desempenho de pulverizações sequenciais de flumioxazina e glufosinato sobre o controle de plantas daninhas tolerantes ou resistentes ao glifosato. O experimento foi conduzido em Argisssolo Amarelo distrocoeso, numa lavoura comercial de soja, situada em Mata Roma, Maranhão, Brasil, com histórico de uso sucessivo de glifosato há mais de uma década. O estudo foi delineado em blocos casualizados, com 8 tratamentos e 5 repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram na testemunha 1 (sem herbicida), testemunha 2 (uso isolado de glifosato - 1.500 g e.a. ha-¹) e pulverização sequencial de glufosinato (500/600 g i.a. ha-¹), flumioxazina (50/75 g i.a. ha-¹) e glufosinato + flumioxazina (500/600 + 50/75 g i.a. ha-¹). Avaliou-se a porcentagem de controle de plantas daninhas, bem como, a fitotoxicidade, densidade e produtividade da soja. Ao término do estudo, recomenda-se o controle sequencial de plantas daninhas, o qual deve ser realizado com uma primeira aplicação de glifosato (1.500 g i.a. ha-¹), seguido pelo uso de glufosinato (500/600 g i.a. ha-¹) + flumioxazina (50/75 g i.a. ha-¹). A implementação deste manejo, até os 16 dias antes do plantio da soja, reduz perdas de produtividade e melhora o controle plantas daninhas resistentes ou tolerantes ao uso de glifosato. Palavras-chave: Glycine max (L.) Merrill. Flumioxazina. Glufosinato. Manejo Antecipado. Planta Daninha Tolerante.

O estudo da diversidade florística pode implementar um manejo mais sustentável de plantas daninhas, com uso eficiente de herbicidas e conservação de recursos naturais. Objetivou-se realizar um levantamento florístico de plantas daninhas em lavouras de soja, situadas na mesorregião Leste Maranhense, Brasil, entre os anos de 2013/2014 e 2021/2022. O levantamento ocorreu entre os meses de novembro e janeiro, abrangendo o término da entressafra em sete cidades. A amostragem foi realizada pelo método do quadrado inventário em cinquenta amostras por lavoura, cujos percursos foram realizados em 5 posições de partida, perfazendo 10 amostras por percurso em cada lavoura. As variáveis abrangeram o número de espécies por família e gênero botânico, hábito de crescimento, classe botânica, ciclo de vida, forma de reprodução e índice de similaridade de Soresen. O levantamento florístico identificou 87 espécies, pertencentes a 24 famílias e 55 gêneros botânicos. As famílias mais representativas foram Poaceae > Rubiaceae > Fabaceae > Cyperaceae, ao passo que os gêneros, Cyperus > Spermacoce > Ipomoea > Sida. As espécies Eleusine indica e Scoparia dulcis foram compartilhadas por todas as lavouras. Estas informações poderão permitir um manejo mais assertivo e integrado visando a prevenção de plantas daninhas resistentes a herbicidas.