https://tedebc.ufma.br/jspui/handle/tede/542 2026-04-12T14:28:20Z https://tedebc.ufma.br/jspui/handle/tede/6611 Título: Utilização de polímeros retentores de umidade no solo sobre o déficit hídrico e avaliação da qualidade de silagens de milho e sorgo produzidas na forma convencional e como silagem de ração total Autor: RODRIGUES, Leonardo Rocha Primeiro orientador: ZANINE, Anderson de Moura Abstract: Corn and sorghum are grasses of high nutritional value, traditionally used as forage for ruminants. However, their cultivation faces challenges in regions with irregular rainfall and long dry periods, which limit grain and biomass production throughout the year. In this context, strategies such as the application of soil moisture-retaining polymer (MRP) and the use of total mixed ration (TMR) silage ensure a continuous supply of quality and sufficient food for these animals, even during the agricultural off- season. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of applying an MRP to the soil on water deficit and the quality of corn and sorghum silages, produced in conventional (CS) and total mixed ration forms. The experiment was conducted in a 4 × 2 × 2 factorial design, consisting of four hydration intervals with MRP: control (no hydration), hydration only on planting day (H0), hydration every five days (H5), and hydration every ten days (H10), two crops (corn and sorghum), and two types of silage (CS and TMR). The experimental design used was randomized blocks, totaling 16 treatments and 64 experimental subunits. The fermentative profile (pH, buffering capacity (BC), ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH3), and soluble carbohydrates (CHOs)), effluent losses (EL), and gas losses (GL), dry matter recovery (DMR), aerobic stability, and bromatological composition were evaluated. There was an interaction effect between the factors for the CHOs variable (P= 0.0233), with the highest mean obtained with the use of sorghum, associated with the use of CS and hydration with MRP every 10 days. Regarding isolated effects, there was a difference between treatments (P<0.05) for crop type and silage type for variables related to fermentative quality. Sorghum silage showed lower pH (3.86) and higher BC (0.1050 mg NaOH/g DM) compared to corn. The use of TMR provided higher pH (4.04), higher BC, and higher N-NH3. Regarding losses, TMR stood out for presenting lower EL and GL and higher DMR, compared to CS. For MRP, there was a difference for N-NH3 and EL variables. The lowest levels of N-NH3 and EL were observed with the use of MRP every 10 days of hydration. As for the bromatological composition, corn silage showed lower NDF levels (41.31%) compared to sorghum (52.81%). TMR showed higher levels of DM, Ash, and CP, while CS showed higher levels of EE, NDF, and ADF. The application of MRP to the soil promoted an increase in the total biomass production of corn and sorghum crops, with the hydration interval every 10 days being the most indicated for higher yields. Sorghum stood out for higher effective degradability (ED) and biomass production, being more efficient than corn, whose silage deteriorates more quickly. Therefore, the use of sorghum with ten days of hydration and retention time (SRT) is recommended for better nutritional value and diet utilization Instituição: Universidade Federal do Maranhão Tipo do documento: Dissertação 2025-10-31T00:00:00Z https://tedebc.ufma.br/jspui/handle/tede/6565 Título: Ecophysiological Management Using Light Interception Technology with the AccuPar Equipment: Quality Versus Quantity of Forage Autor: MELO NETO, Tomaz de Primeiro orientador: ZANINE, Anderson de Moura Abstract: Background: Understanding canopy light interception is essential for optimizing forage production and improving the efficiency of grazing systems. Accurate quantification of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) intercepted by the canopy allows for better estimation of crop coefficients and growth dynamics. This study aimed to assess the forage mass and nutritional value of Guinea grass pastures managed under two grazing frequencies, defined by 90% and 95% light interception (LI) measured using AccuPar equipment, and two post-grazing stubble heights (30 and 50 cm). Evaluations were conducted during both the rainy season and a dry year to capture seasonal variability in pasture performance. Methods: The experimental design was of completely randomized blocks with four replications. Results: The treatment whit 90% LI resulted in higher values of crude protein and digestible. However, 95% LI resulted in higher values of neutral detergente insoluble nitrogen and acid detergente insoluble nitrogen values in grass pastures Guinea. The highest value of forage mass in Guinea grass was reported with 95% LI in association with a post-grazing height of 30 cm. Conclusions: Management of light interception at 90% provided a reduced amount of forage with better nutritional value. Pasture management considering the light interception technology with the AccuPar equipment was efficient as a pattern for interrupting pasture regrowth in the vegetative phase. Instituição: Universidade Federal do Maranhão Tipo do documento: Dissertação 2025-10-24T00:00:00Z https://tedebc.ufma.br/jspui/handle/tede/6558 Título: Características morfoagrônomicas, produção de grãos e valor nutricional das silagens de milho na forma de ração total submetidos à fertirrigação com silício e inoculação com Azospirillum Brasilense na entressafra agrícola Autor: CASTRO, Carlos Rodolfo do Nascimento Primeiro orientador: ZANINE, Anderson de Moura Abstract: The objective was to assess the morphoagronomic characteristics, grain production, and nutritional value of corn silage and total feed subjected to fertigation with silicon and inoculation with A. brasilense during the agricultural offseason. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design in a 4x2 factorial scheme, with five replications, totaling 40 experimental units. Silicon application corresponded to doses of 0, 4, 8, and 12 kg/ha, without and with inoculation of A. brasilense Ab-V5 and Ab-V6 in a 50% ratio each. The cultivar employed was the maize hybrid (Zea mays L. AG - 1051). Morphological and structural characteristics, biomass production and quantification, grain harvest index health, agronomic efficiency, and the C:N ratio of maize were evaluated during the agricultural offseason. Silages were assessed for microbiology, fermentative profile, and chemical-bromatological composition. An interaction was observed (P<0.05) for variables such as ear length with and without husk, ear diameter with husk (cm), grain production (g/kg), nitrogen deposition, and C/N ratio (g/kg). Regression model estimates showed greater ear length with and without husk at the level of 7.83 and 9.33 kg ha-1 of Si, reaching a maximum point of 33.0 and 20.7 cm, respectively. The ear diameter with husk, which exhibited a linear effect (P<0.05) without the inoculation of A. brasilense, resulted in means ranging from 46.22 to 58.33 mm. Grain production at the level of 7.98 kg/ha reached a maximum production point of 12.35 t/ha. Nitrogen deposition (g/kg) without A. brasilense showed a minimum of 9.61 and a maximum deposition of 12.10 g/kg; in contrast, the C/N ratio decreased from 431.32 to 351.37 g/kg as Si doses increased. There was an isolated effect of Si (P<0.05) for variables such as the number of live and dead leaves, plant height to the tip of the inflorescence (cm), plant height to the flag leaf (cm), green matter production (t/ha), green matter production of leaves, stem (t/ha), water accumulation (t/ha), water use efficiency (kg/DM/mm/ha), dry matter production (t/ha), whole plant weight, and husked ear weight (g); dry matter production of leaves, stem, and ear (t/ha). These variables increased linearly with increasing doses. There was a quadratic effect of Si (P<0.05) for variables such as plant height to ear insertion (cm), ear green matter (t/ha), and husked ear weight (g). Plant height to ear insertion reached a maximum height of 98.54 at a Si dose equivalent to 7.49 kg/ha. The green matter production of the ear benefited up to maximum doses equivalent to 9.33 kg ha-1 of Si, with a production of 17.03 t/ha. The maximum point for husked ear weight was 359.1 g, at a Si dose equivalent to 10.48 kg/ha. There was an effect (P<0.05) on microbiology regarding the population of LAB, molds, and yeasts. LAB numbers peaked at 6.34 log10 CFU/g when using the 4 kg/ha dose in pure corn silage. Inoculation with A. brasilense and fertigation with Si provided higher morphoagronomic yields for the number of live leaves, plant height, ear length with and without husk, green and dry matter production, grain production, as well as in the C:N ratio. A Si dose of 12 kg ha- 1 is recommended, and for the microbiological population of LAB, molds, and yeast, a Si dose of 4 kg ha-1 is recommended. Instituição: Universidade Federal do Maranhão Tipo do documento: Dissertação 2024-02-29T00:00:00Z https://tedebc.ufma.br/jspui/handle/tede/6418 Título: Avaliação do microbioma, fermentação, composição química, estabilidade aeróbia de silagens de sorgo e de ração total aditivadas com aditivos químico e microbianos Autor: RODRIGUES, Luana Milena Pinheiro Primeiro orientador: ZANINE, Anderson de Moura Abstract: The climatic variability poses challenges for pasture growth in Brazil, directly impacting livestock feeding, and silage stands out as an effective strategy for conserving forages, maintaining their nutritional value and ensuring the availability of food during periods of scarcity. The first experiment aimed to investigate the effects of inoculation with Lentilactobacillus buchneri (Lb) alone or in combination with Lentilactobacillus hilgardii (Lh) on the fermentation profile, bacterial and fungal succession, chemical composition, dry matter losses, and aerobic stability of whole-plant sorghum silages ensiled for 20, 60 and 100 days. The experimental design was fully randomized, arranged in a 3×3 factorial scheme, with three microbial additives (Control, non inoculated; commercial Lb-based inoculant; and another commercial inoculant composed of Lh with Lb), with five repetitions per treatment. The evaluated variables were fermentation profile, chemical composition, microbial population quantification, organic acids, and dry matter losses. Aerobic stability was monitored using data loggers, while microbial diversity was characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, using the QIIME2 platform. Significant interaction (P<0,05) was observed between the additives and the fermentation period for the variables pH, soluble carbohydrates, ammoniacal nitrogen, dry matter, crude protein, lactic acid bacteria, acids, and aerobic stability. Beta diversity showed higher aerobic stability in the bacterial communities of the inoculated groups, while the control group exhibited greater dispersion and an increase in undesirable taxa. Lentilactobacillus dominated the inoculated groups, and Kazachstania was the main fungal taxon. Inoculation with Lb alone and in combination with Lh promoted greater development of lactic acid bacteria and produced antifungal compounds. Therefore, inoculation with Lb or Lb+Lh and a fermentation period of 60 to 100 days are recommended to optimize aerobic stability. In the second experiment, the aim was to evaluate the fermentation profile, dry matter losses, chemical composition, and aerobic stability of total mixed ration silages based on forage sorghum, treated with doses of FreshCUT Plus™ at 40- and 80-days post-ensiling. The experimental design was fully randomized, using two fermentation periods, three additives, and five repetitions per treatment, organized in a 2×3 factorial scheme. The additives used were: control total mixed ration, without additive; total mixed ration with 1 kg FreshCUT Plus™/Mg of dry matter. A significant interaction (P<0,05) was observed between the additive and fermentation period for ether extract, pH, soluble carbohydrates, organic acids, and aerobic stability. At 80 days, the silages with 2 kg FreshCUT Plus™ eliminated undesirable microbial populations, presenting higher concentrations of lactic and acetic acids, better aerobic stability, and lower temperatures, without significant changes in dry matter. Based on the results, it is recommended to add 2 kg FreshCUT Plus™/Mg and a fermentation period of 80 days to optimize silage quality. Instituição: Universidade Federal do Maranhão Tipo do documento: Dissertação 2025-06-30T00:00:00Z