A growing body of evidence suggests a protective role of polyphenols and exercise training on the disorders of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to assess the effect of the açaí seed extract ...(ASE) associated with exercise training on diabetic complications induced by high-fat (HF) diet plus streptozotocin (STZ) in rats. Type 2 diabetes was induced by feeding rats with HF diet (55% fat) for 5 weeks and a single dose of STZ (35 mg/kg i.p.). Control (C) and Diabetic (D) animals were subdivided into four groups each: Sedentary, Training, ASE Sedentary, and ASE Training. ASE (200 mg/kg/day) was administered by gavage and the exercise training was performed on a treadmill (30min/day; 5 days/week) for 4 weeks after the diabetes induction. In type 2 diabetic rats, the treatment with ASE reduced blood glucose, insulin resistance, leptin and IL-6 levels, lipid profile, and vascular dysfunction. ASE increased the expression of insulin signaling proteins in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and plasma GLP-1 levels. ASE associated with exercise training potentiated the reduction of glycemia by decreasing TNF-α levels, increasing pAKT and adiponectin expressions in adipose tissue, and IR and pAMPK expressions in skeletal muscle of type 2 diabetic rats. In conclusion, ASE treatment has an antidiabetic effect in type 2 diabetic rats by activating the insulin-signaling pathway in muscle and adipose tissue, increasing GLP-1 levels, and an anti-inflammatory action. Exercise training potentiates the glucose-lowering effect of ASE by activating adiponectin-AMPK pathway and increasing IR expression.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Intensification of tropical grassland can be a strategy to increase beef production, but methods for achieving this should maintain or reduce its environmental impact and should not compromise future ...food-producing capacity. The objective of this review was to discuss the aspects of grassland management, animal supplementation, the environment, and the socioeconomics of grassland intensification. Reducing environmental impact in the form of, for example, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is particularly important in Brazil, which is the second-largest beef producer in the world. Most Brazilian pastures, however, are degraded, representing a considerable opportunity for the mitigation and increase of beef-cattle production, and consequently increasing global protein supply. Moreover, in Brazil, forage production is necessary for seasonal feeding strategies that maintain animal performance during periods of forage scarcity. There are many options to achieve this objective that can be adopted alone or in association. These options include improving grassland management, pasture fertilization, and animal supplementation. Improving grazing management has the potential to mitigate GHG emissions through the reduction of the intensity of CO2 emissions, as well as the preservation of natural areas by reducing the need for expanding pastureland. Limitations to farmers adopting intensification strategies include cultural aspects and the lack of financial resources and technical assistance.
Abstract
The effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization levels on protein and carbohydrate fractions in Marandu palisadegrass pasture
Urochloa brizantha
(Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster were ...investigated in a pasture over five years. The experimental design was completely randomized with four levels of N (0, 90, 180, and 270 kg N ha
-1
, as urea) for five years, and with three replicates. The study was conducted in a continuously stocked pasture during the forage growing season (December to April) in a tropical region. The effects of N fertilization were similar across the five years. With increasing N fertilization, the concentrations of crude protein (CP) increased from 103 to 173 g kg
−1
(
P
< 0.001), soluble fractions (Fraction A + B1) increased from 363 to 434 g kg
−1
of total CP (
P
= 0.006); neutral detergent fiber (NDF) decreased from 609 to 556 g kg
−1
(
P
= 0.037); indigestible NDF (
P
= 0.046), potentially degradable neutral detergent fiber (
P
= 0.037), and acid detergent fiber decreased (
P
= 0.05), and total digestible nutrient (TDN) increased (
P
< 0.001). Increasing N fertilization decreased the concentrations of Fraction C (
P
= 0.014) and total carbohydrates (
P
< 0.0001), and increased CP:organic matter digestibility (
P
< 0.01). Concentrations of neutral detergent fiber free of ash and protein (P = 0.003), indigestible neutral detergent fiber (
P
< 0.001), neutral detergent fiber potentially degradable (
P
= 0.11), CP (
P
< 0.001), Fraction A + B1 (
P
< 0.001), Fraction B2 (
P
< 0.001), Fraction B3 (
P
< 0.01), and non-structural carbohydrates differed (
P
< 0.001) across years. Therefore, N fertilization can be used to increase CP, soluble protein, and TDN.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Grasslands cover approximately 24% of the Earth's surface and are the main feed source for cattle and other ruminants. Sustainable and efficient grazing systems require regular monitoring of the ...quantity and nutritive value of pastures. This study demonstrates the potential of estimating pasture leaf forage mass (FM), crude protein (CP) and fiber content of tropical pastures using Sentinel-2 satellite images and machine learning algorithms. Field datasets and satellite images were assessed from an experimental area of Marandu palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha sny. Brachiaria brizantha) pastures, with or without nitrogen fertilization, and managed under continuous stocking during the pasture growing season from 2016 to 2020. Models based on support vector regression (SVR) and random forest (RF) machine-learning algorithms were developed using meteorological data, spectral reflectance, and vegetation indices (VI) as input features. In general, SVR slightly outperformed the RF models. The best predictive models to estimate FM were those with VI combined with meteorological data. For CP and fiber content, the best predictions were achieved using a combination of spectral bands and meteorological data, resulting in R
of 0.66 and 0.57, and RMSPE of 0.03 and 0.04 g/g dry matter. Our results have promising potential to improve precision feeding technologies and decision support tools for efficient grazing management.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Grazing management and N-fertilizer have been reported to improve tropical forage productivity and quality, however, their effect on methane emission of grazing animals remains uncertain. ...Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of increasing application rates of nitrogen (N) fertilization of Marandu palisadegrass under continuous stocking on intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, and enteric methane emissions of Nellore growing bulls. We hypothesized that changes in the forage nutritive value caused by N fertilization of pastures combined with adequate grazing management (e.g., greater crude protein CP and digestibility) would lead to an increase in animal productivity (e.g., greater average daily gain ADG and gain per area), and then, to a decrease in methane emission intensity. Treatments consisted of different annual application rates of nitrogen fertilization: 0, 75, and 150 kg N/ha using ammonium nitrate (32% N) as the nitrogen source. The experimental design was completely randomized, with three treatments and four replications (12 paddocks). Intake, digestibility, N balance, and methane emissions were measured in eight animals per treatment. CP intake, digestibility and N balance increased linearly with the increase in N fertilization (P < 0.05). In addition, stocking rate (SR) and ADG linearly increased from 1.75 animal unit (AU = 450 kg)/ha and 0.62 kg/d (0 kg N/ha) to 3.75 AU/ha and 0.82 kg/d (150 kg N/ha), respectively. Individual methane emissions nor methane emission intensity were affected by treatment with an average of 164.7 g/d and 199.7 g/kg ADG (P > 0.05). Annual N fertilization with ammonium nitrate between 75 and 150 kg N/ha in palisadegrass pastures under continuous stocking enhances animal performance per unit area yet not affecting neither methane production nor intensity.
Nitogen fertilization of marandu pastures improves grazing beef cattle performance but not affects individual methane emissions.
Lay Summary
The availability of nitrogen in the soil is one of the main factors that can affect plant growth and characteristics. Nitrogen fertilization is a tool to increase the efficiency in the productive responses of grazing beef cattle, reconciling the greater production per area, reduction of the production cycle, maximization of the use of nutrients, with the maintenance of the system sustainability by enhancing animal production indexes. The present study evaluated performance and methane production of Nellore growing bulls grazing continuously stocked Marandu palisadegrass fertilized with three rates of ammonium nitrate (0, 75, and 150 kg N/ha). Although nitrogen fertilization did not affect individual methane production, both stocking rate and average daily gain linearly increased as fertilization rate increased, thus increasing the beef productivity.
Abstract
In Brazil beef cattle production is one of the most important activities in the agricultural sector and has an important impact on environmental and resources consumption. In this study ...assessed greenhouses gases (GHG) impacts from on farms representative productive system and the possible improvements of the production chain. Primary data from animal production index and feeding were collected from 17 farms, which covers 300.000 animals and 220.000 hectares. Emissions of methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide were made using intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) guidelines for national inventories. The GHG inventory included emissions from animals, feeds and operations for animal operation from “cradle to farm gate”. Emissions of each farm were converted to carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) and divided by carcass production. Regression analysis between carbon dioxide equivalent and productive index was run to identify possible hotspot of GHG emissions. A large variation between farms were observed. The GHG yield ranged from 8.63 kg to 50.88 CO2eq kg carcass-1. The productive index age of slaughtering (P < 0.0001), average daily gain (P < 0.0001) and productivity (P = 0.058) per area were positive correlated to GHG yield. While no correlation was found with stocking rate (P = 0.21). Improvements of the production chain could be realized by accurate animal management strategies that reduce the age of slaughtering (feeding and genetic improvements) and gain individual or per area using strategic animal supplementation and pasture management, in order to obtains reduction of GHG emissions of beef cattle.
Greenhouse gases are known to play an important role in global warming. In this study, we determined the effects of selected soil and climate variables on nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and ...carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from a tropical grassland fertilized with chicken slurry, swine slurry, cattle slurry, and cattle compost. Cumulative N2O emissions did not differ between treatments and varied from 29.26 to 32.85 mg N m−2. Similarly, cumulative CH4 emissions were not significantly different among the treatments and ranged from 6.34 to 57.73 mg CH4 m−2. Slurry and compost application induced CO2 emissions that were significantly different from those in the control treatment. The CH4 conversion factors measured were 0.21%, 1.39%, 4.39%, and 5.07% for cattle compost, chicken slurry, swine slurry, and cattle slurry, respectively, differing from the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The fraction of added N emitted as N2O was 0.39%, which was lower than the IPCC default value of 2%. Our findings suggest that N2O emissions could be mitigated by replacing synthetic fertilizer sources with either biofertilizer or compost. Our results indicate the following: N2O emission was mainly controlled by soil temperature, followed by soil moisture and then soil NH4+ content; CH4 fluxes were mainly controlled by soil moisture and chamber headspace temperature; and CO2 fluxes were mainly controlled by chamber headspace temperature and soil moisture.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Aquatic macrophytes play a key role in nutrient cycling and in the dynamics of aquatic ecosystems. Many species have been evaluated in terms of their potential in phytoremediation processes in ...environments contaminated by metals. Considering this kind of application, we evaluated the potential for the bioaccumulation and biosorption of mercury by
Salvinia biloba
as a function of (i) different concentrations of mercury ions in the solution, (ii) the exposure time of live plants and dry biomass to the contaminant, and (iii) different pH’s, besides (iv) analyzing the effects of this metal on morphological and anatomical parameters. Bioaccumulation was evaluated by subjecting live plants to treatments with concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 μg.mL
−1
of mercury in the solution and the control (0 μg.mL
−1
), at intervals of 3 days (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 days) at pH values of 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5. For biosorption, we used the dry biomass applying the same design, only changing the time intervals (0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h). The bioaccumulated and biosorbed mercury was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. High values of mercury were bioaccumulated and biosorbed, and accordingly, as the concentration of mercury ions increases in the solution, the higher the value accumulated by both living plant and dry biomass. The time of exposure and the different pH values presented variation when associated with different concentrations in the bioaccumulation of mercury
.
Finally, few symptoms of toxicity in living plants were observed, evidencing the resistance of
S. biloba
to mercury and its potential use as a phytoremediation in water bodies contaminated by this metal.
Heat stress negatively affects livestock, with undesirable effects on animals’ production and reproduction. Temperature and humidity index (THI) is a climatic variable used worldwide to study the ...effect of heat stress on farm animals. Temperature and humidity data can be obtained in Brazil through the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET), but complete data may not be available due to temporary failures on weather stations. An alternative to obtaining meteorological data is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources (NASA POWER) satellite-based weather system. We aimed to compare THI estimates obtained from INMET weather stations and NASA POWER meteorological information sources using Pearson correlation and linear regression. After quality check, data from 489 INMET weather stations were used. The hourly, average daily and maximum daily THI were evaluated. We found greater correlations and better regression evaluation metrics when average daily THI values were considered, followed by maximum daily THI, and hourly THI. NASA POWER satellite-based weather system is a suitable tool for obtaining the average and maximum THI values using information collected from Brazil, showing high correlations with THI estimates from INMET and good regression evaluation metrics, and can assist studies that aim to analyze the impact of heat stress on livestock production in Brazil, providing additional data to complement the existing information available in the INMET database.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Lignin is the main component of secondary cell walls and is essential for plant development and defense. However, lignin is recognized as a major recalcitrant factor for efficiency of industrial ...biomass processing. Genes involved in general phenylpropanoid and monolignol-specific metabolism in sugarcane have been previously analyzed at the transcriptomic level. Nevertheless, the number of genes identified in this species is still very low. The recently released sugarcane genome sequence has allowed the genome-wide characterization of the 11 gene families involved in the monolignol biosynthesis branch of the phenylpropanoid pathway. After an exhaustive analysis of sugarcane genomes, 438 haplotypes derived from 175 candidate genes from
Saccharum spontaneum
and 144 from
Saccharum
hybrid R570 were identified as associated with this biosynthetic route. The phylogenetic analyses, combined with the search for protein conserved residues involved in the catalytic activity of the encoded enzymes, were employed to identify the family members potentially involved in developmental lignification. Accordingly, 15 candidates were identified as bona fide lignin biosynthesis genes:
PTAL1
,
PAL2
,
C4H4
,
4CL1
,
HCT1
,
HCT2
,
C3’H1
,
C3’H2
,
CCoAOMT1
,
COMT1
,
F5H1
,
CCR1
,
CCR2
,
CAD2
, and
CAD7
. For this core set of lignin biosynthetic genes, we searched for the chromosomal location, the gene expression pattern, the promoter cis-acting elements, and microRNA targets. Altogether, our results present a comprehensive characterization of sugarcane general phenylpropanoid and monolignol-specific genes, providing the basis for further functional studies focusing on lignin biosynthesis manipulation and biotechnological strategies to improve sugarcane biomass utilization.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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