The objective of this study was to obtain different dry matter contents and proportions of melon plant biomass for silage making. A completely randomized design with factorial arrangement (3 × 2) and ...four replications was adopted. The first factor consisted of three melon biomass mixtures based on as-fed composition of plant (branches + leaves) and harvested melon (fruits)—100% plant (0% fruit), 90% plant + 10% fruit, and 100% fruit. The second factor corresponded to the ensiled material, which was either fresh or dehydrated in the field after harvest (40% dry matter). Silages produced from dehydrated biomass after fruit harvest, containing 0% and 10% fruit, showed the highest dry matter contents: 297 g/kg and 293 g/kg, respectively. Silages produced from fresh biomass containing 0% and 10% fruit showed high concentrations of acetic acid, reaching 14.9 g/kg and 14.1 g/kg, respectively. Silages produced from dehydrated biomass containing 10% and 100% fruit showed better results in terms of the indicators associated with high-quality silage. Dehydration improves the fermentative profile and overall quality of melon silage.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of harvesting the sesame plant at different phenological stages on silage quality. A completely randomized design with five replications was ...adopted. The treatments were different phenological stages of the plant at harvest (WOP = Without pod, WP = With pod, MG = Milky grain, MTG = Mature grain). The chemical composition was determined after opening the silos. Fermentation characteristics were evaluated by measuring pH, N-NH3 concentration, organic acid contents (acetic, butyric, propionic and lactic), quantification of losses through gases and effluents, dry matter recovery (DMR) and evaluation of the aerobic stability of the silage. Dry matter in situ degradability (DM) was evaluated using two rumen-cannulated sheep. All data were analyzed through mixed models. The means of chemical composition, fermentation characteristics and losses were compared by the Tukey's adjusted test and significant differences were declared when P ≤ 0.05. The chemical composition of the sesame silage was affected by the plant's phenological stage at harvest. There was significant effect (P < 0.05) on all chemical composition variables evaluated in this study. There was no effect (P > 0.05) on fermentative characteristics. Losses through gases and effluents reduced at older phenological stages of the sesame plant. The highest DMR (949.7 g/kg) was observed in the silage of plants harvested at the MTG stage. The most stable silages were those made with plants harvested at the WOP stage (64 h), followed by MG (48 h). The highest levels of degradation of the soluble fraction were found in the silage of plants harvested at WOP (366.3 g/kg) and MG (366.1 g/kg) stages, respectively. The highest potential degradability was found in the silage of plants harvested at the MTG stage (552.7 g/kg), which consequently had the shortest lag time (6.60 h). The effective degradability at different passage rates 20, 50, 80 g/ kg /h was higher in the silage of plants harvested at WOP and MG stages. The sesame plant can be harvested at the phenological stages with pod, milky grain and mature grain for silage making.
•Sesame can be an alternative to silage production of conventional crops.•Sesame can be harvested for silage at all phenological stages after pod deposition.•Sesame harvested at the stage of mature grains has better characteristics to silage.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dick under different frequencies and levels of nitrogen application (N). Three nitrogen ...fertilizer application frequencies (1 time year-1, 6 times year-1 and 12 times year-1) and four nitrogen levels (0, 100, 200 and 400 kg of N ha-1 year-1) were evaluated one year after the planting, in a randomized blocks design with 12 replications. There was no interaction (P>0.05) between application frequencies and nitrogen levels. The number of cladodes, and the green and dry forage mass yields of the cactus pear were higher with the application frequency of 6 times year-1, presenting 18.4 ± 2.0 cladodes per plant, 151.0 ± 17.8 and 9.8 ± 1.0 t ha-1, respectively. The yield doubled with the application of 400 kg N ha-1, when compared to the treatment with no nitrogen application. With the nitrogen application frequency of 1 time year-1 the crude protein and neutral detergent fiber contents were higher, presenting 4.0 ± 0.1% and 33.8 ± 0.5%, respectively. When nitrogen is applied 6 times year-1 it provides higher growth and yield, but lower protein and fiber contents. The level 400 kg N ha-1 provides higher yield and lower nitrogen use efficiency.
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