Broiler recycled litter treatments against Clostridium perfringens and enterobacteria in conventional and dark house systems

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of quicklime and shallow fermentation applications on the reduction of Clostridium perfringens and enterobacteria in recycled poultry litter, in dark house and conventional systems. Eighty litter samples were evaluated, being divided into four groups: litter treated with quicklime in dark house; litter treated with shallow fermentation and quicklime in dark house; and litter treated with quicklime in conventional broiler house; litter treated with shallow fermentation and quicklime in conventional broiler house. Samples were collected one day before slaughter and five days after litter treatment and were subjected to the quantitative microbiological analysis of enterobacteria and C. perfringens. The bacterial load in pre-treated litter was similar between the dark house and conventional systems. The groups treated only with quicklime showed a significant reduction of enterobacteria in both systems. The reduction of C. perfringens was only observed in the litter group treated with shallow fermentation and quicklime, in conventional broiler house. The use of 500 g m-2 quicklime is the most effective method to reduce enterobacteria load in broiler litter both in the dark house and conventional broiler house systems. The combined treatment of shallow fermentation for seven days with the subsequent application of 500 g m-2 quicklime is efficient for the reduction of C. perfringens in broiler litter, in conventional broiler house.

Ultrasound-assisted emulsions with biopolymers for spray-drying of lemongrass essential oil

The objective of this work was to evaluate the partial replacement of gum arabic by modified starches on the spray-drying microencapsulation of lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) essential oil. The ultrasound-assisted emulsions were prepared with 30% (w/w) of wall material, 7.5% (w/w) of oil load, and 1:1 (w/w) replacement ratio for all treatments. After 16 hours, the incompatibility observed between gum arabic and octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) starch did not affect the obtained microparticles, since the treatment with OSA starch, partially replacing gum arabic, showed the best results for the process yield and for the oil charge retention after spray-drying process, and the treatment showed Newtonian viscosity close to that of the treatment prepared with gum arabic. Maltodextrin dextrose equivalent 10 (10DE) shows an oil load similar to that of the treatment with gum arabic, while the presence of maize maltodextrin DE20 reduces the content of encapsulated oil and the efficiency of the drying process due to the adherence of particles to the chamber. Therefore, the partial substitution of gum arabic is an alternative for the formation of emulsions, for the spray-drying microencapsulation of lemongrass essential oil.

Physicochemical and aromatic composition of 'Sauvignon Blanc' wines obtained from the Y-trellis and VSP training systems

The objective of this work was to compare the effect of the Y-trellis and vertical shoot position trellis (VSP) training systems on the physicochemical composition and aromatic profile of 'Sauvignon Blanc' (Vitis vinifera) wines in a high-altitude region of the state of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil. The experiment was conducted during the 2015 vintage in a commercial vineyard located in the municipality of São Joaquim. The treatments consisted of the training systems: Y-trellis and VSP pruned in spur cordon. Sixty kilograms of grapes were harvested from each training system to make the wines, which were evaluated as to their chemical and phenolic composition and aromatic profile. There is no effect of the training system on the wine chemical variables pH, total acidity, color, and total polyphenols. The aromatic profile and phenolic composition of the wines are affected by the training systems, being related to the variables ethyl acetate, isoamyl acetate, 3-methyl-1-butanol, propanoic acid, and gallic acid in the Y-trellis, and to 1-hexanol, isovaleric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, and catechin in VSP. The Y-trellis system can be an alternative for high-altitude regions of Southern Brazil.

Quality of strawberries subjected to pre-harvest UV-C radiation

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the use of UV-C radiation at an intensity of 0.53 KJ m-2, during strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) cultivation, on the physicochemical and phytochemical parameters of the fruits. The used experimental design was completely randomized, in a single-factor arrangement with 11, 19, 29, and 39 UV-C applications and without UV-C application. The hue of the fruits was smaller at the end of the study period. pH varied in strawberries that received 39 applications of UV-C, and the soluble solids content differed with 19 applications. Antioxidant activity was lower in fruits with 11, 19, and 29 UV-C applications, whereas vitamin C content was lower only in fruits that received 29 applications. The use of UV-C radiation at an intensity of 0.53 KJ m-2, during strawberry cultivation, affects the physicochemical and phytochemical parameters of the fruits, but does not cause losses in their quality.

Weathering features of a remineralizer in soil under different land uses

The objective of this work was to analyze the mineralogical, morphological, and compositional modifications resulting from the weathering of diabase grains buried into soil under different land uses for up to 378 days. Samples of comminuted diabase were put into polyester bags and buried into soil under corn crop, elephant grass, and woods, being unburied and evaluated after four time periods. The samples of the remineralizer (RM) were analyzed by X-ray diffractometry, total chemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Al (Ald and Alo) and Fe (Fed and Feo) contents extracted by sodium dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB) and ammonium oxalate (AAO) solutions. Plagioclases and pyroxenes were the most weathered minerals in all three land uses and showed the same pattern of elemental gains and losses. The characterization of Fe and Al solubility in DCB and AAO showed that the greatest change in these elements was from the lithogenic and crystalline to the pedogenic and amorphous phase, when compared with their total content. Plagioclases and pyroxenes were the most weathered minerals, and Fe and Al show a great transfer from the crystalline to the amorphous phase, with values up to 26 and 175, respectively, for the ratios between bags with RM/Feo and RM-control and bags with RM/Alo and RM-control.

Selection gains for the palm oil production from progenies of American oil palm with oil palm

The objective of this work was to estimate the genetic parameters, correlations, and selection gains for the oil production of interspecific hybrids progenies between American oil palm, of ‘Manicoré’ origin, and oil palm, of ‘La Mé’ origin. Thirty-nine progenies were evaluated from the sixth to the ninth year after planting, for the productivity of fresh fruit bunches (PROD_FFB), oil content in the bunch (OCB), and palm oil productivity (PROD_OP). The genetic parameters and gains from direct (GDS) and indirect (GIS) selection were estimated for PROD_OP. High values of heritability for the CVg/CVe ratio indicated favorable conditions for the selection. With the selection of 20% of the progenies (selection in both sexes), the following estimates were obtained: 11.15% GDS for PROD_OP, 9.1% GIS for OCB, and 8.1% GIS for PROD_FFB. The PROD_OP of the progenies was of 6,175, 6,057, and 5,995 kg ha-1 per year with GDS and GIS for OCB and PROD_FFB, respectively. The restricted selection of the LM2T male genitor offspring resulted in 5.1% estimated GSD and in a mean of 5,800 kg ha-1 per year for PROD_OP. Selection gains for PROD_OP can be achieved immediately through the selection restricted to oil palm male genitors, and, in the medium and long term, through the interspecific reciprocal recurrent selection between American oil palm and oil palm populations.

Dietary hybrid phytase and carbohydrases on nutrient digestibility and bone quality of broiler chickens

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the use of hybrid phytase, alone or combined with carbohydrases, in poultry diets with nutritional reductions of calcium, available phosphorus, and metabolizable energy on the nutrient digestibility and bone quality of broiler chickens. A total of 1,875 broilers were distributed in five treatments in a completely randomized design, with 15 replicates of 25 chickens each. The treatments consisted of a positive control feed (T1) and of four negative controls (T2 to T5): T1, basal diet (BD) with corn and soybean; T2 and T3, BDs with reductions of 70 and 100 kcal kg-1 metabolizable energy, respectively, and both with reductions of 0.16% Ca and 0.15% available P; and T4 and T5, BDs with the same nutritional reductions, but supplemented with enzymes, i.e., T4 = T2 + 500 phytase units (FTU) per kilogram and T5 = T3 + 500 FTU kg-1 + 560 xylanase units (TXU) per kilogram + 250 glucanase units (TGU) per kilogram. The use of 500 FTU kg-1 hybrid phytase in pelleted corn-soybean meal diets allows a good digestive performance by broilers and replaces the nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy at 70 kcal kg-1, as well as 0.16% Ca and 0.15% available P.

Corrective and maintenance phosphorus fertilization on sugarcane yield in Oxisols

The objective of this work was to evaluate sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) yield in response to corrective and maintenance phosphorus fertilization in Oxisols. Two experiments were carried out in randomized complete blocks with four replicates. In the corrective fertilization treatments, 150 kg ha-1 P2O5 were broadcast and incorporated before planting. In the maintenance fertilization treatments, 40 kg ha-1 P2O5 per year were applied over the trash blanket. All treatments, except the control, were fertilized with 170 kg ha-1 P2O5 in the planting furrow. The first experiment was carried out in a sugarcane expansion area and the second, in a replanting area, in Oxisols with a low and high phosphorus availability, respectively. In the first experiment, corrective fertilization increased cane yield in 13.4 Mg ha-1 for plant cane and in 14.6 Mg ha-1 for the average of four ratoon crops, whereas maintenance fertilization increased yield in 17.7 and 8.1 Mg ha-1 for the average of four ratoon crops for the treatments without and with corrective fertilization, respectively. In the second experiment, there were no significant differences between treatments regarding yield. Corrective and maintenance phosphorus fertilization should be considered for sugarcane in areas where soil phosphorus availability is limiting.

Microbial fertilizer from PK rocks on lettuce nutrients and soil attributes in consecutive crops

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of a microbial fertilizer, produced from phosphate and potassic rocks and earthworm compost, as an alternative to conventional fertilizers, on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) nutrients and soil attributes. The experiment was conducted in consecutive cycles (30 and 60 days) in a soil from the Lorca region, in the municipality of Murcia, Spain. The fertilization treatments were: conventional fertilizer, 100% of the recommended rate (RR); microbial fertilizer, 50% of the RR (5 Mg ha-1); microbial fertilizer, 100% of the RR (10 Mg ha-1); microbial fertilizer, 150% of the RR (15 Mg ha-1); and control, without N-P2O5-K2O fertilization. The microbial fertilizers applied at 100 and 150% of the RR showed significant and positive effects, as well as the best results for plant characteristics. The microbial fertilizer increased total N and available P and K compared with the conventional fertilizer. A residual effect was observed in the successive cycle. The effectiveness of the microbial fertilizer shows it is a viable alternative to conventional fertilizers, with positive effects on plant productivity and soil attributes.

Morphometric measurements for sexual dimorphism in the Campolina horse breed

The objective of this work was to distinguish the sexual dimorphism of horses of the Campolina breed, by morphometric measurements, and to classify them according to sex, using discriminating functions. Two-hundred and fifteen horses were measured, and 39 morphometric measurements were evaluated. The analysis of covariance and the discriminant analysis were performed. Males were taller and showed a wider chest, a greater scapular-humeral angle, and a larger neck, both in length and circumference. Females had a larger heart girth, wider hips, and a greater opening of the coxal-ground and femorotibial angles. Regarding classification, circumference measurements (85.58%) were more accurate in sexual differentiation than the linear (83.26%) and angular (73.02%) ones. As to classification error, of the total animals measured, 10 to 20% of the females were categorized as males. In addition, 11 to 38% of the males were categorized as females. It can be concluded that of the 39 morphometric measurements evaluated, 22 are responsible for sexual dimorphism in the Campolina horse breed. Circumference and linear measurements provide a more assertive classification to determine sexual dimorphism. Angular measurements show greater classification errors regarding the gender of the horses.