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Foraging behavior studies have supported innovations in sward management, making pastoral systems more sustainable and competitive. Based on this, we evaluated the sheep's ingestive behavior responses and the changes in sward structure during four stages of grazing down in rotational stocking, indicating the threshold level of grazing down for sheep grazing in the reproductive stage of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) managed under two grazing intensities (low and moderate). We found evidence that the two grazing intensities each promoted a grazing down at approximately 45% of the non-limiting pre-grazing sward height. However, during grazing down at the end of the sward reproductive stage, the leaves frequency remained lower than that of inflorescences, indicating a restrictive situation for animals in each of the two grazing intensities evaluated. The sheep's ingestive behavior patterns were constrained by the modifications in sward structure. There was observed a decrease in grazing time and bite rate, and a gradual increase in the number of steps between feeding stations during the grazing down stages. Therefore, sheep's behavioral responses during the grazing down of annual ryegrass depend on: (i) grazing intensity, (ii) period of the sward reproductive stage, and (iii) forage structural and chemical composition during grazing down.

This paper has the following objectives: i) evaluate which of the two techniques, n-alkanes or faecal crude protein (fCP), and their equations had the highest accuracy in estimating DM intake by sheep; and ii) evaluate which ratio option of n-alkanes (C31:C32 or C33:C32) was most accurate in estimating sheep DM intake. The experimental design was a randomised complete block with three replicates (paddocks) and repeated measures on time (periods), arranged in a two-level factorial design, with two stocking methods (continuous and rotational) and two grazing intensities (moderate and low). In general, both the fCP and n-alkanes techniques and equations tested are potential to estimate DM intake by sheep grazing Italian ryegrass, however, the equation proposed by Azevedo et al. (2014) and De-Stefani Aguiar et al. (2013) are the most accurate (lower CV), respectively. The n-alkanes ratio C31:C32 is the more accurate predictor of DM intake by sheep grazing Italian ryegrass pastures.

RESUMO Busca-se nos Sistemas Integrados de Produção Agropecuária (SIPA) maior ciclagem do nitrogênio (N). Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a adubação antecipada em azevém pastejado por ovinos no índice de nutrição nitrogenada (INN) das culturas de verão em SIPA. O estudo foi realizado em um protocolo de longa duração manejado, no período de inverno, sob dois métodos de pastoreio, contínuo e rotativo, e duas intensidades de pastejo, moderada e baixa, com quatro repetições. No verão, a área foi subdividida em dois sistemas de cultivos, soja e rotação soja/milho. A fertilização foi feita na fase pastagem, com 75 kg de N e 60 kg de P2O5 e K2O ha-1. Avaliaram-se a massa de forragem residual (MFR) da pastagem e o rendimento, o teor de N e o INN da fitomassa das culturas de verão. No milho, houve efeito das intensidades de pastejo para INN, ao contrário da soja. Não houve efeito dos métodos de pastoreio. A MFR é importante fonte de N para a cultura de verão subsequente. Menores intensidades de pastejo geraram maiores MFR e INN para a cultura do milho. A adubação antecipada não influenciou a soja, pois essa atende parte da sua demanda por N pela fixação biológica. ABSTRACT Greater nitrogen (N) cycling is sought through Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems (ICLS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of early fertilization of nitrogen applied to ryegrass grazed by sheep on the nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) of summer crops in ICLS. This study was carried out in a long-term protocol managed in the winter under two stocking methods, continuous and rotational, and two grazing intensities, moderate and low, with four replications. In summer, the area was divided into two cropping systems - soybean monoculture and a soybean/maize rotation. Fertilization was carried out in the pasture phase with 75 kg N and 60 kg P2O5 and K2O ha-1. Residual forage mass (RFM) of pasture, and phytomass yield, N content, and NNI of the summer crops were evaluated. An effect of grazing intensities was found on the maize NNI, but not on soybean. There was no effect from grazing methods. The RFM is an important source of N for the subsequent summer crop. Lower grazing intensities generate higher RFM and NNI for maize. Early fertilization did not affect soybean, because it meets part of its N demand by biological nitrogen fixation.

This paper aims to discuss the impact of the introduction of pastures and grazing animals in agricultural systems. For the purposes of this manuscript, we focus on within-farm integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS), typical of Southern Brazil. These ICLS are designed to create and enhance the synergisms and emergent properties have arisen from agricultural areas where livestock activities are integrated with crops. We show that the introduction of the crop component will affect less the preceding condition than the introduction of the livestock component. While the introduction of crops in pastoral systems represents increasing diversity of the plant component, the introduction of animals would represent the entry of new flows and interactions within the system. Thus, given the new complexity levels achieved from the introduction of grazing, the probability of arising emergent properties is theoretically much higher. However, grazing management is vital in determining the success or failure of such initiative. The grazing intensity practiced during the pasture phase would affect the canopy structure and the forage availability to animals. In adequate and moderate grazing intensities, it is possible to affirm that livestock combined with crops (ICLS) has a potential positive impact. As important as the improvements that grazing animals can generate to the soil-plant components, the economic resilience remarkably increases when pasture rotations are introduced compared with purely agriculture systems, particularly in climate-risk situations. Thus, the integration of the pastoral component can enhance the sustainable intensification of food production, but it modifies simple, pure agricultural systems into more complex and knowledge-demanding production systems.

We evaluated the re-establishment of an Italian ryegrass pasture by self-seeding on a no-till integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) in the southern region of Brazil. This work is part of a long-term experimental protocol initiated in 2003. We tested the effects of various management practices, such as summer crop systems (soybean vs. maize-soybean rotation), stocking methods (continuous vs. rotational) and grazing intensities (low vs. moderate), on Italian ryegrass pasture establishment. In addition, we tested resilience of the system by testing pasture's ability to re-establish following a year without seed head production. The experiment consisted in the rotation, on the same area, of Italian ryegrass pasture grazed by sheep during the winter and up to the end of the grass production cycle, and soybean or soybean-maize grain crops rotation cultivated during the summer. The pasture established itself by self-seeding since 2005. Data were collected in 2011 and 2012 stocking season. The soybean summer crop, continuous stocking and low grazing intensity, all positively affected the production of reproductive tillers in 2011. Grazing intensity in 2011 strongly influenced early vegetative tiller densities (before crop harvest) in 2012. However, none of the grazing intensity or the stocking method treatments affected herbage mass at the end of pasture establishment in 2011 or 2012. On the other hand, the soybean summer crop positively affected pasture establishment, both in term of tiller densities and herbage mass at the end of pasture establishment. The removal of all seed heads in 2011 (preventing seed production) resulted in the total failure of pasture establishment in 2012. Overall, Italian ryegrass establishment by self-seeding relies on the annual replacement of the soil seed bank. This experiment demonstrated that under various stocking methods, moderate grazing intensity and maize or soybean summer crop, Italian ryegrass pasture establishment by self-seeding remains successful even when the stocking periods extended up to the end of the grass production cycle. Self-seeding with moderate grazing intensity ensures successful pasture establishment, reduces labour and costs and allows to increase the stocking period and so animal live weight gain over the grazing season. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

O objetivo deste experimento foi avaliar os componentes da produção de sementes, a produtividade de sementes aparentes e puras e a qualidade de sementes do capim-mombaça (Panicum maximum, Jacq. cv. Mombaça), adubado com quatro doses de nitrogênio (0, 50, 100 e 150 kg ha-1). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. As variáveis analisadas foram os números de perfilhos vegetativos e com panículas, números de sementes por panícula e por área, índice de colheita, massa de mil sementes puras e a germinação de sementes. Houve efeito linear da dose de nitrogênio sobre o número de perfilhos com panículas, nos números de sementes aparentes e puras por panícula e por área, nas produtividades de sementes aparentes, puras e puras viáveis e sobre o índice de colheita. Na maior dose de N aplicada, a produtividade de sementes aparentes foi de 73 kg ha-1 e de sementes puras igual a 34 kg ha-1. Correlações significativas foram obtidas entre produtividade de sementes aparentes e puras, com a massa de perfilho com panícula, número de perfilhos com panícula, número de sementes aparentes e puras, por panícula e por área, com a matéria seca ha-1 e com o índice de colheita. A massa de mil sementes puras e a germinação de sementes não foi influenciada pela adubação nitrogenada. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the influence of nitrogen doses on seed production and quality of the Mombaça grass (Panicum maximum, Jacq. cv. Mombaça). The nitrogen doses were 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1, in a completely randomized block design with four replications. The variables evaluated were the number of vegetative and fertile tillers, the number of apparent and pure seeds per panicle and area, the harvesting index, the weight of one thousand pure seeds, and the percentage of seed germination. Linear effects were observed with the nitrogen doses on the number of fertile tillers, number of apparent and pure seeds per panicle and area, harvest index, apparent and pure seed yields, and the viability of the pure seeds. At the highest dose of N applied, the apparent seed yield was 72.6 kg ha-1 and pure seed yield was 34.3 kg ha-1. Apparent and pure seed yields were highly correlated to the number of fertile tillers and their individual mass, number of apparent and pure seeds per panicle and area, dry matter ha-1 and harvest index. The nitrogen fertilization had no influence on the weight of one thousand pure seeds and percentage of seed germination.

O objetivo deste experimento foi avaliar os componentes da produção de sementes, a produtividade de sementes aparentes e puras e a qualidade de sementes do capim-mombaça (Panicum maximum, Jacq. cv. Mombaça), adubado com quatro doses de nitrogênio (0, 50, 100 e 150 kg ha-1). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. As variáveis analisadas foram os números de perfilhos vegetativos e com panículas, números de sementes por panícula e por área, índice de colheita, massa de mil sementes puras e a germinação de sementes. Houve efeito linear da dose de nitrogênio sobre o número de perfilhos com panículas, nos números de sementes aparentes e puras por panícula e por área, nas produtividades de sementes aparentes, puras e puras viáveis e sobre o índice de colheita. Na maior dose de N aplicada, a produtividade de sementes aparentes foi de 73 kg ha-1 e de sementes puras igual a 34 kg ha-1. Correlações significativas foram obtidas entre produtividade de sementes aparentes e puras, com a massa de perfilho com panícula, número de perfilhos com panícula, número de sementes aparentes e puras, por panícula e por área, com a matéria seca ha-1 e com o índice de colheita. A massa de mil sementes puras e a germinação de sementes não foi influenciada pela adubação nitrogenada.The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the influence of nitrogen doses on seed production and quality of the Mombaça grass (Panicum maximum, Jacq. cv. Mombaça). The nitrogen doses were 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1, in a completely randomized block design with four replications. The variables evaluated were the number of vegetative and fertile tillers, the number of apparent and pure seeds per panicle and area, the harvesting index, the weight of one thousand pure seeds, and the percentage of seed germination. Linear effects were observed with the nitrogen doses on the number of fertile tillers, number of apparent and pure seeds per panicle and area, harvest index, apparent and pure seed yields, and the viability of the pure seeds. At the highest dose of N applied, the apparent seed yield was 72.6 kg ha-1 and pure seed yield was 34.3 kg ha-1. Apparent and pure seed yields were highly correlated to the number of fertile tillers and their individual mass, number of apparent and pure seeds per panicle and area, dry matter ha-1 and harvest index. The nitrogen fertilization had no influence on the weight of one thousand pure seeds and percentage of seed germination.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de doses de nitrogênio e de épocas de colheita de sementes sobre componentes de produtividade de forragem e sementes de capim-mombaça (Panicum maximum cultivar Mombaça). Os tratamentos foram constituídos das doses 0, 75, 150, 225 e 300 kg ha-1 de N e da colheita das sementes aos 8 e 14 dias após a antese. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos ao acaso em parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. A produtividade de forragem e de lâmina foliar foi afetada positiva e linearmente pelas doses de N. Os caracteres densidade de perfilhos com panículas, número de sementes aparentes e de sementes puras por panícula, e produtividade de sementes aparentes e puras foram afetados pela interação entre doses de N e época de colheita. Observou-se correlação positiva do número de sementes por panícula e do peso de mil sementes com as produtividades de sementes aparentes e puras. As maiores produtividades de sementes aparentes e puras - 89,1 e 28,2 kg ha-1, respectivamente - foram obtidas com as doses de 241,2 e 250,0 kg ha-1 de N, aos oito dias após a antese. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen doses and harvesting time, on the yield components of forage and seed production of Mombaça Guineagrass (Panicum maximum cultivar Mombaça). The treatments were composed by N doses (0, 75, 150, 225 and 300 kg ha-1) and two harvesting times (8 and 14 days after anthesis). The experimental design was the randomized complete block in a split-plot arrangement with four replicates. Forage and leaf lamina yield were positively and linearly affected by N doses. The characters density of fertile tillers, apparent number of seeds and number of pure seeds per panicle, and apparent and pure seed yields were significantly affected by the interaction between N doses and harvesting time. Positive correlation was observed between apparent or pure seed yield and number of seed per panicle and weight of one thousand seeds. The highest apparent seed yield of 89.1 kg ha-1 and pure seed yield of 28.2 kg ha-1 were observed on nitrogen doses at 241.2 and 250.0 kg ha-1, respectively, at 8 days after anthesis.

Among the various sources with a potential negative impact on the environment, methane (CH4) emissions from livestock origin have been highlighted as important for the agricultural sector. Research to mitigate CH4 emissions and understand how integrated crop and livestock production systems may contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases, is essential for the development of public policies for environmental preservation. We hypothesized that combinations of stocking methods and grazing intensities provokes differences in the quantity and quality of herbage ingested, thus altering animal production and CH4 emissions by the grazing animal. Experiments were carried out in 2011 (Experiment 1) and 2012 (Experiment 2), when the production of pasture and CH4 emissions from sheep were studied in a system that integrates soybean (Glycine max. (L.) Merr.) and maize (Zea mays L.) in the summer/autumn, in rotation with Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in winter/spring. Two stocking methods (continuous or rotational) and two grazing intensities (herbage allowance: moderate and low, 2.5 and 5 times the potential daily dry matter intake, respectively) in a randomized complete block design with three replicates were studied. Lambs were used in the first experiment, while lactating ewes (all with a single lamb) were used in the second experiment. Average daily gain (ADG) of lambs was greater (P < 0.05) in continuous than in rotational stocking, regardless of grazing intensity (150 vs. 89 g day−1 and 241 vs. 209 g day−1 in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively). Ewe ADG did not differ (P > 0.05) between treatments. Live weight gain per hectare (LWGHA) showed the same response in both experiments, with greater LWGHA in moderate grazing intensity (P < 0.05). In Experiment 1, the dry matter intake (DMI) was on average 21% greater (P < 0.05) for continuous stocking than rotational stocking (1345 g day−1 vs. 1075 g day−1, respectively), while in Experiment 2, no differences (P > 0.05) between stocking methods and grazing intensities were observed (1673 ± 83 g day−1). The CH4 emissions per animal did not differ (P > 0.05) among treatments in both experiments (22.7 ± 1.0 and 39.9 ± 1.3 g day−1, Experiments 1 and 2, respectively), but when expressed in g CH4 kg ADG−1 emissions were on average 35 and 15% greater (Experiments 1 and 2, respectively) (P < 0.05) under rotational than continuous stocking, independent of grazing intensity (171 vs. 263 g CH4 kg ADG−1 and 171 vs. 202 g CH4 kg ADG−1 in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively). Stocking method was more important than grazing intensity in determining methane production by grazing sheep. Continuous stocking was the most efficient grazing management in reducing methane emissions per unit animal production. Fil: Savian, Jean Victor. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Barth Neto, Armindo. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil. Universidade Federal do Paraná; Brasil Fil: Bitencourt de David, Diego. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil. Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária; Brasil Fil: Bremm, Carolina. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil. Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária; Brasil Fil: Marinho Três Schons, Radael. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Moraes Genro, Teresa Cristina. Ministerio da Agricultura Pecuaria e Abastecimento de Brasil. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria; Brasil Fil: Amaral, Glaucia Azevedo do. Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária; Brasil. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Gere, José Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: McMagnus, Concepta Margaret. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Bayer, Cimélio. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Faccio Carvalho, Paulo César de. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil

The objective of this work was to evaluate tiller density, herbage mass, pattern of tiller population, and sward stability index in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) pastures established after soybean or corn, subjected to different stocking methods and grazing intensities by sheep. Rotational or continuous stockings were evaluated under moderate (forage allowance equivalent to 2.5 times the potential consumption of lambs) and low grazing intensities (equivalent to 5.0 times). It was used a completely randomized block design, with a 2x2x2 factorial arrangement with four replicates. Evaluations were done monthly, between August and October 2010, during the pasture period. The tiller population density differed significantly with stocking methods and grazing intensities and was higher in the area previously cultivated with soybean, in the evaluation performed in August. The highest herbage masses were observed in pastures established after soybean at low-grazing intensity, whereas the lowest were observed in pastures established after corn with moderate grazing intensity. During the reproductive period, tillering density reduced, and the individual tiller mass increased. Moderate grazing intensity reduces the percentage of fertile tillers. Reduction in tiller density during flowering does not affect the sward stability index., O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a densidade populacional de perfilhos, a massa de forragem, o padrão populacional de perfilhamento e o índice de estabilidade de pastagens de azevém anual (Lolium multiflorum) estabelecidas após os cultivos de soja ou milho, submetidas a diferentes métodos e intensidades de pastejo por cordeiros. Foram avaliados os métodos de pastejo rotativo e contínuo, sob as intensidades moderada (oferta de forragem correspondente a 2,5 vezes o potencial de consumo de cordeiros) e baixa (correspondente a 5,0 vezes). Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, em arranjo fatorial 2x2x2, com quatro repetições. As avaliações foram feitas mensalmente, entre agosto e outubro de 2010, durante a fase de pastejo. A densidade populacional de perfilhos apresentou diferenças significativas para métodos e intensidades de pastejo, e foi maior na área previamente cultivada com soja. As maiores massas de forragem foram observadas em pastagens subsequentes à soja e com baixa intensidade de pastejo, enquanto as menores, nas pastagens subsequentes ao milho e com moderada intensidade de pastejo. No período de florescimento, a densidade de perfilhos reduziu-se e suas massas individuais aumentaram. A intensidade de pastejo moderada reduz o percentual de perfilhos florescidos. A redução da densidade de perfilhos durante o florescimento não compromete o índice de estabilidade do pasto.