-The present study was carried out with the objective to evaluate the productive and qualitative characteristics of forages produced in systems of intercropping of corn, brachiaria grass and different leguminous plants. Productivity, bromatological composition and the fermentative profile of the silages from the following treatments were evaluated: corn in exclusive cultivation (CEC); intercropping of corn with brachiaria grass (CB); intercropping of corn, brachiaria grass and Calopogonium mucunoides (CBCal); intercropping of corn, brachiaria grass and Macrotyloma axillare (CBMac); and intercropping of corn, brachiaria grass and Stylozanthes capitata (CBSty). The experimental design utilized was completely randomized. For each type of cultivation, five plots or replications of three linear meters were harvested, and the material was separated. The variables assessed were: dry matter productivity per area; dry matter productivity of corn per area; crude protein production per area and productivity of total digestible nutrients per area. The material originated from the cultures was ensiled, with dry matter between 28 and 32%. After, the material was placed and compacted appropriately in bucket silos. A sample was collected from each replication for determination of the contents of DM, crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), lignin, neutral and acid detergent fibers (NDF and ADF) and TDN. A fraction of the sample of silages from each treatment was compressed for extraction of the juice and determination of the silage quality. There was difference between the forms of cultivation for the dry matter production per hectare. The CEC with production of 11920.1 kg DM/ha did not differ from CB (8997.41 kg DM/ha) or CBCal (10452.10 kg DM/ha); however, it was superior to CBMac (8429.75 kg DM/ha) and to CBSty (8164.83 kg DM/ha). The contents of DM, CP, NDF, ADF, lignin and TDN did not differ between the silages from the different treatments. All the silages presented good quality with good fermentation patterns.

The silvopastoral system has been suggested as an alternative to recover degraded pastures in tropical regions. However, trees reduce the light available for pastures, which may affect the growth and herbage accumulation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphogenesis, canopy structure and herbage accumulation of signalgrass ( Brachiaria decumbens ) subjected to three light regimes (0, 20 and 70% of natural shading) and two fertilization levels (presence or absence of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). Leaf and stem elongation rates increased under shading but did not vary with fertilization. The leaf appearance rate was greater under fertilizer treatment but was generally similar among light regimes. The tiller density was greater in full sun and lower in intense shading. Tiller density responded to fertilization under full sun and moderate shading. Herbage accumulation increased by 42% with fertilization under full sun, 12% under moderate shading and did not vary under intense shading. Results showed that even under fertilization the herbage accumulation was limited by reduced light. However, under moderate shade the fertilization was important to raise tiller population over the growth cycles.

ABSTRACT. The aim was to evaluate the influence of different spatial arrangements of trees [(3×2)×20 m, (2×2)×9 m and 2×9 m] and sampling sites (center of row spacing and side of tree rows) with regard to the amount and quality of light in the understory of silvopastoral systems and their effects on the production and chemical composition of pasture. The experimental design was a randomized block in a split plot, with three replications. The sampling site affected absolute irradiance, photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), light interception (LI) and red/far red ratio, with higher rates in the center of spacing. There were high and positive correlations between LI/leaf area index (LAI), LI/dry mater (DM) and LAI/DM in the center and LI/LAI and FAR/DM in the side of tree rows. Spatial arrangement (3×2)×20 m had higher rates for plant height (PH), DM and neutral detergent fiber rate, while (2×2)×9 m had high leaf/stem ratio and crude protein rate. In the case of the sampling site, higher rates of PH and DM were reported in the center. Forage composition was not affected by sampling sites. Highest production of DM was obtained in the (3×2)×20 m arrangement and improvements in forage composition were observed in denser arrangements.Keywords: quality of light, shading, spatial arrangements, Urochloa decumbens.Relações luminosas e desempenho do capim-braquiária em sistema silvipastoril RESUMO. Objetivou-se avaliar a influência de diferentes arranjos espaciais de árvores ((3×2)×20 m, (2×2)×9 m e 9×2 m) e locais de amostragem (centro e lateral da entrelinha) na quantidade e qualidade de luz no sub-bosque de sistemas silvipastoris e seus efeitos na produção e composição bromatológica da pastagem. O delineamento utilizado foi blocos casualizados em parcelas subdivididas, com três repetições. O local de amostragem influenciou a irradiância absoluta, a radiação fotossinteticamente ativa incidente (RFAi), interceptação luminosa (IL) e relação vermelho/vermelho distante, sendo determinados maiores valores no centro das entrelinhas. Observou-se correlações altas e positivas entre IL/índice de área foliar (IAF), IL/produção de massa seca (PMS) e IAF/PMS no centro e IL/IAF e RFAi/PMS na lateral das entrelinhas. O arranjos espaciais (3×2)×20 m apresentaram maiores valores para altura da planta (AP), PMS e teor de fibra em detergente neutro, enquanto o (2×2)×9 m apresentou maiores valores para relação folha:colmo e teor de proteína bruta. Quanto ao local de amostragem, os maiores valores de AP e PMS foram observados no centro. A composição da forragem não foi influenciada pelos locais de amostragem. A maior PMS foi obtida no arranjo (3×2)×20 m e melhorias na composição da forragem foram observados nos arranjos mais adensados.Palavras-chave: qualidade da luz, sombreamento, arranjos espaciais, Urochloa decumbens.

RESUMO.O experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar as trocas gasosas de genótipos de capim-elefante anão, em diferentes condições hídricas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com três repetições. Foram avaliados três genótipos de capim-elefante anão (Mott, CNPGL 94-34-3 e CNPGL 92-198-7) em duas condições de umidade do solo: irrigado (I) e não-irrigado (NI). Foi observada diferença entre os tratamentos I e NI para todos os genótipos em relação à taxa fotossintética, condutância estomática, transpiração e déficit de pressão de vapor. O genótipo CNPGL 94-34-3 apresentou maior tolerância ao estresse hídrico, seguido pelos genótipos Mott e CNPGL 92-198-7. Todos os genótipos avaliados apresentaram, em condições ideais de umidade do solo, alta taxa fotossintética, caracterizando, deste modo, os genótipos estudados como plantas de elevada eficiência fotossintética.Palavras-chave: condutância estomática, déficit de pressão de vapor, fotoinibição, fotossíntese, transpiração.ABSTRACT. Photosynthetic characteristics of dwarf elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) genotypes under different hydric conditions. The experiment was carried out aiming to evaluate the gas exchange of dwarf elephant grass genotypes under different hydric conditions, in a randomized design with three replications. Genotypes of dwarf elephant grass (Mott, were analyzed under two hydric conditions: irrigated (I) and non-irrigated (NI). Differences between treatments I and NI were observed for all genotypes for photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration and water vapor pressure deficit. Genotype CNPGL 94-34-3 presented highest tolerance to hydric stress, followed by genotypes. All genotypes presented high photosynthetic rate, under ideal conditions of soil humidity, thus characterizing the analyzed dwarf elephant grass genotypes as plants with high photosynthetic efficiency.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of inclusion of crambe bran concentrations (Crambe abyssinica Hochst.) with different specific masses in elephant grass silage (Penninsetum purpureum Schum.). For that, the bromatological and microbiological compositions of the experimental silages were determined. We used 48 mini silos distributed in a completely randomized design, arranged in a factorial 4 × 3, four levels of inclusion of crambe bran (0; 10; 20 and 30%) and three specific masses (400; 500 and 600 kg MN m-3), with four replications. After 240 days of fermentation the silos were opened. It was observed linear effect on DM, CP, NDFap, ADFap, HEM, LIG, NFC, TC and population of bacteria that produce lactic acid with the addition of crambe meal. There was interaction between the crambe bran factors and specific masses on the values of pH and N-NH3. For MM variables and yeast count there was a negative linear effect due to the evaluated specific mass. The inclusion of crambe bran helps to increase the fermentative profile and the bromatological composition of elephant grass silages studied, and the best results were obtained with the addition of 30% of this coproduct, based on the natural matter.