Protected urea as a nitrogen source for Mulato II grass: impacts on forage production, feed value and composition
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(13)82-93Abstract
The growing demand for high-yielding forage cultivars with drought tolerance, broad environmental adaptation and sustained feed quality has stimulated the development of new Urochloa (syn. Brachiaria) genotypes, such as Mulato II. Efficient nitrogen (N) fertilization strategies are essential to optimize their productivity and nutritional value. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of N fertilization, using conventional and protected urea at 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N/ha on green mass production (GMP), dry matter production (DMP), leaf:stem ratio (LSR), nutritional value, apparent nitrogen recovery (ANR), apparent nitrogen conversion efficiency (ANCE), and crude protein yield per hectare (CP/ha) of Mulato II. The experiment followed a completely randomized 4 × 2 factorial design. The results showed that the N source significantly affected GMP, DMP, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) during the second growth period, and ANCE. Increasing N rates led to higher GMP, DMP and CP concentration, while decreasing ANCE. Fertilization with protected urea improved ANCE and reduced NDF concentration, indicating greater efficiency in nitrogen utilization. These findings support the strategic use of protected urea at moderate N rates to enhance forage productivity and nitrogen use efficiency in Mulato II.
Author Biographies
Reginaldo Jacovetti, Universidade Federal de Goiás
Graduation in Administration from the Araras University Center Dr. Edmundo Ulson (2005). Specialization in Agricultural Management for the Federal University of Goiás (2008). Master in Animal Science in the area of concentration in Animal Production. Administrator of the Fazenda Escola of the Federal University of Goiás in the period from 2006 to 2009, being this producer of literature with the assistance, training and training of students, technicians and rural producers in the macro region of Goiânia. Doctorate in Zootechnics (Forragulture) by the Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia da UFG, currently awarded to the Department of Zootechnics DZO/EVZ/UFG.
Aldi Fernandes de Souza França, Universidade Federal de Goiás
He graduated in Zootechnics from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (1974), mastered in Zootechnics from the Paulista State University Júlio de Mesquita Filho (1980) and graduated in Agronomy (Soles and Plant Nutrition) from the University of São Paulo (1987). Currently he is a full professor at the Federal University of Goiás. He has experience in the area of Animal Husbandry, with an emphasis on Pasture and Forage, focusing mainly on the following topics: pennisetum glaucum, nitrogen adubação, crude protein, bromatological composition and forage.
Débora de Carvalho Basto, Universidade Federal de Goiás
Zootechnician for the Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás (PUC-GO). Possui graduate in Animal Science from the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) and PhD from the Post-Graduation Program in Animal Science and Pastagens of ESALQ/USP. She completed her training program with a group led by Dr. Lynn E. Sollenberger from the Department of Agronomy of the University of Florida / USA. She has experience as a professor at the State University of Goiás (UEG) and the Federal University of Goiás (UFG). In research she operates on topics linked to aspects of applied physiology in the production of forage in pastures, evaluation and conservation of forage plants, forage production and animal production.
Leonardo Guimarães de Oliveira, SJC Bioenergia
Area of knowledge in Veterinary Medicine: Animal Production, Animal Nutrition, Beef Cattle, Forage Farming, Animal Physiology, Pathology, Food and Feeding, Biochemistry of ruminants, Metabolism, Statistics applied to agriculture, Muscle physiology and meat quality.
Renata Vaz Ribeiro, Universidade Federal de Goiás
Zootechnician from the State University of Goiás - UEG. Specialist in Quality Management and Food Safety - UEG. Master in Animal Science, concentration area Animal Production from the Federal University of Goiás (UFG). PhD student in Animal Science - UFG. Professor of the subjects: Animal Genetic Improvement and Management in Animal Production II at Centro Universitário Araguaia - UniAraguaia; Dairy cattle farming and beef cattle farming at the Paula Pasquali Technological Center - CTPP. Area of activity and studies linked to food quality, well-being, environment and management of ruminants.
Mirella Paula Costa e Silva, Universidade Federal de Goiás
Graduated in Animal Science from the Federal University of Goiás- UFG (2020) where she was a scholarship student in the Institutional Program for Scientific Initiation Scholarships (PIBIC) by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for two years (2015/2017). She was an intern at the animal nutrition laboratory at UFG (2015/2017), at the food and water microbiology laboratory at UFG (2017/2019), and in which she participated and carried out several bromatological and microbiological analyzes in the area of food production and technology. foods. During her internship, she worked as a quality inspector in a beef slaughterhouse for the company Norvida (2020). She has experience in the area of Animal Husbandry, working mainly with management of control and quality assurance in agro-industries, as a quality analyst in a cattle slaughterhouse and a quality assistant in a broiler feed factory.
Ana Christina Sanches
Professor since 1999, she received a PhD in Animal Science from the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) in 2006, with a Capes sandwich scholarship at the University of California, Davis (UCDavis - USA). Master in Animal Genetics from the University of São Paulo (USP) in 1999, Capes scholarship holder. Graduated in Biological Sciences from the State University of Londrina (UEL) in 1994, where she received a CNPq Scientific Initiation Scholarship. She began her activities at PUC Goiás in the Department of Animal Science, where she was a public assistant professor for 21 years. She was Technical Director of the Research Support Foundation of the State of Goiás (FAPEG) from 2011 to 2014. She served as General Coordinator of the Stricto Sensu Postgraduate Course at PUC Goiás, in the Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Research (PROPE) from 2008 to 2014. She was the Pedagogical Coordinator of the Animal Science Course, coordinator of the Laboratories of that Department, as well as taking on other coordination roles at the School of Agricultural and Biological Sciences. She was also a teacher and advisor in the master's degrees in Genetics, Aquaculture, and the master's degree in Ecology and Sustainable Production and also taught classes in the Agronomy Course. After a year in the USA on sabbatical, she left PUC Goiás in July 2019, and upon her immediate return, she provided educational services as Advisor to the Rectory of Centro Universitário Moura Lacerda. During the pandemic, she owned an açaí franchise for 18 months, returning to teaching as a bilingual elementary school teacher in the International Program at the Liceu Albert Sabin school.
Emmanuel Arnhold, Universidade Federal de Goiás
He has a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Federal University of Viçosa (2002), a Master's degree in Genetics and Breeding from the Federal University of Viçosa (2004) and a PhD in Genetics and Breeding from the Federal University of Viçosa (2006). He was Adjunct Professor at the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), at the Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Campus (CCAA), between 2006 and 2010. He is currently Associate Professor 4 at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG). He teaches statistics applied to agricultural experimentation at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In the field of research and technological development, he is interested in the development of statistical analyzes applied to agricultural and biological systems. He also collaborates with researchers, assisting in the experimental planning stages and data analysis and interpretation. He participates in the Postgraduate courses in Animal Science and Zootechnics at UFG. He supervises and co-supervises postgraduate students. He is part of the editorial committee of the Revista Trópica-Ciências Agrárias e Biológicas and the magazine Ciência Animal Brasileira (CAB). He has experience with R software. The main areas of research and development are: computational statistics, development of packages in the R environment, experimental planning and statistics applied to agricultural systems.
Reginaldo Nassar Ferreira, Universidade Federal de Goiás
He has a degree in Veterinary Medicine from the Federal University of Goiás (1985), a master's degree in Animal Science from the Federal University of Lavras (1988) and a PhD in Animal Science from the Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences Campus de Jaboticabal (2001). He is currently a full professor at the Federal University of Goiás. He has experience in the area of Physiology, with an emphasis on Digestion Physiology, working mainly on the following topics: animal nutrition, enzymes, additives, ruminal degradability, ruminal pH, ruminal NH3 release, Meton and Rumen SCFA, digestibility, digestive system hormone, ghrelin, compensatory gain, methionine for ruminants, probiotics, prebiotics intestinal mucosa, intestinal permeability, rumen and intestine metabarcoding.
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