The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen topdressing rates applied to an intercrop of maize (M) with paiaguás grass (G) and pigeonpea (P) on silage production and on the pasture development in the offseason. Treatments consisted of two simultaneous intercropping systems (M + G; and M + G + P) and four N topdressing rates (0, 80, 160, and 240 kg ha?1). The introduction of pigeonpea into the system and the increasing N rates provided gains in yield and silage quality. Pigeonpea responded to nitrogen fertilization by having good regrowth and good dry matter yields in the intercrop. For silage making, the N rates of 240 kg ha?1 N for M+G and 120 kg ha?1 for M+G+P can be recommended. Nitrogen rates promote an increase in the dry matter yield of the grass and of pigeonpea, resulting in improvements in the pasture during the offseason.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of applying tannery sludge as fertilizer in the sugarcane plant crop and its impact on soil chemical characteristics. The soil in the experimental area was classified as dystrophic red latosol type (Oxisol). The experiment was set up as a randomized-block design with four replicates, with treatments represented by five doses of tannery sludge (0, 4500, 9000, 13500 and 18000 kg ha-1) plus one treatment with inorganic fertilization (90 kg ha-1 N, 180 kg ha-1 P2O5 and 120 kg ha-1 K2O). Soil chemical characteristics and sugarcane nutrition and production traits were evaluated. Tannery sludge application increased the organic matter, Ca, S and Na contents in the soil layers of 0-0.20 and 0.20-0.40 m. Heavy metal contents in the soil were not influenced by the treatments. Tannery sludge showed the potential to supply important macronutrients, especially at the highest doses tested. Tannery sludge doses between 10000 and 16250 kg ha-1 provided the greatest plant height and diameter and the highest number of stalks. The highest sugarcane yield, 149.55 t ha-1, was obtained with the sludge dose of 18000 kg ha-1.

É notório que a pecuária no Brasil é extremamente dependente da produção de pastagens. Entretanto em sua maioria estas estão ou encontram-se em algum estágio de degradação, em consequência da adoção de práticas de manejo inadequadas. Um dos desafios atuais é fazer com que técnicas de manejo que consideram as respostas fisiológicas de crescimento da planta em função ao pastejo cheguem ao campo, assim proporcionando maiores índices produtivos dos animais e menor índice de degradação dos pastos. Para assegurar a sustentabilidade e sucesso do sistema, é necessário que a aplicação destas técnicas se iniciem junto a introdução da planta forrageira, seja ela em sistema de lotação continua, lotação intermitente ou mesmo em sistemas de consórcio.

Meliponines are important pollinators of tropical forest species, and an interesting feature of these is the possibility of their creation rationally. The present review highlights the importance of native bees and key points that can boost breeding. Despite its importance to the ecosystem, there are factors that have contributed to the reduction of bees, among them, the intensive occupation of the environment by man, causing impacts through the elimination of food sources. Like any other organism, bees need nutrients for their growth and its scarcity has harmful effects on the development of colonies. Despite its importance the study of artificial diets that can supply the needs of the bees in periods of low availability of food are still insufficient. To supply the lack of nectar one can look for the supply of an energetic food based on the mixture of water and sugar, however there are few studies aiming at the elaboration of protein supplements that can replace the pollen. Studies with complementary supplements enable creators to increase their creation through division and multiplication of colonies. However there is a lack of techniques that would allow the growth and increase of meliponicola production in the country.

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