The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the addition of different percentages of urea or calcium oxide (CaO) on the fermentative characteristics and chemical composition of the by-product of sweet corn silage, without whole kernel corn. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme, with two additives (CaO or urea) and five inclusion levels (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0% in natural matter of by-product of sweet corn silage). There was interaction between the type of additives and addition levels (CaO or urea) for pH values (P < 0.05). The mean pH values ranged from 3.40 to 5.36 in the additive silage. For effluent production, the additive type interaction and addition levels were significant (P < 0.05). The addition of CaO independent of the level used was not effective in reducing dry matter (DM) losses during ensilage. The total losses of DM presented a significant increase with the levels of addition of CaO, varying from 91 to 177% in relation to the control silage. The addition of urea to all levels had a satisfactory effect on the total loss of DM, ranging from 38 to 69% improvement in the reduction in relation to the control silage. The additive CaO was not efficient in reducing the fermentation losses and preserving the silage. However, urea was efficient in the recovery of DM in the ensilage process.

The objective of the current paper was to apply mixed models to adjust the growth curve of quail lines for meat and laying hens and present the rates of instantaneous, relative and absolute growth. A database was used with birth weight records up to the 148th day of female quail of the lines for meat and posture. The models evaluated were Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Logistic and Gompertz and the types of residues were constant, combined, proportional and exponential. The Gompertz model with the combined residue presented the best fit. Both strains present a high correlation between the parameters asymptotic weight (A) and average growth rate (k). The two strains presented a different growth profile. However, growth rates allow greater discernment of growth profiles. The meat line presented a higher growth rate (6.95 g/day) than the lineage for laying (3.65 g/day). The relative growth rate was higher for lineage for laying (0.15%) in relation to the lineage for meat (0.13%). The inflection point of both lines is on the first third of the growth curve (up to 15 days). All results suggest that changes in management or nutrition could optimize quail production.

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Little is known about the role of light intensity in modulating plant responses to stress due to water deficit (WD). Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the WD and contrasting irradiance effects on the physiology, anatomy, and grain yield of soybean plants. The experimental design was a randomized block in a growth chamber and a 2 × 2 factorial treatment arrangement: 90% (well-watered, WW) and 40% (WD) of soil field capacities (FC); and 750 (medium irradiance, MI) and 1500 (higher irradiance, HI) μmol (photons) m −2 s −1 irradiance. The WD caused a lower photosynthetic rateas well as observed in the light curve and in the relative parameters, such as apparent quantum efficiency -, less investment in shoot biomass and pollen grain germination, resulting in lower grain yield. However, there was an increase in non-photochemical energy dissipation, a higher concentration of total soluble sugars, proline, and malondialdehyde. The WD + MI-soybean plants developed thicker spongy parenchyma (related to higher mesophilic conductance of CO 2 ). In the WW + HI condition the palisade parenchyma was thicker, conferring maintenance of photosynthetic efficiency. In addition, there was an increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase antioxidant enzymes in leaves due to HI, regardless of FC. This induced higher energy expenditure, reflected in the reduction of the number of leaf and branches, leaf area, dry mass of leaves and stem in the WW + HI. Interestingly, these strategies of osmotic adjustment, photoprotection, and antioxidant defenses act together in the WD + HI.

Efficient methodologies for automated seed quality evaluations are important for the seed industry. Advanced seed technology research requires the use of adequate methods to ensure good seed performance under adverse environmental conditions; thus, providing producers with detailed, quick, and accurate information on structural seed integrity and ensuring vigorous production. To address this problem, this study aimed to determine Brachiaria brizantha (Marandu cv., Piatã cv. and Xaraés cv.) seed quality through radiographic imaging analyses associated with vigor tests and anatomical characterizations. Brachiaria seed cultivars displaying different physical and physiological attributes were selected and subjected to the 1000-seed weight test, water content determinations, X-ray analyses, germination tests, and anatomical characterizations. The X-ray analyses made it possible to establish a relationship between the X-ray images and other determined variables. Furthermore, the X-ray images can indicate evidence of internal and external damage that could later compromise germination. The Marandu and Piatã cultivars presented the highest germination percentages, germination speed indices, normal seedling development, and cellular structure preservation compared to the Xaraés cultivar. To summarize, X-ray analyses are efficient methods used for the selection of higher physical quality cultivars and can aid in the decision-making processes of companies and seed producers worldwide.