Márcio Vieira da Cunha

Bio: Márcio Vieira da Cunha is an academic researcher from Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. The author has contributed to research in topics: Forage & Biology. The author has an hindex of 9, co-authored 73 publications receiving 344 citations. Previous affiliations of Márcio Vieira da Cunha include Federal University of Pernambuco.

Potential of Caatinga forage plants in ruminant feeding

Abstract: Caatinga is the most important biome for the livestock in the Brazilian semi-arid region. This review paper aimed to present information on different forage aspects of caatinga vegetation for ruminant feeding. Caatinga vegetation is formed mainly by shrubs and small trees, usually presenting thorns, deciduous leaves, and leaf abscission occurring frequently at the onset of the dry season. Additional components of the botanical composition in this biome includes the families cactaceae, bromeliaceae, and a herbaceous component formed by grasses, legumes, and forbs, often presenting annual cycle. Quantitative information of caatinga vegetation is scarce in the literature, mainly for the herbaceous stratum. Methodological aspects such as lack of standardization across evaluations make comparison regarding forage potential of caatinga plant species difficult. Index species must be identified within each caatinga type. Quantitative aspects of biological N2 fixation by caatinga species have not been extensively studied. Regarding forage nutritive value, it is necessary to study N availability for ruminants in caatinga plants, since large proportion of this element may bind to fiber components (ADIN). Manipulation of caatinga vegetation is an alternative to change forage quantity and quality for grazing animals, affecting their performance as a result. Studies measuring qualitative and quantitative variability of native forage resources from caatinga are mandatory in order to improve animal feeding management, with the ultimate goal of creating sustainable animal production based on caatinga vegetation.

Association between the morphological and productive characteristics in the selection of elephant grass clones

Abstract: The objectives in this work were to study the association between the morphological and productive characteristics in Pennisetum sp. clones, and to identify the morphological characteristics responsible for the productivity in Pennisetum cp. clones. The canonical correlations were evaluated and the path analysis was made from the simple genotypic correlation matrix between the morphological and productive characteristics of eight Pennisetum sp. clones (Taiwan A-146 2.37, Taiwan A-146 2.27, Taiwan-146 2.114, Merker Mexico MX 6.31, Mott, HV-241, Elefante B and IRI-381). The canonical correlations were significant at 1% probability by the Chi-square test. The first pair of canonic factors, with correlation of 0.9999, related the plants with the highest dry matter content to plants with lower leaf area indexes, light perception and leaf angle. The second pair of canonic factors, with correlation of 0.9999, related the plants with the highest dry matter production to the plants with higher basal tiller density, height, and low green leaf number per tiller. The results of the path analysis indicated that the light interception is determinant in dry matter content expression of Pennisetum sp. clones, while the basal tiller density and plant height are responsible for dry matter production in these clones.

Produtividade e eficiência da adubação orgânica da palma forrageira sob diferentes densidades de plantio

Abstract: A palma tem grande importância para a pecuaria da regiao semiarida do Brasil. Essa planta vem apresentando elevada produtividade de forragem, influenciada por varios fatores de manejo. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de doses de adubacao orgânica (20, 40 e 80 t/ha de esterco bovino/ha/dois anos) e densidades de plantio (20, 40, 80 e 160 mil plantas/ha) sobre a produtividade da palma forrageira Clone IPA-20 (Opuntia ficus indica Mill). O experimento foi conduzido na Estacao Experimental de Caruaru, pertencente ao Instituto Agronomico de Pernambuco - IPA. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com arranjo de parcelas subdivididas. Verificou-se maior produtividade de parte aerea com o aumento da densidade populacional e aplicacao de 80 t de esterco/ha/dois anos, com valores de 61; 90; 117 e 139 t MS/ha/dois anos, nas densidades de 20, 40, 80 e 160.000 plantas/ha. A produtividade do cladodio-planta e peso seco da raiz foram influenciados pela densidade de plantio, apresentando respostas exponenciais, tendendo a apresentar maior peso do cladodio planta e raizes por area com a elevacao da densidade de plantio. A eficiencia da adubacao orgânica diminuiu com a elevacao das doses de esterco. Recomenda-se para plantios com 160.000 plantas/ha aplicacao de, no minimo, 40 t de esterco bovino/ha/dois anos para incremento na produtividade da palma.

Botanical composition of Caatinga rangeland and diets selected by grazing sheep

Abstract: Sheep dietary selection from species-diverse Caatinga rangeland of semi-arid northeastern Brazil has not been documented. This study examined the botanical composition of the available forage and diets of Dorper x Saint Ines ewes on thinned Caatinga over-seeded with Cenchrus ciliaris and Urochloa mosambicensis . Sixty-three species from 23 families, dominated by shrubs and short trees of low forage nutritive value, were identified in the vegetation. The botanical composition revealed, on average, high presence of 29.2% Malvaceae and 13.0% C. ciliaris . Using the microhistological technique, sheep showed, on average, 59.6% preference for dicotyledons throughout the year. However, selectivity indexes indicated, on average, greater selection for Poaceae during the rainy season (1.5) and for dicotyledons in the dry season (1.8) with a year-round aversion for Malvaceae (0.3). These findings suggest that Caatinga vegetation management should include Malvaceae thinning and greater incorporation of grasses and herbaceous legumes to improve rangeland carrying capacity. Keywords: Brazil, continuous stocking, dietary selection, microhistological technique, principal components. DOI: 10.17138/TGFT(4)71-81

Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo

Abstract: Resumen en: The aim of this study was a survey of the estimated costs of soil erosion, an issue of fundamental importance in view of the current worldwide discussion...

방목 초지관리 ( Grazing Management )

Abstract:  Image 1 outlines the different ‘strata’ or pastures proportions referred to in the descriptions of PUP grazing management.  Making an informed decision about pasture allocation is centred around quantifying what is on offer both in terms of quantity and quality.  The amount of kikuyu consumed by a milking cow is primarily dictated by the quantity on offer. However, pasture factors that also influence intake are: o the height of the pasture o the amount of previous faecal and urine residual contamination o the quality of the pasture consumed Grazing Kikuyu using PUP

Local knowledge about fodder plants in the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil

Abstract: This study evaluated local knowledge of the fodder plants of the Caatinga in northeast Brazil (seasonal dry forest). Specifically, the goal was to catalog local knowledge regarding the use of native and exotic forage plants in two rural communities located in the state of Paraiba (northeast Brazil), to provide information for nutritional investigations and to verify how the knowledge of these resources is distributed. The communities were followed for three consecutive years, and interviews were conducted with 44 families (20 men and 24 women). Nine of these individuals were determined by the snowball technique to be key informants who held more specific knowledge about the topic. The data were structured into a database and statistically analyzed. Overall, 136 plants from 37 families and 113 genera were cited, and the knowledge of men was at a higher level than that of women (p < 0.05). Participants demonstrated a sophisticated knowledge of nutritional characteristics such as nutritional value, palatability, availability and productivity. Native plants were highlighted over the exotic, especially for species of the families Cactaceae, Bromeliaceae and Fabaceae. The great diversity of plants cited by the informants demonstrates the potential of local vegetation and the importance of traditional knowledge in the research process and in the characterization of forage resources. This diversity also favors the selection of promising species for future biotechnological investigations.

Manejo da Caatinga para produção de caprinos e ovinos

Abstract: Most of the vegetation species of the Caatinga are in the process of secondary succession with predominance of invasive species with low nutritional value, such as the marmeleiro (Croton sonderianus Muell. Arg) and jurema-preta (Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir.), among the lignified species. The herbaceous species and the leaves and branches of lignified species generate around 4,000kg of dry matter/ha/year, but only 10% (400kg) is available for animal grazing. All the same, forage plants of the Caatinga are the main components of the diet of goats and sheep in the region. This aspect associated to overgrazing has contributed to the increased number of low nutritional plants, which may lead to the disappearance of forage plants and accelerate the degradation of pasture quality. Therefore, the referred aspect has become very much a matter of concern of experts and researchers who seek alternative ways to manage the Caatinga regarding the production of goats and sheep. Some management alternatives include: thinning, enrichment, trimming, cutting and conservation of excess forage produced during the rainy seasons for use in the dry season, use of pasture supplementation, among others. Thus, the present study was aimed to present and discuss alternative uses of forage resources of the Caatinga in the feeding of small ruminants and from the perspective of a sustainable use of the Caatinga.