José Carlos Batista Dubeux Jr.

• PhD
• Professor at University of Florida

Cropping systems may affect root decomposition and our objective was to evaluate chemical characteristics and root decomposition in signal grass ‘Basilisk’ [Urochloa decumbens (Stapf) R.D. Webster] pastures under different cropping systems. A split-split plot scheme, with four cropping systems (0, 50, 100 kg·ha−1 of N, and intercropping with calopo...

Grasses and legumes co-exist in grasslands partially because of nitrogen (N) niche partitioning and facilitation. Grasses stimulate legume biological N fixation (BNF) by depleting soil N, simultaneously benefiting from the N that legumes fix. While these responses and mechanisms are maximized at ~ 40% legume proportion in temperate grass-legume mix...

Background and aims Understanding how inorganic N fertilizers applied to agroforestry systems impact N2-fixation and development of legume trees is essential for optimizing management practices. This study hypothesized that inorganic N fertilization with urea (CH4N2O) could reduce the quantity of N derived from the atmosphere in the leaves, and dec...

Approximately 22% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) originate from agriculture and livestock. Therefore, finding alternatives to mitigate these emissions is crucial for the sector. GHG emissions and soil parameters were quantified in an exclusive grass system (EGS) and a silvopastoral system (SPS) over one year in southeastern Brazil, uti...

Silvopastoral systems (SPS) are a sustainable alternative to reduce livestock environmental impacts and restore degraded pastures due to their higher diversity, increased forage production and quality, enhanced soil quality, and C storage. Legume-based silvopastoral systems also contribute through biological nitrogen fixation by the legume componen...

This study highlights the potential of grass–legume intercropping systems in enhancing soil carbon sequestration and cycling nutrientes, providing ecological support for sustainable agriculture. This study evaluated the chemical composition and root biomass of signal grass (Urochloa decumbens cv. Basilisk) pasture grown in monoculture or intercropp...

The synergism of grass-legume consortium in silvopastoral systems has a substantial contribution to improving soil organic matter, and N and C stocks compared to pastures under grass monocropping systems. This study hypothesizes that adding legume trees into long-term established pastures has little impact on soil stability, while can potentially i...

Integrating legumes into grass pastures is an alternative to nitrogen (N) fertilizer for improving productive, economic, and environmental performance of grazing systems. However, optimal legume proportion for maximizing resource‐use efficiency in mixed pastures is seldom considered. Here, we studied the effect of rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata B...

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of feeding whole-plant sorghum silage (WPSS) with different kernel processing techniques (KP). Exp. 1 contrasted KP for WPSS on intake and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) in beef heifers (n = 24, 13 ± 1 mo, 267 ± 10.9 kg of initial body weight [BW]) housed in individual pens (36 m2). Gr...

Silvopastoral systems (SPSs) constitute a modality of agroforestry systems in which trees or shrubs, pastures and animals mutually grow, interacting with the environment, and providing several ecosystem services. This review aims to comprehensively discuss the ecosystem services provided by SPSs in different countries, highlighting the diverse ways...

Background and Aims Grasses and legumes co-exist in grasslands partially because of nitrogen (N) niche partitioning and facilitation. Grasses stimulate legume biological N fixation (BNF) by depleting soil N, simultaneously benefiting from the N that legumes fix. While these responses and mechanisms are maximized at ~ 40% legume proportion in temper...

Silvopastoral system (SPS) is a multifunctional agroforestry practice. This study evaluate soil properties and root biomass under SPS in Pernambuco, Brazil. The experiment was established in 2011. The treatments were (1) monoculture signalgrass (MS) [Urochloa decumbens (Stapf.) R. D. Webster], (2) intercropped pasture of signalgrass with legume Gli...

Weed encroachment might reduce stocking rate and overall animal performance in grazing systems. In addition, weeds can affect soil organic carbon because of changes in primary productivity and belowground biomass compared with well managed pastures. This study assessed different levels of spiny pigweed (Amaranthus spinosus L.) encroachment on bermu...

Providing an ideal amino acid profile to horses improves nitrogen (N) utilization and reduces N excretion. This 2-yr study investigated protein concentration and amino acid profile of forages during 84 d of continuous stocking of mixed pastures of rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrataBenth) and bahiagrass (BG; Paspalum notatumFlüggé) receiving 30 kg...

Legumes trees have the potential to provide diverse ecosystem services in different cropping systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dendrometric, productive characteristics and nutritional value of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. in monocrop and a silvopastoral system, in Brazil. The treatments were distributed under a randomized b...

Limpograss (Hemarthria altissima) is a warm-season perennial grass that has the potential to feed livestock during scarcity periods. This study evaluated the intake, nutrient digestibility, and animal performance of beef heifers fed ‘Gibtuck’ limpograss silage combined with different levels of a range cube supplementation. Twenty-four heifers (330...

The study aimed to investigate the effect of supplementing polyclonal antibodies (PAP) of avian origin against the ruminal methanogens Methanobrevibacter gottschalkii Ho (PAP-Ho) and M. ruminantium M1 (PAP-M1) on ruminal fermentation profile and methane production in Angus crossbred cattle (13 steers and 1 heifer). The experiment was conducted usin...

Introducing legumes into C4-dominated tropical pastures, may enhance their sustainability but has some pasture management constraints. One potential alternative is using arboreal legumes, but several of these species have relatively high condensed tannin (CT) concentrations, which negatively impact forage quality. There is limited knowledge, howeve...

Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] is an important forage source for ruminants in tropical and subtropical regions of the world; nevertheless, little is known about the productive and nutritional characteristics of new accessions and cultivars originating from breeding programs. Five bermudagrass cultivars (Tifton 85, Jiggs, Florida 44, Cal...

Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration promotes several ecological, economic, and social co-benefits. However, most SOC studies rely on topsoil evaluations (0–30 cm), disregarding a significant fraction of the SOC that is stored in deep layers. Understanding the relationship between deep soil carbon and climate change is imperative in guiding sust...

Background Crop-associated microorganisms play a crucial role in soil nutrient cycling, and crop growth, and health. Fine-scale patterns in soil microbial community diversity and composition are commonly regulated by plant species or genotype. Despite extensive reports in different crop or its cultivar effects on the microbial community, it is unce...

This study hypothesized that urea fertilization could optimize animal performance in an agroforestry system. This study evaluated how increasing rates of N fertilization (0, 100, 200, and 400 kg N ha-1 yr-1) using urea (CH4N2O) affected forage mass, nutritive value, and beef cattle (Bos indicus) performance in an agroforestry system with Massai gra...

The environmental changes in the Caatinga biome have already resulted in it reaching levels of approximately 50% of its original vegetation, making it the third most degraded biome in Brazil, due to inadequate grazing practices that are driven by the difficulty of monitoring and estimating the yield parameters of forage plants, especially in agrofo...

Fifteen accessions of Macroptilium lathyroides (L.) Urb. were collected in three semi-arid Brazilian municipalities and evaluated to characterize their morphology and yield in a greenhouse for three 60-day growth cycles. In the first two cycles, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, and soil plant analysis development index (SPAD) were estimated, and r...

Legumes have the potential to provide diverse ecosystem services, therefore, it is important to understand the quantitative and qualitative aspects of their development in different cropping systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dendrometric, productive characteristics and nutritional value of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. in mo...

This study hypothesized that the deposition and decomposition of the litter from the legume tree Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. could improve and accelerate nutrient cycling in a tropical pasture (Urochloa decumbens Stapf.) under a silvopastoral system. The objective of this study was to evaluate litter deposition, chemical composition, and decompo...

The use of silvopastoral systems (SPS) with tree legumes is a viable alternative to recover and develop pastures, as they add N to the system influencing pasture growth. This study hypothesized that the herbage and litter of signalgrass (Urochloa decumbens Stapf) is affected by legume trees in the pasture. Treatments were composed of 1) signalgrass...

Black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) might be an attractive forage species in the northeastern United States, since it is generally more heat tolerant and disease resistant than other cool‐season grasses. Black oat is currently recommended for fall and winter production in USDA Plant Hardiness ones 8b–10a, which is beyond the northeastern United Stat...

Productivity of tropical and subtropical grasslands is often limited by inadequate nitrogen (N) supply. Aeschynomene (Aeschynomene americana L.) is a warm‐season legume that may contribute as N input in grazing systems, but there is limited information about aeschynomene litter decomposition and N dynamics on pastures. The objective of this study w...

The daily cut-and-carry system is commonly used for cactus harvest, which increases manpower costs. This research aimed to determine the effect of the post-harvest storage period (up to 56 days post-harvest) on the chemical composition and anatomical traits of cactus cladodes [Opuntia fícus-indica (L.) Mill cv. ‘IPA 20’ and Nopalea cochenillifera S...

Litter decomposition and livestock excreta are two important sources for replenishing nutrients in the soil of the pastures, and their decomposition rates are affected by their quality, management practices, forage productivity, and biotic and abiotic factors. The objective of this research was to assess the effects of escalating levels of N fertil...

Residual feed intake (RFI) is a measure of feed efficiency (FE). Differences in plasma metabolites concentration found in animals with contrasting RFI are potential biomarkers of FE. Furthermore, feed behavior patterns could also be used to identify animals with contrasting RFI. We hypothesize that the integration of plasma metabolomics data and fe...

The study evaluated forage and livestock performance in different grazing systems over two years. Treatments were three contrasting grazing systems: (I) N-fertilized bahiagrass ( Paspalum notatum Flüggé) in the summer overseeded during the winter by N-fertilized ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum ) and oat ( Avena sativa L.) (Grass + N); (II) unfertiliz...

Rhizoma peanut ( Arachis glabrata Benth.; RP) is an important perennial forage legume in the US Gulf Coast region, but it is vegetatively propagated from rhizomes and relatively slow to establish. There are reports that N fertilization enhances RP establishment, but other evidence suggests plant N content and establishment rate may not benefit. Und...

The geographical distribution of bermudagrass cultivars is limited by freezing events (<0°C), commonly associated with higher latitudes in the northern hemisphere. The lipid composition in the plant cell membranes is critical to promote persistence under freezing conditions. This study evaluated herbage accumulation (HA), nutritive value, and lipid...

Weed encroachment negatively affects pasture productivity by reducing herbage allowance, stocking rates, and livestock performance. Amaranthus spinosus L. is a weed species widely found in pastures worldwide and is considered challenging for ranchers due to its great potential for invasion, making it difficult to control. The high costs of chemical...

Background and Aims – Legumes are a potentially important N source in pasture systems, but quantifying the transfer of biologically fixed N from the legume to the grass component is difficult. A greenhouse H-pot system was developed to directly estimate biological N2 fixation (BNF) and belowground N transfer using ¹⁵N2. The system was tested with a...

The forecasted expansion of arid and semi-arid lands worldwide due to climate changes requires alternatives for economically viable agricultural cropping systems to produce biomass for food and energy purposes under water-limited environments and with low emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). The cultivation of cactus pear (Opuntia cochenillifera) m...

The study was conducted to evaluate the yield performance of improved forage and food crops and to estimate the profitability of fodder and food crops in Holetta and Ejere areas, central highlands of Ethiopia during 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications and evaluated...

Introduction Maralfalfa grass ( Pennisetum spp.) is known for its high dry matter productivity and nutritive value. However, information on agronomic management practices to improve yield and nutritive value in Ethiopia is sparse. Materials and method The experiment consisted of 7 plant densities (33,333 [75 cm × 40 cm]; 26,667[75 cm × 50 cm]; 25,...

Coleções de germoplasma são importantes para caracterização da variabilidade genética. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o polimorfismo de comprimento de fragmentos amplificados (AFLP) apresentados por cinco acessos de Desmanthus spp. Um polimorfismo AFLP de Desmanthus pernambucanus (L.) Thellung foi realizado em Pernambuco, Brasil, e D. pubesc...

Corn (Zea mays L.) is an important silage source for dairy cattle production in the southeastern United States. Silage corn is often grown continuously, which frequently results in severe pressure from plant‐parasitic nematodes such as sting nematode (Belonolaimus longicaudatus). Crop rotation is one of the few nematode management options available...

The introduction of rhizoma peanut (RP Arachis glabrata Benth) into bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) may require time to develop stable plant–soil microbe interactions as the microbial legacy of the previous plant community may be long-lasting. A previous study showed that <2 years of introducing rhizoma peanut into bahiagrass pastures minimall...

Burkina Faso livestock feeding is characterized by a hot dry season fodder deficit, which affects animal performance and causes economic losses. To overcome this challenge, improving quality fodder production through the use of dual-purpose crops is a potential alternative. Hence, this study aimed at testing dual-purpose cultivars of sorghum and co...

Management practices might alter soil chemical properties. This study evaluated soil chemical properties in a forage cactus Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. (‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’) (OEM) production system in the Brazilian semiarid region. The experiment was established in June 2011, and the design was a split-split-plot in randomized complete bl...

Silvopastoral Systems (SPS) can increase overall productivity and generate continuous income in order to stimulate simultaneous growth and development of trees, forage and livestock. Moreover, the SPS with tree legumes would be important for add nutrients to the system, mainly N, and ensure the soil health and quality. Soil properties were assessed...

Rhizoma peanut hay has been demonstrated to benefit horses’ feeding behavior with reduced inactive time, which can result in lower risk for abnormal behaviors in stabled horses. This publication is intended to provide information to Extension agents, horse owners, and equine facility managers. Written by C. Vasco, J. Dubeux, E. Santos, C. Wickens,...

The value of carinata, a non-food oilseed crop, has been demonstrated as a high-quality jet fuel alternative and successful cover crop in the southeastern U.S.; however, research is limited regarding carinata as an alternative for commonly used protein sources in livestock. Eighty-four Angus crossbred heifers were used in a generalized randomized b...

The value of carinata, a non-food oilseed crop, has been demonstrated as a high-quality jet fuel alternative and successful cover crop in the southeastern U.S.; however, research is limited regarding carinata as an alternative for commonly used protein sources in livestock. Thirty-two Angus crossbred steers were used in a generalized randomized blo...

Weed encroachment on grasslands can negatively affect herbage allowance and animal behavior, impacting livestock production. We used low-cost GPS collars fitted to twenty-four Angus crossbred steers to evaluate the effects of different levels of weed encroachment on animal activities and spatial distribution. The experiment was established with a r...

Black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) is a cool‐season annual grass with Mediterranean origin. In contrast to other cool‐season grasses, black oat is more heat tolerant and disease resistant, making it an attractive option for the US upper Midwest, since it can be utilized during summer, when there is decreased productivity of cool‐season forages due...

Anthropogenic disturbances directly influence environmental processes and increase the concentration of carbon (C) in the atmosphere. Here, we compare the differences in the seasonality of the balance of carbon, energy, and radiation, as well as seek to identify the interrelationships between these environmental variables and their impact on the gr...

Warm‐season perennial grasses are the backbone of the pasture‐based livestock industry in the lower southeastern United States, and bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) is the most widely planted forage species, covering ∼15 million ha. The genus Cynodon is native to southern Africa, and germplasm collections possess high genetic and phenotypic variability....

Winter annual forages can extend grazing into the cool‐season in the US southeast, however uncertainty regarding potential tradeoffs between winter annual mixtures versus monocultures exists. We examined increasingly species‐rich and functionally diverse winter annual forage mixtures at two Florida locations to evaluate impacts of including more pl...

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) is a rhizomatous, perennial, warm‐season forage widely grown in the southeastern United States "UF Riata" bahiagrass is more upright growing with greater herbage production when days are shorter compared with most other cultivars. Lesser daylength sensitivity extends the grazing season, but in combination with m...

Soil microorganisms play key roles in soil nutrient transformations and have a notable effect on plant growth and health. Different plant genotypes can shape soil microbial patterns via the secretion of root exudates and volatiles, but it is uncertain how a difference in soil microorganisms induced by crop cultivars will respond to short-term seaso...

Grazing livestock in subtropical and tropical regions are susceptible to prolonged exposition to periods of extreme environmental conditions (i.e., temperature and humidity) that can trigger heat stress (HS). Currently, there is limited information on the effects of HS in the cow-calf sector globally, including in the southern U.S., as well as on m...

Both the vastness of pasturelands and the value they contain—e.g., food security, ecosystem services—have resulted in increased scientific and industry efforts to remotely monitor them via satellite imagery and machine learning (ML). However, the transferability of these models is uncertain, as modelers commonly train and test on site-specific or h...

Aeschynomene (Aeschynomene americana L.) is a warm‐season annual legume forage used in tropical and subtropical regions; however, there is limited information on agronomic and environmental benefits of aeschynomene when overseeded into bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) swards. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of overseedin...

Improvements in forage nutritive value can reduce methane emission intensity in grazing ruminants. This study was designed to evaluate how the legume rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata; RP) inclusion into bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) hay diets would affect intake and CH4 production in beef steers. We also assessed the potential to estimate the propo...

Grazing cover crops may increase land‐use efficiency while promoting sustainability. We investigated how grazing intensity affects cover crop litter quantity, quality, decomposition, and cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) N uptake. Cover crops were a mixture of rye ( Secale cereale L.) and oat ( Avena sativa L.) managed as follows: no grazing +34 kg N...

To meet the expected demand for food while protecting animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and profitability, animal production efficiency must improve. Improvements in grazinglands management techniques can impact livestock production efficiency. The current stage of artificial intelligence development, mainly machine learning techniques,...

With continuing fluctuations in forage system input costs, legumes are often revisited as an option for improving forage production, nutritive value, and nutrient return in forage systems. Despite the advantages of legumes, relative adoption of both cool- and warm-season legume use in the South US is low. Increased awareness of benefits of legumes,...

Integrated crop‐livestock systems provide an array of benefits to agricultural systems, including a reduction in nitrogen (N) leaching. A farm approach to integrate crops and livestock is the adoption of grazed cover crops. Moreover, the addition of perennial grasses into crop rotations may improve soil organic matter and decrease N leaching. Howev...

Context Introducing legumes into grass-based forage systems may increase herbage nutritive value while reducing the need for inorganic nitrogen fertilisation. Grass–legume intercrops may also enhance herbage yield stability. Aim We evaluated agronomic and nutritional traits of elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus Schum.) genotypes grown as monocrops...

Overseeding alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) into grass swards increases forage nutritive value and reduces N fertilizer requirement. In warm climates, establishing and maintaining alfalfa in mixtures with vigorous C4 grasses is challenging, which makes adjustment of defoliation management critical. The objective of this 2‐year study was to determine o...

This study evaluated the role of dung beetle species alone or associated under different species on nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, ammonia volatilization, and the performance of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)]. There were seven treatments, including two controls (soil and soil + dung without beetles), single species of Onthophagus taurus [Shr...

Drylands cover 40% of the global surface and house more than 2 billion people. Drought-tolerant crops are becoming more important in these regions, not only to provide food, fodder, and energy, but also to sequester soil organic carbon. This study evaluated soil and root system attributes of forage cactus ‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’ (Opuntia stri...

Rhizoma peanut (RP) (Arachis glabrata Benth.) is a sustainable warm-season perennial forage option in Florida that reduces the reliance on nitrogen (N) fertilizers. This forage legume has been demonstrated to improve bahiagrass (BG) (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) production under low fertilization inputs and promote beneficial soil microorganisms like N...

Livestock feeding in Burkina Faso is characterized by a recurrent deficit in both the quality and the quantity of fodder during the dry season, which affects animal performance. To overcome this, quality fodder/forage production is an alternative. Therefore, this study evaluated food- and feed-improved cultivars of maize and cowpea in intercropping...

Eighty-four Angus crossbred heifers (13 ± 1 mo of age, 329.5 ± 61.92 kg of body weight [BW]) were used in a generalized randomized block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The factors evaluated were: 1) diet type (whole plant sorghum silage [SS] vs. byproducts-based [BP]), and 2) feed additive: Aspergillus oryzae prebiotic (AO...

Grasslands in the Southeast United States (SE US) cover 15.8 million ha and most of this area is dedicated to beef production systems. This region holds 6.3 million beef cows and 12.1 million cattle, including calves. Beef cattle systems in the SE US are mostly cow-calf based, and most of the greenhouse gas emission from cattle occurs during this p...