Water depths and nitrogen rates on sugarcane growth and dry biomass accumulation

Irrigation and soil fertilization management are essential agricultural practices that improve the growth and development of sugarcane plants and, consequently, increase their production capacity, which is important for sugar and alcohol productions. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of water depths and nitrogen rates on the growth and dry biomass accumulation of sugarcane plants. The treatments consisted in four water depths (1,498; 1,614; 1,739; and 1,854 mm), five nitrogen rates (0; 20; 40; 80; and 120 kg ha-1) and five evaluation times. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with a split-split-plot arrangement and four replications, including the factors water depths, nitrogen rates, and days after planting. The dry biomasses of the plant pointer, leaves and culms, culm diameter, plant height, and number of plants were analyzed. The application of nitrogen increased the sugarcane biomass, mainly the pointer (with leaves) and dry culm biomass, and the number of plants. The highest dry culm biomass accumulation and dry leaf biomass were found at the end of the crop cycle for the treatment with the application of nitrogen rates of 80 and 120 kg ha-1. The increases in water depths applied increased the number of plants per linear meter, but the culm and dry leaf biomass did not happen.

Effects and mechanisms of nitrogen application on stress resistance of Chinese materia medica / 中国中药杂志

Nitrogen fertilizers play an important role in the regulation of plant stress resistance. Impacts of nitrogen fertilizers on abiotic stress resistance and biotic stress resistance of Chinese materia medica(CMM) were summarized in this study. Adequate nitrogen application improves the abiotic stress resistance and weed resistance of CMM, however adverse effect appears when excess nitrogen is used. Generally, pest resistance decreases along with nitrogen deposition, while effects of nitrogen application on disease resistance vary with different diseases. Mechanisms underlying the impact of nitrogen fertilizers on plant stress resistance were also elucidated in this study from three aspects including physical defense mechanisms, biochemistry mechanisms and molecular defense mechanisms. Nitrogen availability modulates physical barrier of CMM like plant growth, formation of lignin and wax cuticle, and density of stomata. Growth of CMM promoted by nitrogen fertilizer may cause some decrease in pest resistance of CMM due to an increase in hiding places for pest along with plant growth. High ambient humidity caused by excessive plant growth facilitates the growth and development of CMM pathogen. Nitrogen application can also interfere with the accumulation of lignin in CMM which makes CMM more vulnerable to pest and pathogen attack. Stomatal closing delays due to nitrogen application is also a causal factor of increasing pathogen infection after nitrogen deposition. Biochemical defenses of plants are mainly achieved through nutrient elements, secondary metabolites, defense-related enzymes and proteins. Nutritional level of CMM and various antioxidant enzymes and resistance-related protein activities are elevated along with nitrogen deposition. These antioxidant enzymes can reduce the damage of reactive oxygen species content produced by plant in response to adversity and therefore enhance stress resistance of CMM. Researches showed that nitrogen application could also cause an increase in nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites content and a decrease in non-nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites content respectively. Nitrogen-mediated molecular defense mechanisms includes multiple plant hormones and nitric oxide signals. Plant hormones related to plant defense like salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and abscisic acid can be modulated by nitrogen application. Negative effect of nitrogen deposition was found on salicylic acid accumulation and the expression of related plant disease resistance genes. However, jasmonic acid level can be elevated by nitrogen. Nitric oxide signals constitute an important part of nitrogen mediated defense mechanisms. Nitric oxide signaling is related to many aspects of plant immunity. The roles of nitrogen fertilizers in CMM stress resistance are complex and may vary with different CMM varieties and environments. Further studies are urgently needed to provide a comprehensive understanding of how to improve stress resistance of CMM by using fertilizers.

Effects and mechanisms of nitrogen fertilizers on soil and tritrophic interactions in Chinese medicinal plants ecosystem / 中国中药杂志

Nitrogen is one of the most frequently used fertilizers in growth of Chinese medicinal plants(CMP). As in many other ecosystems, CMP ecosystem is also composed of plant-herbivore-natural enemy(tritrophic) interactions. Nitrogen fertilizer influences the growth and reproduction of CMP, and it is also able to heavily shape the ecosystem functions of CMP ecosystem through bottom-up forces. Understanding the specific effects of nitrogen fertilizer towards each trophic level will be beneficial to improve the resistance of CMP to herbivore and enhance the control efficiency of nature enemies to herbivore, and eventually, maximize the yield and quality of CMP. Most papers published on nitrogen use in plants focused mainly on the impact of nitrogen fertilization on CMP yield and quality. Influences of nitrogen application on CMP ecosystem get little attention at present. Therefore, this review summed up the potential effects of nitrogen fertilization on CMP ecosystem from perspectives of soil and tritrophic interactions. First of all, nitrogen fertilizer might decrease soil microbial biomass and altered the community structures of soil bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Negative effects of nitrogen fertilizer were found on biodiversity of soil bacteria and protozoa. Different fungi species respond differently to nitrogen fertili-zers. Nitrogen deposition can also decrease the soil pH. Decreases in soil microbial diversity and soil acidification can cause negative effects on CMP growth. In addition, nitrogen fertilizer could regulate the pest resistance of CMP including constitutive and inducible resistance. Both positive and negative effects of nitrogen application were found on pest resistance of CMP. Moreover, the development and predation of natural enemies were influenced by nitrogen deposition. Nitrogen influences natural enemies in many ways including plant volatiles, plant nutrient and structure and the supplementary food quality. Nectar and honeydew of plants and preys serve as important food source for natural enemies especially in early season when preys are still not available. Finally, the interactions between herbivores and their natural enemies were also shaped by nitrogen fertilizer in many aspects like increasing the nutritional content of prey and changing control efficiency of natural enemies. Some herbivores have evolved a strategy to sequester secondary metabolites which they absorbed from plant during their feeding. Studies showed that sequestration efficiency of secondary metabolites in prey could also be regulated by nitrogen. Parasitic, emergence, reproduction rate and longevity of parasites were found positively correlated with nitrogen deposition. Hopefully this study will shed light on practicable and economical application of nitrogen in cultivation of CMP.

Current situation of nitrogen application and its effects on yield and quality of Chinese materia medica / 中国中药杂志

Nitrogen fertilizer has been the long-lasting crucial component in cultivation of Chinese materia medica(CMM) and crops for its profound effects on enhancing the productivity. In consideration of its role in better production, intensive and excessive application of N fertilizer is often found in CMM cultivation. Therefore, firstly, this review summarized various concentrations of N application with regards to different CMM and districts from the literatures published in the last two decades. The recommended concentration of nitrogen application of forty seven CMM species were covered in this review. We found that the optimum rates of nitrogen fertili-zer for different medicinal plants species were varied in the range between 0-1 035.55 kg·hm~(-2). Most of the optimum rates of nitrogen fertilizer for CMM in published researches fell between 100-199 kg·hm~(-2). The optimum rate of nitrogen fertilizer is not only related to amount of nitrogen required for different medicinal plants but also to soil fertilities of different fields. In addition, we outlined the diffe-rent effects of proper and excessive nitrogen deposition on yield of CMM. Proper nitrogen deposition benefits the yield of CMM, howe-ver, excessive nitrogen use accounts for a decrease in CMM yield. We elucidated that nutritional content, water use efficiencies, and photosynthesis capacity were major influencing factors. Researches showed that proper nitrogen fertilizer could promote the water use efficiencies of plants and boost photosynthesis. Consequently, the yield of CMM can be enhanced after nitrogen deposition. However, negative effects of nitrogen fertilizer were also found on plant including producing toxic substances to the soil and causing severe pest damages. Lastly we analyzed the impact of N fertilizer application on secondary metabolites which accounts for a large part of active pharmaceutical ingredients of CMM. It usually caused an increase in nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites content and a decrease in non-nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites content respectively. The potential underlying mechanisms are the different synthetic pathways of these metabolites and the plant nutritional status. Synthesis of non-nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites like phenols can be inhibited after nitrogen application because of the competition of the same precursor substances between metabolites synthesis and plant growth. To sum up, impacts and mechanisms of nitrogen fertilizer on yield and quality enhancement of CMM were discussed in this review. Negative effects of excessive nitrogen application on CMM should be paid special attention in CMM cultivation and prescription fertilization based on the field soil quality is strongly recommended. Overall, this review aims to provides insights on improving the proper application of N fertilizer in the cultivation of CMM.

Agronomic performance of castor under different growing conditions / Desempenho agronômico de mamona sob diferentes condições de cultivo

Castor has emerged as an oilseed species capable of meeting the demand of the Brazilian market. Thus, there is a need for studies to evaluate the different growing conditions that this species can be cultivated in order to subsidize their production. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of different growing conditions on agronomic performance of seven castor bean cultivars grown in Savanna-Pantanal ecotone region. The trial was conducted at Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Aquidauana Campus. Treatments consisted of seven castor bean cultivars (BRS Energia, IAC-2028, IAC-Guarani, BRS Nordestina, BRS Paraguaçu, IAC-80 and IAC-226) and three growing conditions (with weed control and without topdress nitrogen; with topdress nitrogen at 80 kg ha-1 and with weed control; without weed control and absence of topdress nitrogen) in two agricultural years (2011 and 2012), arranged in randomized block design with three replications in factorial arrangement (7 x 3 x 2). The following variables were evaluated: plant height, stem diameter, number of bunches, number of fruits and fruit yield. The cultivars BRS Energia, IAC 2028, IAC Guarani and BRS Paraguaçu obtained greater fruit yield. Topdress nitrogen and weed control provided to cultivars the highest stem diameter, number of bunches, number of fruits and fruit yield.

A mamona vem se destacando como uma espécie oleaginosa capaz de suprir a demanda do mercado brasileiro. Desta forma, existe a necessidade de pesquisas que avaliem as diferentes condições de cultivo que esta espécie possa ser cultivada, a fim de subsidiar sua produção. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a influência de diferentes condições no desempenho agronômico de cultivares de mamona cultivada na região do ecótono Cerrado-Pantanal. O experimento foi conduzido na Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campus de Aquidauana. Os tratamentos consistiram de sete cultivares de mamona (BRS Energia, IAC-2028, IAC-Guarani, BRS Nordestina, BRS Paraguaçu, IAC-80 e IAC-226) e três condições de cultivo (com controle de plantas daninhas e sem adubação de cobertura com N; com adubação de 80 kg ha-1 de N e controle de plantas daninhas; sem controle das plantas daninhas e ausência de adubação de cobertura com N) em dois anos agrícolas (2011 and 2012), dispostos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso com três repetições, em esquema fatorial (7 x 3 x 2). Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: altura de plantas, diâmetro do caule, número de cachos, número de frutos e produtividade de frutos. As cultivares BRS Energia, IAC 2028, IAC Guarani e BRS Paraguaçu obtiveram maior produtividade de frutos. A adubação nitrogenada em cobertura e o controle de plantas daninhas proporcionaram às cultivares maior diâmetro do colmo, número de cachos, número de frutos e produtividade de frutos.

Effects of different concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus on growth and active components of Salvia miltiorrhiza / 中国中药杂志

With annual Salvia miltiorrhiza seedlings as experimental material, using "3414" optimal regression design recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture and regularly watered with nutrient solution, through the dynamic sampling of S. miltiorrhiza in different growing stages, and the growth index, dry weight of plant root and content of active components were measured. The potted experiments were applied to study the effects of different nitrogen and phosphorus ratios on the growth, dry matter accumulation and accumulation of active components of S. miltiorrhiza, in order to explore a compatible fertilization method of nitrogen and phosphorus ratio that are suitable for production and quality of S. miltiorrhiza. The results reported as follows：①High concentrations of nitrogen fertilizer was beneficial to dry matter accumulation of S. miltiorrhiza aerial parts, and low concentration of nitrogen fertilizer transferred the dry matter accumulation to underground, and N1P1 could make the transfer ahead of time;②Regression analysis showed that in the early growth stage (before early July), we could use the nitrogen and phosphorus as basic fertilizer at a concentration of 1.521,0.355 g•L⁻¹ respectively to promote the growth of S. miltiorrhiza and at a concentration of 2.281,0.710 g•L⁻¹ respectively to promote the dry matter accumulation of root (after mid-August);③Five kinds of active components of S. miltiorrhiza decreased with the increase of nitrogen concentration, and increased with the increase of the concentration of phosphate fertilizer. Nitrogenous fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer in N-P=2∶3 ratio was more suitable for the accumulation of salvianolic acids, in N-P=1∶2 ratio was more suitable for the accumulation of tanshinone.

Effect of fertilization combinations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on yield and quality of flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum / 中草药

Objective: To study the effect model of various fertilization combinations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) and its effects on the yield of flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum (FCI) and linarin content. Methods: The "3414" mis-classification orthogonal design was used in the fertilization test of three factors (N, P, and K), quadratic regression design was adopted, and analyses on variance and the DPS were carried out by using C. indicum as material. Results: After statistical analysis, the optimized effect model of N, P, and K and the the relationship between the yield and quality of FCI were established. The optimum efficiency was the treatment with N2P2K2 in various fertilizations. No treatment or single treatment of N, P, or K could cause the reduction of yield and quality. Single-factor analysis showed that the yield and linarin content were first increased and then decreased steadily with the increase of the N, P, and K application. The two factor interaction analysis indicated that there existed an interaction range among N, P, and K with the yield as the index. Synergistic effect was observed while the amount of N, P, and K was lower than the range while antagonistic effect was observed while higher than the range. When taking the content of linarin as the index, the reaction between N-K and P-K existed a range, and the trend of linarin showed the same trend as the yield. While N-P always kept the synergistic effect. Conclusion: The optimal fertilization amounts in the optimized model of FCI are 131.280-187.254 kg/hm2 for N, 113.415-170.460 kg/hm2 for P, 118.335-220.845 kg/hm2 for K, respectively.

Perdas de nitrogênio por volatilização de amônia e resposta do arroz irrigado à aplicação de ureia tratada com o inibidor de urease NBPT / Nitrogen losses by ammonia volatilization and lowland rice response to NBPT urease inhibitor-treated urea

A ureia é a principal fonte de nitrogênio (N) para o arroz irrigado, porém é bastante suscetível a perdas por volatilização de amônia. O uso do inibidor de urease N-(n-butil) triamida tiofosfórica (NBPT) pode minimizar esse problema, inibindo temporariamente a degradação enzimática da ureia. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, em duas condições de umidade do solo, o efeito do tratamento da ureia com o inibidor de urease NBPT sobre as perdas de N por volatilização de amônia e seu reflexo na produtividade de grãos e acumulação de nitrogênio pelo arroz irrigado (Oryza sativa). O experimento foi realizado em um Planossolo Háplico, em Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Avaliaram-se as combinações de duas condições de umidade do solo por ocasião da primeira aplicação de N em cobertura, no início do perfilhamento (solo úmido e saturado), duas fontes de nitrogênio (ureia não tratada e ureia tratada com NBPT) e três intervalos de tempo entre a primeira aplicação de N em cobertura e o início da irrigação (um, cinco e 10 dias). A dose utilizada de N foi de 120kg ha-1, parcelados 90kg ha-1 no início do perfilhamento, de acordo com os tratamentos, e 30kg ha-1, na diferenciação da panícula. Os tratamentos foram dispostos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. As perdas de N por volatilização de amônia decorrentes do uso de ureia variaram de 15 (solo saturado) a 22 por cento (solo úmido) do nitrogênio aplicado, quando o intervalo entre a aplicação desse fertilizante e o início da irrigação foi de 10 dias. Estas foram reduzidas em 83 e 88 por cento em solo saturado e úmido, respectivamente, com a adição de ureia com NBPT. Apenas na aplicação de N realizada 10 dias antes do início da irrigação o uso de NBPT proporcionou maiores produtividade de grãos e acumulação de nitrogênio pelo arroz. O tratamento da ureia com NBPT possibilita que sua aplicação anteceda em até 10 dias o início da irrigação, sem prejuízos para a produtividade...

Urea is the main nitrogen source used in flooded rice fields, but it is prone to ammonia volatilization losses. The use of N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) urease inhibitor, as urea additive, can reduce this inconvenient, inhibiting temporarily urea enzymatic degradation. An experiment was carried out on a Planossolo Háplico (Albaqualf), from October 2004 to April 2005, in Capão do Leão, RS, Brazil, to evaluate the effect of NBPT inhibitor-treated urea on nitrogen losses by ammonia volatilization, rice grain yield, and rice nitrogen accumulation, in two soil moisture conditions. The treatments were arranged as a randomized complete block with two soil moisture conditions (moist and muddy), two nitrogen sources (non treated urea and urea treated with NBPT) and three time intervals between nitrogen application and flooding (1, 5, and 10 days) in a factorial design with four replications. Nitrogen rate was 120kg N ha-1, applied at 4- to 5- leaf stage (90kg N ha-1) and at panicle differentiation (30kg N ha-1). Volatilization losses as ammonia from the urea treatment varied from 15 percent (muddy soil) to 22 percent (moist soil) of the applied N, when the time interval between nitrogen application and flooding was 10 days. Addition of NBPT reduced 83 percent and 88 percent ammonia volatilization losses in muddy soil and moist soil conditions, respectively. For the 10 days interval between nitrogen application and flooding, NBPT treated urea promoted greater rice yield and nitrogen accumulation, compared to non treated urea. The use of NBPT inhibitor makes possible applying urea up to ten days before flooding with no decrease on rice grain yield and nitrogen accumulation.

Desempenho de bananeiras consorciadas com leguminosas herbáceas perenes / Banana plant performance intercropping with perennial herbaceous legumes

O emprego de plantas de cobertura em consórcio com bananeiras pode ser uma estratégia de manejo, possibilitando aumentos de produtividade associados à otimização de processos biológicos e maior estabilidade do sistema produtivo. Neste trabalho, objetivo-se avaliar o efeito da cobertura viva, formada por leguminosas herbáceas perenes sobre a produção de bananeira cultivar Nanicão. Os tratamentos foram: amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi Krap. & Greg), cudzu tropical (Pueraria phaseoloides Benth.), siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum Urb.), vegetação espontânea (dominada por Panicum maximum Jacq.) e vegetação espontânea + N-fertilizante. Foi avaliado o desenvolvimento vegetativo das bananeiras entre abril/1999 e julho/2000 e os atributos de produtividade. O peso do cacho e da penca foram positivamente influenciados pelo siratro e cudzu tropical empregados como coberturas vivas, quando comparados aos demais tratamentos. Todas as leguminosas proporcionaram maior crescimento das bananeiras (notadamente a partir do 6º mês), maior número de folhas emitidas e maior proporção de cachos colhidos, em relação aos tratamentos com vegetação espontânea (com e sem N-fertilizante). As leguminosas siratro e cudzu tropical promoveram condições adequadas ao desenvolvimento das bananeiras, acarretando ganhos de produtividade e eliminação da adubação nitrogenada no bananal. O potencial benéfico das leguminosas cudzu tropical e siratro como coberturas vivas capazes de proporcionar aumentos na produtividade de banana, qualifica essas espécies como alternativa promissora para a fertilidade do solo e nutrição das bananeiras.

The use of coverage plants in cover cropping with bananas can be a management strategy, increasing in productivity associated with the optimization of biological processes and greater stability of production system. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of live coverage by herbaceous perennial legume on the yield of banana cultivar Nanicão. The treatments were: forage groundnut (Arachis pintoi Krap. & Greg), tropical cudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides Benth.), siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum Urb.), spontaneous vegetation (mainly Panicum maximum Jacq.) and spontaneous vegetation + N-fertilizer. Banana plant vegetative development and yield attributes between April/1999 and August/2000 were assessed. In comparison to other treatments, bunch and hand weight were more positively influenced by tropical cudzu and siratro legumes employed as live coverage. All legumes promoted higher vegetative growth for banana plants (notably from the 6th month on), a greater number of leaves, and a higher proportion of harvested bunches in relation to spontaneous vegetation (with and without N-fertilizer). Siratro and tropical cudzu legumes promoted adequate conditions for the development of the banana plants, generating yield gains, and the elimination of the need of nitrogenous fertilization in the banana plantation. The beneficial potential of tropical cudzu and siratro legumes as live coverage intercropping with banana plants qualify these species as promising alternatives for soil fertility and banana nutrition.