System Fertilization: a Viable Practice for Black Oat-soybean Crop

Abstract System fertilization is characterized by partial or total fertilizer application at the predecessor crop; and it can be a viable practice to soybean crop. This study aimed to determine the fertilizer management and fertilizer levels for black oat-soybean cropping system, in high fertility soils and no-tillage system. The field trial was conducted in a bifactorial scheme, consisting of six environments, by combination of locations (Bom Sucesso do Sul - Paraná, Itapejara d'Oeste - Paraná) and fertilization management (all fertilization in black oat; splitting with 50% in black oat and 50% in soybean, all fertilization in soybean), and four fertilizer levels (0, 100, 200 and 300%) defined according to soil analysis and production expected. The evaluated traits were dry mass production, N, P and K nutrient accumulation of straw, dry mass remaining of black oat crop; and plant height, number of pods per plant, thousand grain weight, grain yield for soybean crop. Higher black oat dry mass production was observed at higher fertilization level. The fertilizer anticipation in black oat crop had better performance. Phosphorus and potassium accumulation increased linearly with fertilizer level increase. For N, the highest accumulated value occurred at the 200%, decreasing at the 300% of fertilizer level. The soybean crop had no influence in grain yield considering fertilization management, anticipation or splitting, and fertilizer levels. Thus, the system fertilization can be a viable practice, and favor black oat dry mass production and soybean development.

Effectiveness of a micronutrient delivery system fertilizer in jatropha plants is related to enhanced photosynthesis, gas exchange and biomass allocation / Eficácia de um sistema de fornecimento de micronutrientes em plantas de jatropha está relacionado com incrementos na fotossíntese, troca gasosa e alocação de biomassa

This study aimed at comparing the growth and physiological changes in Jatropha curcas L. (jatropha or physic nut) young plants fertilized or not with a commercial product based on a micronutrient delivery system (MDS), under different doses of NPK. Measurements of growth, chlorophyll content, and leaf gas exchange were performed in the greenhouse, where plants were arranged in a split-split plot design. Plants were grown for 120 days in 3.9 L pots containing local soil, with or without MDS (main plot), combined with NPK doses (0; 1.8; 4.7 and 7.4 g L-1) in subplots. Dose-response curves showed that most variables were positively responsive to NPK doses in plants growing without MDS, whereas slight responses or even opposite behavior was observed in MDS-fertilized plants. MDS application under low NPK doses resulted in higher biomass allocation in leaves and roots, increases in number of leaves and chlorophyll content, plant height, stem diameter, shoot and root dry weight, stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, leaf transpiration, and water use efficiency, as well as decreases in intercellular CO2 in the leaf and vapor-pressure deficit. The enhanced biomass allocation, photosynthesis and gas exchange in MDS-supplemented plants indicates the relevant role played by this fertilizer in jatropha metabolism, resulting in more vigorous plants.

Este estudo teve como objetivo comparar o crescimento e as mudanças fisiológicas em plantas jovens de Jatropha curcas L. (pinhão manso), fertilizadas ou não, com um produto comercial baseado em um sistema de fornecimento de micronutrientes (MDS), sob diferentes doses de NPK. Medidas de crescimento, teor de clorofila e troca gasosa foliar foram realizados em casa de vegetação, onde as plantas foram arranjadas em um delineamento de blocos casualizados com parcela subdividida. As plantas foram cultivadas por 120 dias em potes de 3,9 L contendo solo local, com ou sem MDS (parcela principal), combinado com doses de NPK (0; 1,8; 4,7 e 7,4 g L-1) nas subparcelas. Curvas doseresposta mostraram que a maioria das variáveis responderam positivamente às doses de NPK em plantas crescendo sem MDS, enquanto respostas fracas ou mesmo comportamento oposto foi observado em plantas fertilizadas com MDS. A aplicação de MDS em doses baixas de NPK resultaram em maior alocação de biomassa nas folhas e raízes, aumento no número de folhas e teor de clorofila, altura da planta, diâmetro do caule, pesos secos da parte aérea e raiz, condutância estomatal, fotossíntese, transpiração foliar e eficiência no uso da água, bem como na redução do CO2 intercelular na folha e déficit de pressão de vapor. O aumento na alocação de biomassa, fotossíntese e troca gasosa em plantas suplementadas com MDS indica o papel relevante deste fertilizante no metabolismo de pinhão manso, resultando em plantas mais vigorosas.

Managing agricultural phosphorus to minimize water quality impacts

Eutrophication of surface waters remains a major use-impairment in many countries, which, in fresh waters, is accelerated by phosphorus (P) inputs from both point (e.g., municipal waste water treatment plants) and nonpoint sources (e.g., urban and agricultural runoff). As point sources tend to be easier to identify and control, greater attention has recently focused on reducing nonpoint sources of P. In Brazil, agricultural productivity has increased tremendously over the last decade as a consequence, to a large extent, of increases in the use of fertilizer and improved land management. For instance, adoption of the 4R approach (i.e., right rate, right time, right source, and right placement of P) to fertilizer management can decrease P runoff. Additionally, practices that lessen the risk of runoff and erosion, such as reduced tillage and cover crops will also lessen P runoff. Despite these measures P can still be released from soil and fluvial sediment stores as a result of the prior 10 to 20 years management. These legacy sources can mask the water quality benefits of present-day conservation efforts. Future remedial efforts should focus on developing risk assessment indices and nonpoint source models to identify and target conservation measures and to estimate their relative effectiveness. New fertilizer formulations may more closely tailor the timing of nutrient release to plant needs and potentially decrease P runoff. Even so, it must be remembered that appropriate and timely inputs of fertilizers are needed to maintain agricultural productivity and in some cases, financial support might also be required to help offset the costs of expensive conservation measures.(AU)

Managing agricultural phosphorus to minimize water quality impacts

Eutrophication of surface waters remains a major use-impairment in many countries, which, in fresh waters, is accelerated by phosphorus (P) inputs from both point (e.g., municipal waste water treatment plants) and nonpoint sources (e.g., urban and agricultural runoff). As point sources tend to be easier to identify and control, greater attention has recently focused on reducing nonpoint sources of P. In Brazil, agricultural productivity has increased tremendously over the last decade as a consequence, to a large extent, of increases in the use of fertilizer and improved land management. For instance, adoption of the 4R approach (i.e., right rate, right time, right source, and right placement of P) to fertilizer management can decrease P runoff. Additionally, practices that lessen the risk of runoff and erosion, such as reduced tillage and cover crops will also lessen P runoff. Despite these measures P can still be released from soil and fluvial sediment stores as a result of the prior 10 to 20 years management. These legacy sources can mask the water quality benefits of present-day conservation efforts. Future remedial efforts should focus on developing risk assessment indices and nonpoint source models to identify and target conservation measures and to estimate their relative effectiveness. New fertilizer formulations may more closely tailor the timing of nutrient release to plant needs and potentially decrease P runoff. Even so, it must be remembered that appropriate and timely inputs of fertilizers are needed to maintain agricultural productivity and in some cases, financial support might also be required to help offset the costs of expensive conservation measures.

Yield response to fertilization strategies in no-tillage soybean, corn and common bean crops

Two research fields were conducted on a Haplohumox from 1998 and to 2005. The study aimed to evaluate the strategies for starter fertilizer application on corn, soybean and common bean yield as well as the accumulation of earlier dry matter for corn in a no-tillage crop rotation system in south of Brazil. There was no increase in the yield of soybean with phosphorus and potassium application for at least seven seasons, while corn and common bean showed increased yields with phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen application. For soybean, corn and common beans in no-tillage systems with high levels of phosphorus and medium of potassium, the starter fertilizer can be applied in any of the methods evaluated and in any of the period considered. The presence or absence of potassium in the furrow, phosphorus sources and row preparation components provided similar yields to corn, soybean and common bean.

Dois ensaios foram conduzidos simultaneamente a campo entre os anos de 1998 e 2005, em um Latossolo bruno, no sul do Brasil. O objetivo foi avaliar o efeito de estratégias de aplicação de adubo mineral de semeadura sobre a produtividade de milho, soja e feijão, bem como sobre o acúmulo inicial de matéria seca no milho, em uma rotação de culturas e no sistema plantio direto. A ausência de aplicação de fósforo e potássio por sete anos não diminuiu a produtividade da soja, mas a aplicação destes nutrientes e nitrogênio aumentou a produtividade de milho e feijão. Para soja, milho e feijão, sob sistema plantio direto e altos teores de fósforo e médios de potássio, a adubação de semeadura pode ser realizada de todas as formas avaliadas e em qualquer época considerada. A presença ou não de potássio no sulco, as fontes de fósforo e os mecanismos sulcadores proporcionaram produtividades semelhantes de milho, soja e feijão.

População de plantas, dose de nitrogênio e aplicação de fungicida na produção de arroz irrigado: I-características agronômicas

A field experiment was aimed at evaluating the effects of plant densities, nitrogen rates and chemical disease control on agronomic characteristics that affect grain yield of irrigated rice. The study was conducted during 2003/2004, in the Departamento de Fitotecnia of Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. The experiment was arranged in randomized blocks with sub-plots and four replicates, in Santa Maria-RS, Brazil and the treatments were: three plant densities (150, 260 and 380plants m-2), five nitrogen rates (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160kg ha-1) with and without chemical foliar disease control. The nitrogen was dressing was twice split at initial tillering and panicle differentiation. Grain yield increased in a quadratic fashion in response to nitrogen rates to up to 97kg ha-1. The use of fungicides to control foliar diseases resulted in higher grain yelds regardless of plant population or nitrogen fertilizer rates. Irrigated rice can compensate yield components between 150 and 380plants m-2. The most efficient rate of nitrogen was 97kg ha-1. Chemical foliar diseases control increases irrigated rice productivity even at low disease incidence.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da população de plantas, das doses de nitrogênio e da aplicação de fungicida na parte aérea nas características agronômicas que determinam a produtividade do arroz irrigado. O experimento foi realizado no ano agrícola 2003/2004, no Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, em Santa Maria, RS. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subdividas e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos constituíram-se de três populações de plantas (150, 265, 380plantas m-2), cinco doses de nitrogênio (0, 40, 80, 120, 160kg ha-1) e da aplicação ou não de fungicida na parte aérea da cultura. A adubação nitrogenada de cobertura foi igualmente parcelada, no início do perfilhamento e na diferenciação da panícula. A produtividade do arroz irrigado aumentou de forma quadrática com as doses de nitrogênio, respondendo até 97kg ha-1. A utilização de fungicidas para controle de doenças da parte aérea resultou em maior produtividade, independentemente da população de plantas e das doses de nitrogênio utilizadas. Desta forma, o arroz irrigado compensa seus componentes da produtividade com populações na faixa de 150 a 380 plantas m-2, sendo a maior produtividade obtida com a dose de nitrogênio de 97kg ha-1 e aplicação de fungicida, mesmo com baixa incidência de doenças.

População de plantas, dose de nitrogênio e aplicação de fungicida na produção de arroz irrigado: I-características agronômicas

A field experiment was aimed at evaluating the effects of plant densities, nitrogen rates and chemical disease control on agronomic characteristics that affect grain yield of irrigated rice. The study was conducted during 2003/2004, in the Departamento de Fitotecnia of Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. The experiment was arranged in randomized blocks with sub-plots and four replicates, in Santa Maria-RS, Brazil and the treatments were: three plant densities (150, 260 and 380plants m-2), five nitrogen rates (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160kg ha-1) with and without chemical foliar disease control. The nitrogen was dressing was twice split at initial tillering and panicle differentiation. Grain yield increased in a quadratic fashion in response to nitrogen rates to up to 97kg ha-1. The use of fungicides to control foliar diseases resulted in higher grain yelds regardless of plant population or nitrogen fertilizer rates. Irrigated rice can compensate yield components between 150 and 380plants m-2. The most efficient rate of nitrogen was 97kg ha-1. Chemical foliar diseases control increases irrigated rice productivity even at low disease incidence.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da população de plantas, das doses de nitrogênio e da aplicação de fungicida na parte aérea nas características agronômicas que determinam a produtividade do arroz irrigado. O experimento foi realizado no ano agrícola 2003/2004, no Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, em Santa Maria, RS. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subdividas e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos constituíram-se de três populações de plantas (150, 265, 380plantas m-2), cinco doses de nitrogênio (0, 40, 80, 120, 160kg ha-1) e da aplicação ou não de fungicida na parte aérea da cultura. A adubação nitrogenada de cobertura foi igualmente parcelada, no início do perfilhamento e na diferenciação da panícula. A produtividade do arroz irrigado aumentou de forma quadrática com as doses de nitrogênio, respondendo até 97kg ha-1. A utilização de fungicidas para controle de doenças da parte aérea resultou em maior produtividade, independentemente da população de plantas e das doses de nitrogênio utilizadas. Desta forma, o arroz irrigado compensa seus componentes da produtividade com populações na faixa de 150 a 380 plantas m-2, sendo a maior produtividade obtida com a dose de nitrogênio de 97kg ha-1 e aplicação de fungicida, mesmo com baixa incidência de doenças.