Urease inhibitors technologies as strategy to mitigate agricultural ammonia emissions and enhance the use efficiency of urea-based fertilizers.

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the stability and degradation of NBPT under storage conditions and to quantify urease activity, ammonia losses by volatilization, and agronomic efficiency of urea treated with different urease inhibitors, measured in the field. Experiments included urea treated with 530 mg NBPT kg-1 (UNBPT) in contact with six P-sources (monoammonium phosphate-MAP; single superphosphate; triple superphosphate; P-Agrocote; P-Phusion; P-Policote), with two P-concentrations (30; 70%); the monitoring four N-technologies (SoILC; Limus; Nitrain; Anvol); and the application of conventional urea (UGRAN) or urea treated with urease inhibitors as topdressing in three maize fields, at three N rates. It is concluded that: the mixture of UNBPT and P-fertilizers is incompatible. When MAP granules were coated to control P-release (P-Agrocote), the degradation of NBPT was moderate (approximately 400 mg kg-1 at the end of the storage test). SoILC and Limus solvent technologies extended the NBPT half-life by up to 3.7 and 4.7 months, respectively. Under field, each inhibition technology reduced urease activity, and lowered the intensity of ammonia emission compared to UGRAN by 50-62%. Our results show that the concentration of NBPT is reduced by up to 53.7% for mixing with phosphates. In addition, even with coatings, the storage of mixtures of urea with NBPT and phosphates should be for a time that does not reduce the efficiency of the inhibitor after application, and this time under laboratory conditions was 168 h. The reduction of NBPT concentration in urea is reduced even in isolated storage, our results showed that the half-life time is variable according to the formulation used, being 4.7, 3.7, 2.8 and 2.7 days for Limus, SoILC, Nitrain and Anvol, respectively. The results of these NBPT formulations in the field showed that the average losses by volatilization in the three areas were: 15%, 16%, 17%, 19% and 39% of the N applied, for SoILC, Anvol, Nitrain, Limus and urea, respectively. The rate of nitrogen application affected all agronomic variables, with varied effects in Ingaí. Even without N, yields were higher than 9200 kg ha-1 of grains. The increase in nitrogen rates resulted in linear increases in production and N removal in Luminárias and Ingaí, but in Lavras, production decreased above 95.6 kg ha-1 of N. The highest production in Lavras (13,772 kg ha-1 of grains) occurred with 100 kg ha-1 of N. The application of Anvol reduced the removal of N in Ingaí.

Ammonia volatization from conventional and stabilized fertilizers, agronomic aspects and microbiological attributes in a Brazilian coffee crop system.

We aimed to quantify the N losses through volatilization of the main conventional and stabilized N fertilizers applied in coffee plantations. Additionally, we also assessed microbiological attributes of the soil (microbial biomass carbon (MBC); microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN); microbial basal respiration (MBR); metabolic quotient (qCO2); urease, ß-glucosidase, acid phosphatase, and arylsulfatase activities) and agronomic aspects of the crop (N content in the leaves and beans, yield, and N exportation by the beans). Treatments consisted of the combination of three fertilizers (ammonium nitrate - AN, conventional urea - U, and urea with N- (n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) - UNBPT, and five doses of N (0, 150, 275, 400, and 525 kg ha-1 year-1 of N), with four replicates, totalling 60 experimental plots. In the two crop seasons evaluated, daily and cumulative losses of N-NH3 from the split fertilizer applications were influenced by the N fertilizer technologies. The application of U resulted in losses of 22.0% and 22.8% for the doses of 150 and 400 kg ha-1 year-1 of N. This means that 66 and 182 kg ha-1 of N-NH3 were lost, respectively, at the end of six fertilizations with U. UNBPT reduced urease activity and N-NH3 losses compared to conventional urea, avoiding the volatilization of 15.9 and 24.3 kg ha-1 of N. As for AN, N-NH3 losses did not exceed 1% of the applied dose, regardless of the weather conditions during the fertilization. Urease activity was higher on days of maximum NH3 volatilization. There was an effect of the N sources (NS), soil sampling time (ST), and their interaction (NS × ST) on the MBN and arylsulfatase activity. The N sources also influenced the MBC and the qCO2. A substantial amount of N was removed from the system by the beans and husks of the harvested fruits. Our study showed that N fertilizer technologies are interesting options to reduce N-NH3 losses by volatilization, increase N retention in the soil, and improve microbiological attributes and the sustainability of coffee production systems.

Chloride Applied via Fertilizer Affects Plant Nutrition and Coffee Quality.

The present study had the objective to evaluate the effect of blends of KCl and K2SO4 fertilizers and their influence on the yield and the nutritional state of coffee plants, as well as on the chemical composition and quality of the coffee beverage. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with four repetitions and six treatments (T1: 100% KCl; T2: 75% KCl + 25% K2SO4; T3: 50% KCl + 50% K2SO4; T4: 25% KCl + 75% K2SO4; T5: 100% K2SO4; and a control, without application of K). The following analyses were performed: K and Cl content in the leaves and the soil, stocks of Cl in soil, yield, removal of K and Cl with the beans, cup quality of the beverage, polyphenol oxidase activity (PPO), electric conductivity (EC), potassium leaching (KL), the content of phenolic compounds, the content of total sugars (TS), and total titratable acidity (TTA). The stocks of Cl in the soil decreased as the proportion of KCl in the fertilizer was reduced. The fertilization with KCl reduces the cup quality and the activity of the polyphenol oxidase, probably due to the ion Cl. The increase in the application of Cl directly relates to the increase in potassium leaching, electric conductivity, and titratable acidity. Indirectly, these variables indicate damages to the cells by the use of Cl in the fertilizer. The activity of the polyphenol oxidase enzyme and the cup quality indicate that the ion Cl- reduces the quality of the coffee beverage. K content in the leaves was not influenced by the application of blends of K fertilizer while Cl content increased linearly with KCl applied. The application of KCl and K2SO4 blends influenced coffee yield and the optimum proportion was 25% of KCl and 75% of K2SO4. The highest score in the cup quality test was observed with 100% K2SO4.

Agronomic efficiency of Rhizobium strains from the Amazon region in common bean / Eficiência agronômica de estirpes de Rhizobium isoladas da Amazônia sobre o feijoeiro-comum

To maximize the contribution of biological nitrogen fixation in common bean, it is necessary to use bacterial strains that are more adapted, competitive, and efficient in the symbiotic process. In this regard, the aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomic efficiency (AE) of three bacterial strains isolated from acid soils with high Al content from the Amazon region in an Argissolo Vermelho Distrófico típico soil (Typic Rhodustults - USDA Classification) from the municipality of Formiga, MG, Brazil. We compared their AE to that of the reference strain CIAT 899T and of two controls without inoculation (one without and another with 80 kg ha-1 of N-urea). The results indicated that inoculation with the strains UFLA 02-100 and UFLA 02-127 provides grain yield equivalent to inoculation with the reference strain and to the control with mineral N. Thus, both have potential for recommendation as inoculants for common bean.

Para maximizar a contribuição da fixação biológica de nitrogênio no feijoeiro-comum é necessária a utilização de estirpes de bactérias mais adaptadas, competitivas e eficientes no processo simbiótico. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se avaliar, em um Argissolo Vermelho Distrófico típico do município de Formiga-MG, a eficiência agronômica (EA) de três estirpes isoladas de solos ácidos e com alto teor de Al da Amazônia e comparar suas EA à da estirpe referência CIAT 899T e à de dois controles sem inoculação (um sem e outro com 80 kg ha-1 of N-ureia). Os resultados indicaram que a inoculação com as estirpes UFLA 02-100 e UFLA 02-127 propicia rendimento de grãos equivalente ao da estirpe referência e ao do controle com N mineral e que por isso, ambas têm potencial para ser recomendadas como inoculantes para o feijoeiro-comum.

Populações de plantas e doses de nitrogênio para o feijoeiro em sistema convencional / Plant populations and nitrogen doses for common bean at conventional system

A recomendação de novas cultivares de feijoeiro comum para os produtores deve ser sempre acompanhada de recomendações de manejo, tais como de população de plantas e adubação nitrogenada. Por esta razão, foi conduzido este estudo na safra de verão, em um Argissolo do município de Ponta Grossa-PR. O objetivo foi investigar o efeito de populações de plantas e níveis de adubação nitrogenada sobre o crescimento e produção da cv. IPR Tangará, recém-recomendada para o estado do Paraná. O delineamento estatístico foi blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições e análise de variância em esquema fatorial 4 x 4 envolvendo quatro populações de plantas (100, 200, 300 e 400 mil plantas ha-1) e quatro doses de N (0, 40, 80 e 120 kg ha-1 de N), aplicadas metade na semeadura e metade em cobertura, tendo-se a ureia como fonte do nutriente. Foram avaliados o estande final, a altura da planta e o rendimento de grãos com seus componentes primários (número de vagens por planta e de grãos por vagem e massa de cem grãos). No solo estudado, o incremento da dose de N até 74 kg ha-1 eleva o rendimento de grãos. O aumento da população no intervalo entre 90 e 250 mil plantas por hectare reduz o número de vagens por planta, mas não afeta o rendimento de grãos. A cv. IPR Tangará apresenta bom comportamento agronômico e boa produtividade de grãos e pode ser utilizada por agricultores paranaenses.

Common bean new cultivars recommendation for farmers should always be accompanied by specific recommendations for plant populations and fertilizer doses. Then, this study was conducted during the summer season, at Ponta Grossa country, Parana State, Brazil. The objective was to investigate the effect of plant populations and nitrogen rates on growth and yield of the cv. IPR Tangara culivar, recently recommended for Paraná State. The statistical design was a randomized block with four replications and 4 x 4 factorial scheme involving four populations (100, 200, 300 and 400 thousand plants ha-1) and four N rates (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1 N) source urea, applied half at sowing and halfdressed. Were evaluated the final stand, plant height and grain yield with its primary components (pods number per plant, seeds number per pod and the one hundred grains weight). In these soil, the N increase up to 74 kg ha-1 increases the yield. The population increase, in the 90-250 thousand plants ha-1 range reduces the pods number per plant, but does not affect grain yield. The IPR Tangara cultivar has good agronomic performance and good yield and can be used by farmers in Parana State.

Resposta de cultivares de feijoeiro-comum à inoculação das sementes com duas estirpes de rizóbio / Common bean cultivars response to seed inoculation with two rhizobium strains

Fixação simbiótica de nitrogênio pode ser uma alternativa para reduzir, ou mesmo substituir, a adubação nitrogenada do feijoeiro-comum, cultura na qual ainda há descrédito quanto aos benefícios da inoculação e que se caracteriza por aplicações de altas doses de N mineral. Com o objetivo de verificar a resposta de cultivares de feijoeiro-comum à inoculação das sementes com duas estirpes de rizóbio, foram conduzidos dois experimentos de campo na safra de inverno 2010 (Patos de Minas e Uberaba, MG). Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados, com três repetições e esquema fatorial 8 x 3, envolvendo oito cultivares (União, Madrepérola, Supremo, Ouro Negro, Ouro Vermelho e Majestoso) e três tipos de inoculação (sementes não inoculadas e estirpes CIAT 899T e UFLA 04-173). Na floração, avaliaram-se o número e massa seca de nódulos, massa seca de parte aérea e teor e acúmulo de nitrogênio (N) na parte aérea e, na colheita, o rendimento de grãos com seus componentes primários, teor e acúmulo de N nos grãos. Constatou-se que as populações nativas promovem nodulação equivalente à das estirpes inoculadas. As estirpes CIAT 899T e UFLA 04-173 favorecem o crescimento vegetativo do feijoeiro. A estirpe CIAT 899T proporciona maior número de vagens e maior massa de grãos que a estirpe UFLA 04-173, e em Uberaba também proporciona maior rendimento de grãos. Quando a inoculação é realizada com a estirpe UFLA 04-173, as cultivares diferem quanto ao teor foliar de N. As cultivares Madrepérola, Ouro Negro e Ouro Vermelho apresentam mais nódulos e maior massa seca de parte aérea, além de maior produtividade em Patos de Minas. Ouro Negro situa-se entre as mais produtivas em Uberaba. Em Uberaba há maior acúmulo de matéria seca de nódulos e de parte aérea, mas o ambiente Patos de Minas resulta em maiores valores do rendimento de grãos e componentes.

The symbiotic nitrogen fixation can be an alternative to reduce, or even replace, the nitrogen (N) fertilization of the common bean crop, characterized by application of high doses of this nutrient. This work aimed to verify the response of common bean cultivars to the seed inoculation with two Rhizobium strains, conducting two field experiments in the winter-spring crop of 2010, at Patos de Minas and Uberaba, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The experiment had a randomized block design, with three replications and a 8 x 3 factorial squemme, involving eight cultivars and three levels of inoculation. At flowering, it was evaluated the number of nodules, nodules dry mass, shoots dry weight, N content and accumulation in shoots and, at harvest, the grain yield and its primary components (100 grains weight, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod) and the N content and accumulation in the grains. The Madrepérola, Ouro Negro and Ouro Vermelho cultivars present the highest number of nodules and higher dry mass; in Patos de Minas, the same cultivars show higher productivity, but in Uberaba, only Ouro Negro cultivar is among the most productive. In Uberaba there is the greater nodules dry weight and higher shoots dry matter, but the most favorable conditions in Patos de Minas results in higher values for grain yield and its components. In Uberaba, the CIAT 899T strain overcomes the UFLA 04-173 strain in relation to grain yield. In both environments, the CIAT 899T strain also shows superiority in number of pods per plant and weight of one hundred grains.