Feature-specific nutrient management of onion (Allium cepa) using machine learning and compositional methods.

While onion cultivars, irrigation and soil and crop management have been given much attention in Brazil to boost onion yields, nutrient management at field scale is still challenging due to large dosage uncertainty. Our objective was to develop an accurate feature-based fertilization model for onion crops. We assembled climatic, edaphic, and managerial features as well as tissue tests into a database of 1182 observations from multi-environment fertilizer trials conducted during 13 years in southern Brazil. The complexity of onion cropping systems was captured by machine learning (ML) methods. The RReliefF ranking algorithm showed that the split-N dosage and soil tests for micronutrients and S were the most relevant features to predict bulb yield. The decision-tree random forest and extreme gradient boosting models were accurate to predict bulb yield from the relevant predictors (R2 > 90%). As shown by the gain ratio, foliar nutrient standards for nutritionally balanced and high-yielding specimens producing > 50 Mg bulb ha-1 set apart by the ML classification models differed among cultivars. Cultivar × environment interactions support documenting local nutrient diagnosis. The split-N dosage was the most relevant controllable feature to run future universality tests set to assess models' ability to generalize to growers' fields.

Prediction of Nitrogen Dosage in 'Alicante Bouschet' Vineyards with Machine Learning Models.

Vineyard soils normally do not provide the amount of nitrogen (N) necessary for red wine production. Traditionally, the N concentration in leaves guides the N fertilization of vineyards to reach high grape yields and chemical composition under the ceteris paribus assumption. Moreover, the carryover effects of nutrients and carbohydrates stored by perennials such as grapevines are neglected. Where a well-documented database is assembled, machine learning (ML) methods can account for key site-specific features and carryover effects, impacting the performance of grapevines. The aim of this study was to predict, using ML tools, N management from local features to reach high berry yield and quality in 'Alicante Bouschet' vineyards. The 5-year (2015-2019) fertilizer trial comprised six N doses (0-20-40-60-80-100 kg N ha-1) and three regimes of irrigation. Model features included N dosage, climatic indices, foliar N application, and stem diameter of the preceding season, all of which were indices of the carryover effects. Accuracy of ML models was the highest with a yield cutoff of 14 t ha-1 and a total anthocyanin content (TAC) of 3900 mg L-1. Regression models were more accurate for total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acidity (TTA), pH, TAC, and total phenolic content (TPC) in the marketable grape yield. The tissue N ranges differed between high marketable yield and TAC, indicating a trade-off about 24 g N kg-1 in the diagnostic leaf. The N dosage predicted varied from 0 to 40 kg N ha-1 depending on target variable, this was calculated from local features and carryover effects but excluded climatic indices. The dataset can increase in size and diversity with the collaboration of growers, which can help to cross over the numerous combinations of features found in vineyards. This research contributes to the rational use of N fertilizers, but with the guarantee that obtaining high productivity must be with adequate composition.

Garlic (Allium sativum) feature-specific nutrient dosage based on using machine learning models.

Brazil presents large yield gaps in garlic crops partly due to nutrient mismanagement at local scale. Machine learning (ML) provides powerful tools to handle numerous combinations of yield-impacting factors that help reducing the number of assumptions about nutrient management. The aim of the current study is to customize fertilizer recommendations to reach high garlic marketable yield at local scale in a pilot study. Thus, collected 15 nitrogen (N), 24 phosphorus (P), and 27 potassium (K) field experiments conducted during the 2015 to 2017 period in Santa Catarina state, Brazil. In addition, 61 growers' observational data were collected in the same region in 2018 and 2019. The data set was split into 979 experimental and observational data for model calibration and into 45 experimental data (2016) to test ML models and compare the results to state recommendations. Random Forest (RF) was the most accurate ML to predict marketable yield after cropping system (cultivar, preceding crops), climatic indices, soil test and fertilization were included features as predictor (R2 = 0.886). Random Forest remained the most accurate ML model (R2 = 0.882) after excluding cultivar and climatic features from the prediction-making process. The model suggested the application of 200 kg N ha-1 to reach maximum marketable yield in a test site in comparison to the 300 kg N ha-1 set as state recommendation. P and K fertilization also seemed to be excessive, and it highlights the great potential to reduce production costs and environmental footprint without agronomic loss. Garlic root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi likely contributed to P and K uptake. Well-documented data sets and machine learning models could support technology transfer, reduce costs with fertilizers and yield gaps, and sustain the Brazilian garlic production.

Natural abundance analysis of the role played by 15 N as indicator for the certification of organic-system deriving food.

BACKGROUND: The natural abundance of stable isotope 15 N (δ15 N) in production systems has emerged as an alternative to distinguish organic products from conventional ones. This study evaluated the use of δ15 N values recorded for nitrogen fertilizers, soil and plant tissue in order to set the differences between organic and conventional agricultural production systems applied to rice, potatoes, apple and banana crops. RESULTS: Values of δ15 N recorded for N sources ranged from +5.58‰ to +18.27‰ and from -3.55‰ to +3.19‰ in organic and synthetic fertilizers, respectively. Values recorded for δ15 N in food from organic rice, potatoes and banana farms were higher than values recorded for δ15 N in conventional farms; the same was observed for values recorded for δ15 N in leaves from the four crops. CONCLUSION: Results have allowed for differentiation between production systems due to values of δ15 N recorded in leaves of all crops and food, for rice, potatoes and banana trees. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Earthworm species in Musa spp. plantations in Brazil and worldwide.

Bananas and plantains are major commodity/food crops that represent an important habitat for earthworms, although so far, no review is available on earthworm communities associated with banana/plantain crops worldwide. The Vale do Ribeira region is among the largest banana producing areas in Brazil, but little is known of the earthworms living there. Hence, the present study assessed earthworm populations and species in three banana plantations and adjacent Atlantic forest fragments along the Ribeira de Iguape River using standard (hand sorting) methodologies. Furthermore, we review earthworm populations reported in banana/plantain plantations worldwide. Only two species (Pontoscolex corethrurus, Amynthas gracilis) belonging to two families (Rhinodrilidae, Megascolecidae) were found in the Ribeira River valley, occurring concurrently. Abundance was low (< 13 indiv. m-2) compared with other banana plantations worldwide, that frequently surpassed 100 indiv. m-2. More than 70 studies reported earthworms from >200 banana plantations in 28 countries, and mean species richness was 2.7 per site, ranging from 1 to 10 species. Exotics predominated in most sites and P. corethrurus was the most prevalent species encountered. Overall, more than 104 species from 10 families were reported, with around 61 native and 43 exotic widespread species, mainly of the Megascolecidae, Lumbricidae and Acanthodrilidae families. Richness was highest in India (27 spp.) and the Canary Islands (25 spp.), but native species dominated only in a few countries and sites, while exotics were prevalent especially in island countries and Brazil. Lower-input practices appear to be important for earthworm communities and banana plantations can have large earthworm populations in some cases, which may be contributing to soil processes and plant production, topics that deserve further attention. However, many important banana-producing countries have not yet been evaluated, so further work is warranted, both in terms of applied ecology and biodiversity.

DRIS standard and normal ranges of foliar nutrients for the culture of ‘Thompson’ atemoya / Norma DRIS e faixas normais de nutrientes foliares para a cultura da atemoia ‘Thompson’

ABSTRACT: Atemoya, an interspecific hybrid belonging to Annonaceae family, is the outcome of a cross between cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) and Custard apple (Annona squamosa L.). In light of the current shortage of scientific data on the nutritional management techniques for this fruit, the need to develop and apply a specific methodology becomes crucial. From the variety of plant diagnostic tools available, the DRIS method was selected, for use in the commercial cultivation of the ‘Thompson’ cultivar of atemoya located in the São Paulo State, municipalities of Itapetininga, Piedade, Pilar do Sul and Salto de Pirapora. Normal nutrient ranges were determined to interpret the levels of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn in the culture through statistical regression analysis and samples of leaf dry matter, with their respective DRIS indices. Although the general index of the nutritional balance of DRIS disallowed establishing a link with productivity, this study achieved it based on the standard of determining normal ranges for cognate macronutrients to the ones cited in the literature.

RESUMO: A atemoia é um híbrido interespecífico, da família da Annonaceae, obtido pelo cruzamento da cherimoia (Annona cherimola Mill.) e a fruta-pinha (Annona squamosa L.). Devido a falta de informações científicas disponíveis para a fruta sobre os procedimentos de manejo nutricional, o desenvolvimento e a aplicação de uma metodologia específica são de grande importância. Dentre as ferramentas disponíveis para a realização da diagnose de plantas temos o método DRIS. Este foi empregado em talhões comerciais de atemoia do cultivar ‘Thompson’ nos municípios do estado de São Paulo: Itapetininga, Piedade, Pilar do Sul e Salto de Pirapora. A determinação das faixas normais de nutrientes para a interpretação dos níveis de N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn na cultura foram obtidas pela análise estatística de regressão relacionando os seus teores, presentes nas matérias secas das amostras foliares com seus respectivos índices DRIS. Embora o índice geral de balanço nutricional do DRIS não tenha permitido estabelecer uma relação com a produtividade, foi possível, com base na norma, determinar faixas normais para macronutrientes semelhantes aos encontrados na literatura.

Growth and yield of anthurium in response to sawdust mulching / Crescimento e produção de antúrio em resposta a cobertura do solo com serragem de madeira

ABSTRACT: The objectives of the study were to analyze the effect of sawdust mulch on the: (1) soil characteristics; (2) growth and flower yield of the anthurium cv. 'Apalai'. Assay was conducted in a totally randomized design in subdivided plots, with five treatments and eight replications. The treatment consisted of five volumes of sawdust 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80L m-2, distributed over the bed, every three months. Soil, plants and flower stalks were evaluated during two years. Soil temperature, moisture, organic matter, bulk density and water retention conditions were improved, while the leaf area of plants and the yield of flower stalks were increased when the soil were mulched with sawdust. In addition to increasing soil organic matter, however, no change occurred in the level of nutrients in plants. Sawdust also improved the dimension of flower stalks. Application of 40L m-2 of sawdust every three months is recommended.

RESUMO: Objetivou-se analisar o efeito da serragem de madeira: (1) nas características do solo; (2) no crescimento e produção de hastes florais de anthurium cv. 'Apalai'. O ensaio foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em parcelas subdivididas, com cinco tratamentos e oito repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram em cinco volumes de serragem 0, 20, 40, 60 e 80L m-2, distribuídos sobre os canteiros, a cada três meses. O solo, as plantas e hastes florais foram avaliados por dois anos. A temperatura, a umidade, o teor de matéria orgânica, a densidade e a retenção de água do solo melhoraram, enquanto a área foliar e a produção de hastes florais aumentaram quando o solo foi coberto com serragem. Apesar do aumento do teor de matéria orgânica, não ocorreram modificações no teor de nutrientes nas plantas. A serragem também melhorou as dimensões das hastes florais. Recomenda-se aplicação de 40L m-2 de serragem a cada três meses.

Período de formação do cacho e biorreguladores na produção e qualidade da banana 'Grande Naine' / Period of bunch formation and growth regulators on yield and quality of banana 'Grande Naine'

Objetivou-se determinar o efeito do período de formação do cacho e dos biorreguladores na produção e qualidade da banana 'Grande Naine'. O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em parcelas subdivididas, com seis repetições. Consideram-se, nas parcelas, os períodos de formação do cacho, verão e outono, e nas subparcelas, os biorreguladores: duas aplicações com água, giberelina (AG3, 200mg L-1), auxina (2,4 D; 10mg L-1), citocinina (TDZ, 150mg L-1) e a mistura de giberelina, auxina e citocinina (AG3, 56,3mg L-1; AIB, 56,3mg L-1 e ZEA, 101,3mg L-1). Os períodos de formação do cacho influenciam o número de pencas, o tamanho, a vida pós-colheita, o pH, a acidez titulável, a razão sólidos solúveis e acidez titulável e a firmeza do fruto. A mistura de biorreguladores eleva o peso do cacho e da 4ª penca em cachos formados no verão.

The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of climatic conditions during the period of bunch formation and growth regulators on yield and quality of banana 'Grande Naine'. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized split plot with six replications. It was considered the plots, and the periods of bunch formation, summer and autumn. In the subplots it was considered the growth regulators: two applications were made with water, gibberellin (GA3, 200mg L-1), auxin (2.4-D, 10mg L-1), cytokinin (TDZ, 150mg L-1) and a mixture of gibberellin, auxin and cytokinin (AG3, 56.3mg L-1; AIB, 56.3mg L-1 and ZEA, 101.3mg L-1). Periods of bunch formation influence the number of hands, the size, shelf life, pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids and titratable acidity ratio and the firmness of the fruit. The mixture of growth regulators increase the weight of the bunch and the 4th hand bunches formed in the summer.

Plant ionome diagnosis using sound balances: case study with mango (Mangifera Indica).

Plant ionomes and soil nutrients are commonly diagnosed in agronomy using concentration and nutrient ratio ranges. However, both diagnoses are biased by redundancy of information, subcompositional incoherence and non-normal distribution inherent to compositional data, potentially leading to conflicting results and wrong inferences. Our objective was to present an unbiased statistical approach of plant nutrient diagnosis using a balance concept and mango (Mangifera indica) as test crop. We collected foliar samples at flowering stage in 175 mango orchards. The ionomes comprised 11 nutrients (S, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe). Traditional multivariate methods were found to be biased. Ionomes were thus represented by unbiased balances computed as isometric log ratios (ilr). Soil fertility attributes (pH and bioavailable nutrients) were transformed into balances to conduct discriminant analysis. The orchards differed more from genotype than soil nutrient signatures. A customized receiver operating characteristic (ROC) iterative procedure was developed to classify tissue ionomes between balanced/misbalanced and high/low-yielders. The ROC partitioning procedure showed that the critical Mahalanobis distance of 4.08 separating balanced from imbalanced specimens about yield cut-off of 128.5 kg fruit tree(-1) proved to be a fairly informative test (area under curve = 0.84-0.92). The [P | N,S] and [Mn | Cu,Zn] balances were found to be potential sources of misbalance in the less productive orchards, and should thus be further investigated in field experiments. We propose using a coherent pan balance diagnostic method with median ilr values of top yielders centered at fulcrums of a mobile and the critical Mahalanobis distance as a guide for global nutrient balance. Nutrient concentrations in weighing pans assisted appreciating nutrients as relative shortage, adequacy or excess in balances.

The plant ionome revisited by the nutrient balance concept.

Tissue analysis is commonly used in ecology and agronomy to portray plant nutrient signatures. Nutrient concentration data, or ionomes, belongs to the compositional data class, i.e., multivariate data that are proportions of some whole, hence carrying important numerical properties. Statistics computed across raw or ordinary log-transformed nutrient data are intrinsically biased, hence possibly leading to wrong inferences. Our objective was to present a sound and robust approach based on a novel nutrient balance concept to classify plant ionomes. We analyzed leaf N, P, K, Ca, and Mg of two wild and six domesticated fruit species from Canada, Brazil, and New Zealand sampled during reproductive stages. Nutrient concentrations were (1) analyzed without transformation, (2) ordinary log-transformed as commonly but incorrectly applied in practice, (3) additive log-ratio (alr) transformed as surrogate to stoichiometric rules, and (4) converted to isometric log-ratios (ilr) arranged as sound nutrient balance variables. Raw concentration and ordinary log transformation both led to biased multivariate analysis due to redundancy between interacting nutrients. The alr- and ilr-transformed data provided unbiased discriminant analyses of plant ionomes, where wild and domesticated species formed distinct groups and the ionomes of species and cultivars were differentiated without numerical bias. The ilr nutrient balance concept is preferable to alr, because the ilr technique projects the most important interactions between nutrients into a convenient Euclidean space. This novel numerical approach allows rectifying historical biases and supervising phenotypic plasticity in plant nutrition studies.

Viabilidade econômica do uso do calcário na implantação de pomar de goiabeiras / Economical viability of the use of limestone for the establishment of guava orchard

Com o objetivo de estudar a relação entre doses de calcário e produção de goiabas, um ensaio de campo foi conduzido em solo Latossolo Vermelho distrófico, no município de Bebedouro-SP, no período de 1999 a 2006. O delineamento experimental adotado foi em blocos casualizados com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. O calcário foi aplicado uma única vez em 1999, nas doses de: zero; 1,85; 3,71; 5,56 e 7,41 t ha-1. A produção das goiabeiras aumentou em resposta à aplicação do corretivo de acidez. As produções acumuladas de frutos, nos anos sucessivos 2003, 2004, 2005 e 2006 estiveram associadas às doses mais econômicas de calcário de 1,6; 4,4; 7,2 e 7,2 t ha-1, respectivamente.

With the objective of studying the relationship between limestone doses and guava production, a field experiment was conducted on Oxisol soil in the town of Bebedouro-SP, from 1999 to 2006. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications. The limestone was used only once in 1999, at doses from zero, 1.85; 3.71; 5.56 and 7.41 t ha-1. The guava production increased in response to the application of the acidity corrective. The accumulated production of fruits in successive years 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 were associated with economical doses of limestone of 1.6; 4.4; 7.2 and 7.2 t ha-1 respectively.

Influência do cultivar, do tipo de folha e do tempo de cultivo na medida indireta da clorofila (spad) em mudas de goiabeira / Influence of cultivars, type of leaf, and cultivation time in the indirect measurement of chlorophyll (SPAD) in guava (psidium guajava l) seedlings

A análise foliar de nitrogênio, comumente empregada em laboratórios de rotina, é destrutiva e nem sempre rápida, obstante para a tomada de decisão. Objetivou-se com a pesquisa estudar as medidas SPAD, em mudas de goiabeira (Psidium guajava L.) cultivada em solução nutritiva completa, observando-se as diferenças entre cultivares, épocas de amostragem e tipos de folhas avaliadas. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições, em parcelas sub-subdivididas. Assim, foi utilizada como parcela as duas cultivares de goiabeira (Paluma e Século XXI), como subparcelas os tipos de folhas (+1, +2 e +3) e, cinco épocas de amostragem ao longo do período experimental (60, 75, 90, 105 e 120 dias, após o transplantio de mudas) Concluiu-se que a leitura SPAD em mudas de goiabeira é influenciada pela cultivar, tipo de folha e época de amostragem. O terceiro par de folhas mostrou-se mais adequado para avaliar o estado nutricional do nitrogênio nas mudas de goiabeira a partir da leitura SPAD. As cultivares de goiabeira apresentaram diferença na leitura SPAD apenas aos 60 e 90 dias após o transplantio, independentemente do tipo de folha.

Foliar nitrogen analysis, also used in routine laboratories, is destructive and not always fast enough for decision making. The objective of this research was to study SPAD measurements, in guava seedlings (Psidium guajava L.) cultivated in a complete nutritive solution, observing the differences between cultivation, times of sampling, and types of evaluated leaves. The experimental design was a completely randomized scheme, with four repetitions, in split lots. The lots consisted of two guava cultivars (Paluma and Século XXI), as sub-lots, the types of leaves (+1, +2 ,and +3), and five sampling times throughout the experimental period (60, 75, 90, 105, and 120 days). It was concluded that the SPAD measurements in guava seedlings are influenced by cultivation, type of leaf, and time of sampling. The third pair of leaves was shown to be more adequate for evaluating the nutritional status of nitrogen in the guava seedlings from the SPAD reading. The guava cultivars presented differences in SPAD readings only at 60 and 90 days, regardless of the type of leaf.

Nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio na nutrição e no crescimento de mudas de laranjeiravalência, enxertadas sobre limoeiro cravo / Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels on nutrition and production of seedlings of 'Valencia' sweet orange grafted on 'cravo' lemon rootstock

O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação telada na FCAV/Unesp campus Jaboticabal-SP, durante o período de novembro de 2005 a janeiro de 2007. Conduziu-se este estudo, com o objetivo de avaliar componentes do desenvolvimento e do estado nutricional de mudas de laranjeira Valência (Citrus sinensis Osbeck), enxertadas sobre limoeiro Cravo (Citrus limonia Osbeck), em função de doses de nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3³ + 1, sendo 3 fatores (nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio - NPK), 3 doses e uma testemunha (sem adubação), com 3 repetições. A unidade experimental foi representada por uma muda de laranjeira por sacola com 5 dm³ com 2,5 kg de substrato casca de Pinus spp. e vermiculita. Os tratamentos foram constituídos pela metade, uma vez e duas vezes a dose padrão recomendada, de 4.590; 920 e 4.380 mg sacola-1, de N, P e K, respectivamente. As adubações com N e K foram realizadas via fertirrigações três vezes por semana e o P foi adicionado ao substrato antes do replantio das mudas. Aos 424 dias após o transplantio, as plantas foram subdivididas em raízes e parte aérea para determinação da massa da matéria seca, altura, área foliar, diâmetro do caule e conteúdo de nutrientes. A adubação com N, P e K proporcionou maior desenvolvimento e maior acúmulo desses macronutrientes na parte aérea e nas raízes das mudas de laranjeira Valência, sobre limoeiro Cravo. Houve adequado desenvolvimento das plantas com a metade da dose recomendada de N, P e K pela literatura, aproximadamente de 918, 184 e 876 mg dm-3, respectivamente.

The experiment was carried out in greenhouse at the FCAV/Unesp, Jaboticabal-SP during the period of November 2005 to January 2007. The objective of this study was to evaluate development components and nutritional status of seedlings of 'Valencia' (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) sweet orange grafted on 'Cravo' lemon rootstock (Citrus limonia Osbeck), in response to Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium levels. The experimental design was entirely randomized, in factorial scheme 3³ + 1, being 3 factors (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium -NPK), 3 levels and a control (without fertilization) with 3 replications. The experimental unit constituted of a 'Valencia' sweet orange grafted on 'Cravo' lemon rootstock in a plastic bag with 2,5 kg of substratum. The treatments consisted of half, one, and two times the standard recommended dose for production of orange seedlings (4,590, 920, and 4,380 mg bag-1 of N, P, and K, respectively). Fertilization with N and K was carried out by three weekly fertirrigations, and the P was added to the substratum of Pinus spp. bark and vermiculite before sowing. After 424 days, the plants were subdivided in roots and aerial parts for determination of dry matter, height, leaf area, diameter of stem, and nutrient content. Fertilization with N, P, and K provided for greater development and greater accumulation of these macronutrients in the aerial part and root of the 'Valencia' sweet orange grafted on 'Cravo' lemon rootstock. There was adequate development of the plants with half the recommended dose of N, P, and K according to literature, approximately of 918, 184, and 876 mg dm-3 of N, P, and K, respectively. Satisfactory development was obtained with half the recommended dose of N, P and K, in general. Slightly greater development occurred in the recommended dose of 4,590, 920, and 4,380 mg bag-1 or 918, 184, and 876 mg dm-3 of substratum, respectively.

Resposta de plântulas de arroz cv. brs-soberana à aplicação de zinco via semente / Response in rice cv. brs Soberana seedlings to addition of zinc to seeds

A cultura do arroz constitui um dos principais cereais que apresenta alta resposta à aplicação de zinco, constituindo um dos principais cereais em que isso ocorre. Objetivou-se, no presente trabalho, avaliar a aplicação de zinco em sementes, a partir de duas fontes, sobre a nutrição e o crescimento inicial da cultura do arroz cultivar BRS-Soberana. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em três repetições. Os tratamentos foram cinco doses 1,0; 2,0; 4,0 e 8,0g de Zn por kg de semente, das fontes sulfato e óxido, além da testemunha. Após 30 dias da semeadura, avaliou-se a matéria seca (parte aérea e raiz) e o teor e acúmulo de zinco nas plantas. O sulfato de zinco não diferenciou ao óxido para produção de matéria seca total nas plântulas de arroz, entretanto, proporcionou maior absorção de Zn. A aplicação de zinco na forma de sulfato e óxido, na dose de 8g Zn.kg-1 de semente proporcionou maior produção de matéria seca atingindo teor do nutriente, na parte aérea de 281 e 163 mg.kg-1, respectivamente.

Rice is one of the main cereals that present high response to zinc addition. The present study assessed the effect nutrition and initial growth of rice crop, cultivar BRS-Soberana, different sources of Zn application on seeds, from two. A completely randomized design was used, with three replications. Treatments used were zinc from sulphate and oxide sources in five dosages of 1.0; 2.0; 4.0 and 8.0g of Zn per kg of seed, and an untreated control. Levels of zinc and its accumulation, as well as dry matter from the aerial part and the roots of the plants were evaluated thirty days after seed planting. The zinc sulphate did not differ from the oxide source when considering production of dry matter in the rice seedlings, although it propitiated higher Zn absorption by the plants. The addition of zinc as sulphate and oxide at an 8g Zn.kg-1 of seed dosage propitiated higher dry matter production, attaining 281 e 163 mg.kg-1 nutrient levels respectively, in the aerial part of the plants.

Eficiência de absorção, transporte e utilização de macronutrientes por porta-enxertos de caramboleira, cultivados em soluções nutritivas / Up take, transportat and use of macronutrients in rootstock for star fruit tree cultivated in nutrient solutions

O estado nutricional de plantas cultivadas em solução nutritiva pode ser influenciado pelo tipo de solução utilizada, afetando desta forma seu adequado crescimento. Com este trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a exigência nutricional de porta-enxertos de caramboleira, cultivados em quatro diferentes soluções nutritivas. O delineamento experimental empregado foi inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições, tendo como tratamentos as quatro soluções. Como solução padrão foi utilizada a de Hoagland & Arnon, comparada à outras três soluções. O experimento foi conduzido em condições de casa-de-vegetação, em recipientes plásticos com 8 L de capacidade. Após 150 dias do transplantio, foram determinados a matéria seca e o teor de nutrientes, inferindo-se o conteúdo dos macronutrientes na planta. Com esses resultados calculou-se os índices: eficiência de absorção; eficiência de transporte e eficiência de utilização dos nutrientes. As soluções nutritivas de Sarruge, de Castellane & Araújo e de Furlani foram semelhantes na produção de matéria seca das plantas de caramboleira. O uso da solução nutritiva de Hoagland & Arnon resultou em menor produção de matéria seca das caramboleiras, e, também, menor eficiência de utilização de Ca e Mg pelas plantas. A eficiência de transporte dos nutrientes foi a mais afetada pelas soluções nutritivas utilizadas, enquanto a eficiência de utilização dos nutrientes sofreu pouca variação em função das soluções empregadas.

The nutritional status of plants cultivated in nutrient solutions way be influenced by the solution which would affect its growth plants. The present essay was undergone to assess the nutritional demands of root stock for star fruit trees, cultivated in four different nutritional solutions. An completely experimental design was used with three repetitions, with four different nutrient solutions as treatments. The Hoagland & Arnon solution was used as standard and was the control wich was with compared three other solutions. The experiment was carrie out under green house conditions, using 8 L pot. After 150 days of transplantation, dry material and macro nutrient levels were determined. The following indicators were calculated: absorption efficiency; transportation efficiency, and efficiency of nutrient use. The Sarruge, the Castellane & Araújo, and the Furlani nutrient solutions were similar to accumulation of dry material in the star fruit plants. The use of the Hoagland & Arnon solution resulted in lower material dry production in and also lower of Ca and Mg use. Nutrient transportation efficiency was the indicator most affected by the different nutritional solutions used, while efficiency of nutrient use showed small variation when comparing the solutions.