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.

Soil tillage affects soybean growth and promotes heavy metal accumulation in seeds.

When soybean is grown in soils with high heavy metal concentrations, it may introduce those contaminants into the human food chain, posing risks to human health. This study evaluated the effect of tilling the soil with high Cu, Zn, and Mn levels on soybean physiology and metal accumulation in seeds. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected in two different sites: a vineyard with high heavy metal concentration and a grassland area, containing natural vegetation. Two soybean cultivars were sown and grown in the greenhouse. Photosynthetic parameters and biochemical analysis of oxidative stress were performed. Cu, Zn, and Mn in leaves and seeds, dry mass, and weight of seeds were evaluated. Soil structure had a high influence on plant growth and physiology, while soil site had a high impact on heavy metal accumulation in leaves and seeds. Soybean plants that grown in vineyard soils with high heavy metal concentrations, accumulated 50% more Zn in leaves and seeds, 70% more Cu in leaves, and 90% more Cu in seeds, than those plants grown in grassland soils. Besides, Zn concentration in seeds was higher than the permissible limit. Moreover, the disturbance of both vineyard soil and grassland soil was not good for plant growth and physiology, which have increased TBARS and H2O2 concentration in plants, transpiration rate, metal concentration in leaves and seeds. Soil disturbance may have caused organic matter oxidation and changes in the composition and quantity of soil microorganisms and it affects the availability of other nutrients in the soil.

Effectiveness of a rapid soil incubation method for determining potential acidity of soils in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil / Eficácia de um método rápido de incubação de solo na determinação da acidez potencial em solos no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

ABSTRACT: Potential soil acidity can be measured by two methods in the states of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Santa Catarina (SC): solution SMP or solution TSM (Buffer Santa Maria). Calibration of these methods is done by incubating soils for long periods (180 days) of CaCO3. The hypothesis of this study is that it is possible to reduce the incubation period in soils by using a soluble base such as calcium hydroxide. The study aimed to estimate potential acidity in a group of soils by moist incubation with Ca(OH)2 (short) as an alternative to the typical method with CaCO3 (long) and relate to the values ​​estimated by the equation used by the Soil Chemistry and Fertility Commission of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina (CQFS-RS/SC; 2016). Ten soils with sandy texture and low organic matter content were collected at 0-20cm in the Campanha Gaúcha region of the state of RS and incubated for 180 days with doses of CaCO3 equivalent to 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150% of the lime requirement estimated by the solution TSM to raise to pH 6.0. Soils were also incubated for 4 days in an oven at 35ºC with 0.22mol L-1 Ca(OH)2 at doses equivalent to CaCO3. Short incubation of the soil with Ca(OH)2 may substitute long incubation with CaCO3. Also, estimating potential acidity using the equation of the CQFS-RS/SC (2016) overestimated potential acidity in soils with solution TSM pH values lower than 6.0 in this study.

RESUMO: A acidez potencial do solo pode ser medida por dois métodos nos estados do Rio Grande do Sul (RS) e Santa Catarina (SC): índice SMP ou solução TSM (Tampão Santa Maria). A calibração destes métodos é feita pela incubação de solos por longos períodos (180 dias) com quantidades crescentes de CaCO3. A hipótese deste estudo é que é possível reduzir o período de incubação em solos usando uma base solúvel como o hidróxido de cálcio. O trabalho objetivou estimar a acidez potencial em um grupo de solos por meio de incubação úmida com Ca(OH)2 (curta) como alternativa ao método típico com CaCO3 (longa) e relacionar com os valores estimados pela equação utilizada pela CQFS-RS/SC (2016). Dez solos com textura arenosa e baixo conteúdo de matéria orgânica foram coletados a 0-20cm na região da Campanha Gaúcha e incubados por 180 dias com doses de CaCO3 equivalentes a 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 e 150% da exigência de calcário estimada pela solução TSM para elevar o pH a 6,0 (longa). Os solos foram também incubados por 4 dias em estufa a 35ºC com 0,22mol L-1 de Ca(OH)2 em doses equivalentes ao CaCO3 (curta). A incubação curta do solo com Ca(OH)2 pode substituir a incubação longa com CaCO3. Além disso, a estimativa da acidez potencial utilizando a equação do CQFS-RS/SC (2016) superestimou a acidez potencial de solos com valores de pH em solução TSM inferiores a 6,0 neste estudo.

Forms of phosphorus transfer in runoff under no-tillage in a soil treated with successive swine effluents applications.

Successive swine effluent applications can substantially increase the transfer of phosphorus (P) forms in runoff. The aim of this study was to evaluate P accumulation in the soil and transfer of P forms in surface runoff from a Hapludalf soil under no-tillage subjected to successive swine effluent applications. This research was carried out in the Agricultural Engineering Department of the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil, from 2004 to 2007, on a Typic Hapludalf soil. Swine effluent rates of 0, 20, 40, and 80 m3 ha(-1) were broadcast over the soil surface prior to sowing of different species in a crop rotation. Soil samples were collected in stratified layers, and the levels of available P were determined. Samples of water runoff from the soil surface were collected throughout the period, and the available, soluble, particulate, and total P were measured. Successive swine effluent applications led to increases in P availability, especially in the soil surface, and P migration through the soil profile. Transfer of P forms was closely associated with runoff, which is directly related to rainfall volume. Swine effluent applications also reduced surface runoff. These results show that in areas with successive swine effluent applications, practices that promote higher water infiltration into the soil are required, e.g., crop rotation and no-tillage system.