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The state of Rio Grande do Sul has about 20% of the total area as lowland soils, suitable for flooded rice (Oryza sativa). In order to mitigate damage caused by rice monoculture, new crops such as sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and soybean (Glycine max) have been cultivated in these areas. With different qualities of crop residues, it is expected a change in soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics and consequently, nitrogen (N) availability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of rice, soybean and sorghum crop residues on the N present in physical fractions of SOM of two lowland soils, using labeled 15N technique, under incubation for 180 days in aerobic condition and more 180 days in anaerobic condition. At 30, 180 and 360 days of incubation the remaining N of the plant residues and N destination from the residues in both soils were quantified in the physical fractions of SOM >250 µm, 250-53 µm and <53 µm. The soil with higher amount of clay+silt received a larger quantity of 15N from residues, while flooding of the soil after 180 days caused a loss of N added to the soil by the soybean and sorghum residues. In general, larger amounts of 15N were reported in the fraction <53 µm, associated with clay minerals, throughout the incubation period. These N losses should be considered in N fertilization for the following crops in rotation with flooded rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizospheric carbon resulting from root exudation is one of the substrates used by the soil microbiota, and reflects methane (CH4) emissions in anoxic environments such as irrigated rice cultivation. With the increase of the photosynthetic capacity of the plant in the reproductive period, there is greater accumulation of biomass which, in turn, increases the rate of root exudation. However, genotypic variations in the physiological aspects of rice plants may be related to the amount of root exudates. Ten cultivars of irrigated rice were evaluated for the exudation rate of total organic carbon (EXRToc), shoot dry matter (SDM), and physiological variables related to photosynthesis during the full flowering (blooming) period. Two experiments were conducted in the greenhouse of the Department of Soils of the UFSM (University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil) in a completely randomized experimental design. The cultivars presented significant differences in EXRToc, SDM, and all physiological variables as well as positive and significant correlations between EXRToc and physiological variables. Early cultivars were more inefficient in the physiological variables reflecting reduced values of EXRToc and SDM whereas medium-cycle cultivars were more efficient with larger EXRToc and SDM reflections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In soil laboratory testing, the acid 1-amino-2- naphthol-4-sulfonic (ANS) is used as reducing agent to determine P by UV/Visible spectrometry. However, there are risks to laboratory technician healthy and an alternative is the use of ascorbic acid (AA). But, changes in the analytical protocol may induce variations in results, been necessary to standardize and calibrate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ANS and AA in extracts of Mehlich-1 and 3 in ranges 15, 30, 45, 60 and 120min of reaction. There was no difference in P concentration determined by both reducers when compared within each extractor. Ascorbic acid can substitute the ANS solution for P determination and the suggested reaction interval for colorimetric quantification is between 30 and 60min for both substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The no-tillage system success relies on higher addition of different types of crop residues to the soil, each one with specific decomposition kinetics which drives the net mineralization and immobilization of the nitrogen (N) in the soil. This manuscript had as objective to evaluate the decomposition rate and N released from winter cover crops residues under different above ground biomass input to the soil. The experiment was carried out in the experimental area of the Soil Department at Federal University of Santa Maria, in random complete block design, with three replications, during 2003/04 and 2004/05. The decomposition and the N released from black oat, oil radish and hairy vetch residues were investigated using mesh bags of decomposition containing fitomass equivalent to 3, 6 and 9 Mg of dry matter ha-1 placed in plots with 80 m2 with the same level of crop residues used in the mesh bags. They were collected at 7, 14, 28, 42, 63, 84, 113 and 141 days after cover crops management. The amount of residues input did not influence the decomposition rate. However, the N mineralization and immobilization processes were affected by the level of residues input and they were driven by C/N ratio. The larger decomposition residues rate and higher N release followed the order: vetch, radish oil and black oat. The C/N ratio drives the size of labil and recalcitrant compartiments of cover crops fitomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of nitrogen (N) fertilization levels was assessed by the industrial yield, the incidence of chalky and white belly grains as well as protein and amylose content of IRGA 422CL cultivar polished grains. The experiment was consisted with N levels applied in coverage using urea as a N source. The first application (0, 40, 63, 80 and 120kg ha-1 of N) was carried out on a main plot (10x5m) and the second application (0, 25, 50 and 75kg ha-1 of N) on a subplot (2,5x5m). Therefore, 20 treatments were obtained varying from 0 to 195kg ha-1 of N applied during cultivation. The nitrogen levels presented a positive quadratic influence on the yield of whole grains (R2 =0.75) and a negative influence on the percentage of broken grains (R2 =-0.89), not demonstrating significant effects on the percentage of rice hulls + bran. The nitrogen levels influenced protein content in a positive linear way (R2 =0.81) and amylose content in a negative linear way (R2 =-0.66), in IRGA 422CL cultivar flood-irrigated polished grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen doses and timing of topdressing application affects the sensibility of rice plants to low temperature in reproductive stage. For these reasons it were installed two experiments with the objective of determining the effect of nitrogen topdressing application doses and timing on the susceptibility of rice plants to low temperature in the reproductive phase. The experiments were sowed in 2007/08 growing season in a greenhouse at Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agropecuária (INIA), INIA Treinta y Tres, Uruguay, with INIA Olimar cultivar. In both experiments, a factorial experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, with four replications (factor A: stages or rates of N application and factor B: temperature treatment, with or without cold). In the experiment 1 the treatments of factor A were N application of 30 kg ha-1 in V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, R0, R1+4 days and an untreated check without N in topdressing. In experiment 2, the factor A was doses of N: 0, 23, 46 and 69kg ha-1 in V4 stage and the same levels of N in R0 stage plus a check without N in topdressing. The plants were treated with 12.5 C during seven hours for four nights when the collar of the flag leaf was at the same height of the previous leaf. The following aspects were evaluated: grain yield; spikelet sterility; SPAD index at three, ten and sixteen days of low temperature treatment; number of panicles per plot and weight of 1000 grains. Spikelet sterility was not affected by the application of N in different stages or doses, by cold treatment or their interaction, but the cold treatment affected temporally the SPAD index with delaying panicle emerge. It is not necessary to modify the N applications for this variety in Uruguay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present research was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of indolebutyric acid (IBA) on the rooting of Luehea divaricata minicuttings under two different cultivation periods in a greenhouse environment. The minicuttings were immersed in a hydroethanolic solution containing IBA. All minicuttings survived after 30 and 60 days of cultivation. Root formation at 30 days of cultivation with 1000 mg L-1 of IBA was 91.7%, the same rate as that observed with 4000 mg L-1. At the 1000 mg L-1 concentration, the number of roots was the greatest among all treatments, with 8.42 roots per minicutting after 30 days of cultivation. After 30 days of cultivation, the formation and number of roots with the use of 1000 mg L-1 of IBA in the "pulse" treatment produced the best outcome results, allowing the plants to spend less time in a greenhouse at a reduced concentration of auxin when compared with other treatments. However, to obtain higher averages of secondary root formation, root length, and number of leaves, it is necessary to increase the cultivation period to 60 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has become possible to evaluate the conversion of soil organic matter (SOM) in pastures and arboreal crops due to the difference between the photosynthetic cycles of Eucalyptus (C3) and most grasses (C4). The auto analyzer method coupled to the IRMS (Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer) in the present study evaluated the 13C content in soil profiles of Eucalyptus plantations of different ages (2, 10 and 21 years), in natural regeneration areas and natural grazing fields, and estimated the SOM conversion of each crop type of. The initial management of all sampled areas was natural pasture. The following profile layers were evaluated: 0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-70 and 70-90cm, and the contribution of Eucalyptus biomass over the years of farming was estimated in the SOM conversion process. After 2 years of planting Eucalyptus, the beginning of pasture carbon conversion process occurred in the surface layer (0-5cm). Ten years after planting, the process of converting organic matter by arboreal crops reached the layers up to 20cm. After 21 years of planting and in natural regeneration areas, the entire profile has already been changed by planting Eucalyptus and native tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]