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Zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO NPs) has been used as a fertilizer alternative, although some applications technique and metal-microbial effects should be studied. This research evaluated the bioefficiency of synthetic ZnO NPs in soybean seedlings combined with different water status and with or without PcO6 bacteria. ZnO NPs performed in sand inhibited growth and fluorescence parameters. Still, when soybean seeds were exposed to ZnO NPs seed priming the root mass was increased, mainly in non-drought conditions. Soybean plants cultivated in drought conditions will have compromised development, although was demonstrate soybeans seed inoculation with PcO6 may decrease undesired effects from drought. Also, PcO6 soybean inoculation mitigate metal ZnO toxicity. Here, one of the first positive report about soybean interaction with PcO6 by drought and metal mitigation of toxicity. In addition, the best way to apply ZnO was through seed priming, while sand application was toxic and foliar application had no effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is necessary to increase the agronomic use efficiency of urea to reduce ammonia volatilization and increase crop yield. However, relying solely on urea for the enhanced efficiency technologies development could harm fertilizer integrity, resulting in reduced application quality and fertilizer storage time. The authors aimed at developing and characterizing the physical, chemical, and physicochemical quality of a novel enhanced efficiency fertilizers, synthesized from urea plus boron (B), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), or molybdenum (Mo) addition, with or without N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) associated. Hygroscopicity, hardness, salt index (SI), pH, and thermogravimetric decomposition were the parameters evaluated. Fertilizer quality was assessed through microscopic X-ray fluorescence, microtomography, and scanning electron microscopy. Micronutrients were added by coating or granulation; they were homogeneously distributed over the fertilizer’s granules. The fertilizers’ hardness increased up to 86% with Zn coated compared with uncoated. Granulated urea with B, Zn, Ni, or Mo had greater internal porosity, which resulted in lower hardness. Boron and Zn addition to the fertilizers increased the hygroscopicity in average 388% and 473%, respectively, compared with hygroscopicity observed for urea. Moreover, hygroscopicity was increased by an average of 56% with NBPT addition. Micronutrients addition to the urea granules increased the SI, while thermal decomposition stages of urea were unaffected by micronutrients addition. Enhanced efficiency fertilizers require characterization before agronomic efficiency tests due to changes in their physical, chemical, and physicochemical properties. Unfavorable changes could harm granules integrity and application efficiency in the field, resulting in economic losses to the industry and farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is necessary to increase the agronomic use efficiency of urea to reduce ammonia volatilization and increase crop yield. However, relying solely on urea for the enhanced efficiency technologies development could harm fertilizer integrity, resulting in reduced application quality and fertilizer storage time. The authors aimed at developing and characterizing the physical, chemical, and physicochemical quality of a novel enhanced efficiency fertilizers, synthesized from urea plus boron (B), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), or molybdenum (Mo) addition, with or without N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) associated. Hygroscopicity, hardness, salt index (SI), pH, and thermogravimetric decomposition were the parameters evaluated. Fertilizer quality was assessed through microscopic X-ray fluorescence, microtomography, and scanning electron microscopy. Micronutrients were added by coating or granulation; they were homogeneously distributed over the fertilizer’s granules. The fertilizers’ hardness increased up to 86% with Zn coated compared with uncoated. Granulated urea with B, Zn, Ni, or Mo had greater internal porosity, which resulted in lower hardness. Boron and Zn addition to the fertilizers increased the hygroscopicity in average 388% and 473%, respectively, compared with hygroscopicity observed for urea. Moreover, hygroscopicity was increased by an average of 56% with NBPT addition. Micronutrients addition to the urea granules increased the SI, while thermal decomposition stages of urea were unaffected by micronutrients addition. Enhanced efficiency fertilizers require characterization before agronomic efficiency tests due to changes in their physical, chemical, and physicochemical properties. Unfavorable changes could harm granules integrity and application efficiency in the field, resulting in economic losses to the industry and farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yield gain of soybean inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. or co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. and Azospirillum brasilense is variable. Inoculants can be applied in the sowing furrow or via seed treatment. There is a gap in our understanding of the efficacy of different inoculation methods. This study aimed to assess the agronomic efficiency of soybean inoculated and co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. and A. brasilense by different methods. The study was conducted in Paraná State, Brazil, in two seasons. Five treatments were tested: control; seed treatment with Bradyrhizobium spp. (SBr), seed treatment with Bradyrhizobium spp. + A. brasilense (SBr+Az), in-furrow treatment with Bradyrhizobium spp. (FBr), and in-furrow treatment with Bradyrhizobium spp. + A. brasilense (FBr+Az). Shoot dry weight, grain nitrogen content and grain yield were lower in 2018/19. In 2017/18, FBr+Az increased nodule number and dry weight compared with SBr. FBr+Az promoted a 47% increase in pods per plant compared with the control in both seasons. Regardless of season, grain nitrogen content was higher with FBr+Az (mean relative increase of 27%). FBr+Az was superior to SBr+Az in 2017/18, with a 12% increase in yield. Inoculation and co-inoculation improve morphological traits and soybean yield. In-furrow inoculation is more efficient than seed treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is what makes soybean economically viable. However, the launch of cultivars, with a high-yield potential and abiotic factors that reduce BNF, raised doubts about the need for nitrogen (N) fertilizers for soybeans. The objective of the research was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen supply, in two application times in furrow starter fertilization and top-dressing. The experimental design was in the 3 × 6 factorial scheme. The treatments consisted of three rates of N at in furrow starter fertilization (0, 10, and 20 kg ha−1 of N), and six rates of N in top-dressing, applied at the soybean R1 stage (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 kg ha−1 of N). The highest rate in furrow starter fertilization of 20 kg ha−1 of N resulted in the increase in the leaf area index (LAI) and specific leaf area (SLA), which are attributes that maximize the absorption of light energy, thus being able to positively influence yield. However, the BNF demonstrated that the strains of the selected Bradyrhizobium are efficient and capable of supplying the required N because the supplementation of nitrogen in furrow and/or top-dressing did not result in significant differences in the yield in relation to inoculated soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of lime and phosphogypsum (GY) on wheat (Triticum aestivum) nutrition are well documented. However, little is known about the influence of these soil amendments on biometric parameters or yield components. This study investigated the effects of lime and GY on wheat crops grown at cation base saturation (BS) levels of 44%, 70%, and 90%, achieved by surface application or soil incorporation of lime. Two additional treatments were included: surface liming to 70% combined with a standard rate of GY (3.71 Mg ha−1) or twice the recommended GY rate (7.42 Mg ha−1). The experiment was conducted during two crop seasons in Southern Brazil. The treatments did not influence dry biomass partitioning between spikes, stems, and leaves and total. In one season, liming increased flag leaf area, which was strongly associated with grain yield. Regardless of the rate, application method, and combined use of GY, liming increased the number of grains per spike in both seasons, which was the variable that most influenced wheat yield. Liming also increased spike length and the number of spikelets per spike in the 2018 season. No benefits were seen when lime was applied by soil incorporation, BS was raised to 90%, or liming was combined with GY application. The results showed a positive effect of liming on wheat yield components that are associated with grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for food is increasing, which poses significant challenges to humanity's sustainable and sufficient food production. Using fertilizers with new technologies with a low environmental impact is becoming increasingly necessary. In this context, the industry has been creating alternatives to optimize the use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers, with the improvement of urea being crucial for sustainable agricultural production. The objective of this study was to assess the use of fertilizers with integrated technology, specifically urea NBPT + Duromide and formaldehyde urea, aiming to reduce N losses through ammonia (NH 3 -N) volatilization and, consequently, mitigate carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions in the integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS), thereby addressing the impacts of global warming. Evaluations were conducted over three agricultural years (2020/2021, 2021/2022, and 2022/2023). The pasture used was Urochloa Brizhanta cv. marandu, and soybeans (Glycine max L) were cultivated. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications in a 3 × 4 factorial arrangement. The treatments consisted of three N sources: conventional urea (Ur Conv ) for immediate release, formaldehyde urea (Ur Formaldehyde ) for slow release, and urea with urease inhibitor and Duromide technology (Ur Duromide ), combined with four rates (0, 100, 200, and 400 kg ha -1 of N). NH 3 -N volatilization data were subjected to nonlinear regression using a logistic model. NH 3 -N volatilization losses varied according to the rate and fertilizer, reaching up to 33% in Ur Conv . Ur Duromide exhibited reduced efficiency over the evaluated years compared to Ur Conv , reducing losses by 52% in the first year, 46% in the second, and only 5% in the third. Ur Formaldehyde showed less variability, ranging between 57% and 45% reduction in NH 3 -N losses. The effects on TOC and CO 2 emissions followed similar trends, with Ur Conv causing the highest CO 2 emissions and more significant TOC accumulation. Ur Formaldehyde reduced CO 2 by up to 8% compared to Ur Conv , while Ur Duromide reduced it by 6% compared to Ur Conv in greenhouse gas emissions and consequently lower soil organic carbon accumulation. In conclusion, using technology to enhance efficiency in nitrogen fertilizers showed promising results in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, offering hope for a sustainable future and making it a viable alternative to conventional urea sources., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Clayton Luis Baravelli de Oliveira reports financial support was provided by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)