Search

Information on the potential of organic matter for soil fertility is important to an efficiently replenishment of nutrients. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic performance of millet plants grown in soil fertilized with different rates of organic wastes, through biometric variables. A randomized block experimental design with a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement was used with four replications, consisting of 32 experimental units. The treatments consisted of four organic matter sources (swine manure, sewage sludge, bovine manure, and poultry litter), and two organic matter rates (10 and 20 dm3); 50 dm3 pots filled with an agricultural soil that is predominant in the region were used. The pots were filled with 80% of soil and 20% of organic matter (10 dm3); and with 60% of soil and 40% of organic matter (20 dm3). Plant height (PH), leaf area (LA), stem diameter (SD), and number of expanded leaves (NL) were evaluated at 20, 40, 60, and 80 days after sowing (DAS); panicle length (PNL), and panicle diameter (PD) were measured at 80 DAS. All biometric variables evaluated indicated that the better organic matter rate for soil fertilization for millet crops is 10 dm3. In general, the highest panicle lengths and diameters were found in plants grown in soil with bovine manure.

The losses of essential elements to crops make necessary to correct soil fertility to meet the nutritional requirements of plants, which can be achieved by increasing soil organic matter. The objective of this work was to evaluate the leaf nutritional conditions of millet plants grown in soils fertilized with organic wastes from different sources at different rates. Organic matter can make the soil more productive and suitable to agricultural crops. A randomized block experimental design with a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement was used with four replications, consisting of 32 experimental units. The treatments consisted of four organic matter sources (swine manure, sewage sludge, bovine manure, and poultry litter), and two organic matter rates (20% and 40% of the pot volume). Boron extraction was performed by dry digestion—the organic matter of the plant tissue was incinerated in an electric muffle furnace at 450-550 ºC, and the inorganic residue (ash) was dissolved in a dilute acid solution. N, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn was extracted through wet digestion—the organic matter of the leaf tissue was oxidized by concentrated mineral acids and by heat. N, P, S, B, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn was determined by spectrophotometry. K was determined by flame photometry. All macro and micronutrient contents in the millet leaves, and biometric parameters of the millet panicle were affected by the organic matter sources, organic matter rates, and the interaction between them.

The efficiency of family farmers irrigation is conditioned by several factors such as good quality water supply. In this context, it was to evaluate the salinity and physical, chemical, and bacteriological characteristics of water harvested from roofs for irrigation of crops by family farmers in Brazil. The experiment was conducted at the Federal Institute Goiano, in Rio Verde, Goiás, Brazil. The rainwater collected on the roofs was sent through vertical and horizontal conductors to the storage tank, which has a capacity of 5000 L. The risk of salinity, pH, turbidity, conductivity, color, total dissolved solids and thermotolerant coliforms during 13 precipitation events was analyzed. Rainwater was classified as water with no salinity problem (EC < 0.7). The variation of the electrical conductivity (EC) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) were similar during the collection period, with mean values of 0.05 dS m-1 and 29.72 mg L-1 for EC and TDS, respectively. The pH of the rainwater presented little variation, presenting a mean of 7.37. The mean value of the color of rainwater was 11.45 PtCo L-1, while the turbidity averaged 4.89 UT. During the period of rainwater harvesting, it was observed absence of thermotolerant coliforms in all samples. It is concluded that rainwater does not present restrictions on the risk of salinity and that all physical-chemical and bacteriological parameters analyzed are within the limits allowed by Resolution 357/2005 of CONAMA, indicating the propensity of this type of water for irrigation.