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Soil management techniques influence the biological and physicochemical properties of the soil and lead to changes in soil quality and cover and thus on crop profitability and yield. In this study, the effects of short-term tillage and no-tillage methods combined with a chemical treatment using Glyphosate on weed abundance, selected soil physical properties and yield components were evaluated in durum wheat under Mediterranean climatic conditions. The no-tillage (NT) treatment resulted in higher weed community density during wheat cultivation and moisture consumption than the conventional tillage treatment. The tillage practice and the application of Glyphosate showed a very high efficiency on weeds. Furthermore, the results obtained showed a significant variation and effect of the treatments on the soil characteristics. The application of the no-tillage technique induced a small increase in soil moisture at the seed germination stage (25.6%), while at the last sampling a small increase was recorded in the CT treatment (9.5% for CT and 8.8% for NT). The results of the soil porosity, showed during the whole test period high values in the conventional technique (with or without herbicide application); but for the resistance to soil penetration, the results showed higher values in the no-till technique. Finally, the effect of the tillage system on crop yield was evaluated. In our study, the results showed that significant increases in the number of heads per m2 (351.3 heads per m2), the number of grains per head (45.8) and the weight of 1,000 grains (41.2 g) were obtained with the tillage treatment combined with glyphosate application. When comparing the two tillage methods, the highest values were always revealed with the tillage technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of mycorrhizal fungi and glomalin content in soil under different cover crops with and without the application of nitrogen in the cover. The following cover plants were used: Crotalaria juncea (Crotalaria juncea L.), wild beans from Ceará (Canavalia brasiliensis Mart. ex Benth.), Guandú 'BRS mandarin' [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.], millet 'BR05' [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.] and sorghum 'BR 304' [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. The absolute control of the experiment was the treatment without the use of cover crops, that is, the vegetation of spontaneous occurrence in the area. The experimental design was randomized blocks in subplots with three replications. Spore density, mycorrhizal colonization rate, easily extractable glomalin, and species present in the rhizosphere of the cover crops were determined. No differences were found in the diversity of mycorrhizal fungi associated with the different cover crops studied or in the values of spore density, root colonization, or glomalin content. Nitrogen application did not influence the mycorrhizal activity in the investigated cover crops. The most frequent species associated with cover crops were Scutellospora pellucida and Scutellospora persica in C. juncea; Gigaspora sp. on Sorghum; Glomus macrocarpum in Guandu; G. macrocarpum and Glomus clavisporum in millet; and Glomus microaggregatum and Glomus tortuosum in Spontaneous Vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of mycorrhizal fungi and glomalin content in soil under different cover crops with and without the application of nitrogen in the cover. The following cover plants were used: Crotalaria juncea (Crotalaria juncea L.), wild beans from Ceará (Canavalia brasiliensis Mart. ex Benth.), Guandú ‘BRS mandarin’ [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.], millet ‘BR05’ [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.] and sorghum ‘BR 304’ [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. The absolute control of the experiment was the treatment without the use of cover crops, that is, the vegetation of spontaneous occurrence in the area. The experimental design was randomized blocks in subplots with three replications. Spore density, mycorrhizal colonization rate, easily extractable glomalin, and species present in the rhizosphere of the cover crops were determined. No differences were found in the diversity of mycorrhizal fungi associated with the different cover crops studied or in the values of spore density, root colonization, or glomalin content. Nitrogen application did not influence the mycorrhizal activity in the investigated cover crops. The most frequent species associated with cover crops were Scutellospora pellucida and Scutellospora persica in C. juncea; Gigaspora sp. on Sorghum; Glomus macrocarpum in Guandu; G. macrocarpum and Glomus clavisporum in millet; and Glomus microaggregatum and Glomus tortuosum in Spontaneous Vegetation.

In recent years the corn crop has experienced new baseline level of productivity with the innovations in the productive system, among them the incorporation of biostimulants to the seeds, with obtained increases in yield, nevertheless some care should be taken concerning the addition of new chemicals to the seeds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of rates the seed treatment with the biostimulant of root Aminoagro Raiz® in corn yield second crop development in the northern of Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The experiment was carried out at the area experimental of the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT) campus of Sinop-MT. The treatments consisted in applying by rates of seed treatment of the biostimulants (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 ml kg-1 of seeds) in the moment of sowing. The rates caused significant changes on number of leaves and leaf area, which experienced smaller values, this reduction occurred due to a possible increase in root system. Corn seeds treated with the bioestimulant Aminoagro Raiz® in the rate de 200 ml kg-1 of seeds, high level of the rate recommended for the fabricant, has been reductions on number of leaves and grain yield. The seed corn treatment with the bioestimulant Aminoagro Raiz® in the rate recommended for the fabricant (50 ml kg-1 of seeds) increased the grain yield in corn crop.

The evaluation of technologies employed at the agricultural production system such as crop rotation and soil preparation, both associated with crop-livestock integration, is crucial. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the incorporation of lime for three no-tillage systems and cultural managements in system of crop-livestock integration, with emphasis on corn grain yield. The experiment was conducted from January 2003 to April 2005 at Selvíria city, MS, in Dystroferric Red Latosol, clay texture. The experimental design was randomized blocks with split plots consisted of three main treatments, aimed the soil physics conditioning and the incorporation of lime: PD - No-no-tillage; CM - minimum no-tillage, and PC - conventional no-tillage; and of two secondary treatments related to the management: rotation and crop succession, with four replications. Data on agronomic traits of maize were analyzed: plant height, stem diameter, height of the first spike insertion, 100 grains weight and grain yield. The results showed that the maize produced under the system of crop-livestock integration is quite feasible, showing that grain yields are comparable to averages in the region and the different soil physical conditioning and incorporation of lime did not influence the corn yield as well as the cultural managements, rotation and succession, did not affect the maize crop behavior after two years of cultivation.

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The correct management of cover crops in no-tillage aims to obtain greater benefits with its introduction in agricultural systems. The use of forage species such as Brachiaria, due to the large amount of biomass and for persisting longer on the ground, has become a good option. In this sense, an important point is the time interval between the cover desiccation with glyphosate and planting of rice in order to obtain higher operating income in the sowing, greater availability of nutrients, greater presence of straw on the soil surface, and lower release of possible allelopathic substances. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of the management of B. ruziziensis, with or without herbicide, preceding the crop planting, in the yield components and yield of rice. The trial was conducted in greenhouse conditions and consisted of three types of management of B. ruziziensis before sowing rice. B. ruziziensis showed linear growth and the presence of large amounts of its dry matter biomass on the soil surface was detrimental to rice yield; B. ruziziensis management close to planting caused a significant reduction in rice yield; the management of B. ruziziensis with herbicides should be conducted with more than 20 days before planting rice; the management of B. ruziziensis for the removal of its leaves with or without herbicide should be carried out with 10 or more days before planting rice, and the correct management of B. ruziziensis at the right time allowed for significant increases in the rice yield.O manejo das plantas de cobertura visa obter maiores benefícios com a sua introdução nos sistemas agrícolas. O uso de espécies forrageiras como as do gênero Brachiaria, devido à grande quantidade de biomassa e ao fato de persistirem por mais tempo sobre o solo, vem se tornando uma boa opção. Quando se almeja maior rendimento operacional no plantio, maior disponibilidade de nutrientes, maior presença de palha na superfície do solo e menor liberação de possíveis substâncias alelopáticas, um ponto importante a ser observado é o intervalo de tempo entre a dessecação da cobertura com glifosato e a semeadura do arroz. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o efeito do manejo de B. ruziziensis, com ou sem herbicida, antecedendo a semeadura da cultura, nos componentes de produção e na produtividade do arroz. O ensaio foi conduzido em casa de vegetação e consistiu em três tipos de manejo de B. ruziziensis antes da semeadura do arroz. Essa forrageira apresentou crescimento linear, e a presença de grande quantidade de sua matéria seca na superfície do solo foi prejudicial ao arroz. Quando manejada próximo do plantio do arroz, B. ruziziensis causou redução significativa na produtividade dessa cultura; o manejo dessa forrageira com herbicida deve ser realizado com mais de 20 dias antes do plantio do arroz; o manejo dela com retirada da parte aérea, com ou sem herbicida, deve ser realizado com 10 ou mais dias antes do plantio do arroz; e o manejo no momento adequado proporcionou aumento significativo na produtividade do arroz.

The use of no tillage system associated with the crop-livestock integration is an alternate managing that promotes the accumulation of dry matter in the soil, an essential fact to make the system sustainable and profitable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the operational performance of a planter-tractor set on maize straws intercropped with Urochloa, in different seeding modes. The soybean crop was seed on the intercropping of two forage species (Urochloa brizantha and Urochloa ruziziensis) in five cropping systems: MBL (Maize with Urochloa in the maize seeding row, mixed with base fertilizer and deposited at 0.10 m), MBE (Maize with Urochloa seeded between rows at the same day of seeding maize), MBC (Urochloa between rows of maize seeded with the covering fertilizer at the V4 stage), MBLA (Maize with Urochloa by broadcast seeding at the V4 stage ) and MS (Single Maize: control). The following variables were evaluated: dry mass of maize straw, dry mass of forages and total dry mass of straw; and for the operational parameters the speed of seeding, wheel slippage, traction force and average power at the drawbar. The results showed that the amount of straw produced by maize intercropping with Urochloa, interferes in the operational performance of the tractor-planter at the operation of soybean seeding, i.e., areas with higher amount of straw promote greater energy demand, as well as higher wheel slippage.O uso do plantio direto, associado ao sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária, é uma alternativa de manejo que promove o acúmulo de massa seca no solo, fato imprescindível para tornar o sistema sustentável e lucrativo. O trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o desempenho operacional do conjunto trator-semeadora sobre palhadas de milho consorciado com urochloas, em diferentes modalidades de semeadura. A cultura da soja foi semeada sobre o consórcio de duas espécies forrageiras (Urochloa brizantha e Urochloa ruzizienses), em cinco sistemas de cultivo: milho com Urochloa na linha de semeadura do milho, misturados ao adubo de base e depositados a 0,10 m (MBL); milho com Urochloa semeados na entrelinha, no mesmo dia da semeadura do milho (MBE); Urochloa na entrelinha do milho semeada junto ao adubo de cobertura no estádio V4 (MBC); milho com Urochloa semeados a lanço no estádio V4 (MBLA) e milho solteiro (Testemunha). Foram avaliadas as variáveis: massa seca da palha do milho, massa seca das forrageiras e massa seca total de palha; e para os parâmetros operacionais: a velocidade de semeadura, patinagem dos rodados, força de tração e potência média na barra de tração. A quantidade de palha produzida pelo consórcio de milho com urochloas interfere no desempenho operacional do conjunto trator-semeadora na operação de semeadura da soja, ou seja, áreas com maior quantidade de palha promoveram maior demanda energética, assim como maior patinagem dos rodados.

A viabilidade e a implantação do sistema de semeadura direta na região do Cerrado brasileiro têm tido limitações pela dificuldade de obtenção e manutenção de palhada adequada sobre o solo. Nesse contexto, o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a influência do nitrogênio residual, aplicado no feijoeiro, no número de folhas fotossinteticamente ativas, nas características agronômicas e na proteína bruta em grãos de milho, consorciado ou não. Pode-se concluir que não houve efeito das doses residuais de aplicação de nitrogênio, aplicado no feijoeiro cultivado anteriormente, sobre o desenvolvimento vegetativo e reprodutivo do milho e que no consórcio do milho com a Brachiaria ruziziensis, houve aumento na velocidade de senescência foliar e reduziu teor de proteína bruta em grãos, densidade populacional final, número de espigas por área, nitrogênio total foliar, diâmetro de ráquis, número de grãos por fileira e massa de 100 grãos, sem afetar a produtividade.The no tillage feasibility and implementation in the Brasilian Cerrado region has been limited by the difficulty of obtaining and maintaining adequate mulching on the soil. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the influence of residual nitrogen, applied to common beans, in the leaves number active photosynthetically, the agronomic characteristics and crude protein in corn grains, intercropped or not. We can be concluded there was no residual effect of nitrogen rates application, applied previously in common bean, on the vegetative and reproductive development in corn and corn intercropped with Brachiaria ruziziensis, there was increase in the leaf senescence and reduced crude protein in grains, final population density, spikes number per area, total leaf nitrogen, rachis diameter, kernels number per row and 100 grains weight, without to affect yield.

A análise dos teores de nutrientes de folhas de soja é um dos métodos mais eficientes para avaliar o estado nutricional da lavoura. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar a variabilidade espacial dos teores foliares de nutrientes e da produtividade da cultura da soja num Latossolo Vermelho sob sistema semeadura direta durante dois anos. A área do experimento media 120 x 160 m, totalizando 1,92 ha. As amostras de folhas e os dados de produtividade da soja foram coletados em grade regular de 20 m, totalizando 63 pontos de amostragem nos anos de 1986 e 1988. O teor de nutrientes (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn) foi determinado analisando-se a terceira folha com pecíolo a partir do ápice de cinco plantas, em locais circunvizinhos de cada um dos pontos de amostragem. As produtividades de soja foram quantificadas em subparcelas de 5 m², sendo posteriormente transformadas para kg ha-1. Os dados foram analisados pela estatística descritiva, a fim de verificar os parâmetros de tendência central e dispersão. A variabilidade espacial foi determinada pelo cálculo do semivariograma e construção de mapas de contorno por meio dos valores obtidos na interpolação por krigagem ordinária. Houve dependência espacial para os teores foliares de alguns nutrientes e para a produtividade de grãos de soja passível de ser mapeada em uma área com cerca de 2 ha, adubada de maneira homogênea. A dependência espacial não ocorreu de forma constante ao longo do tempo, o que deve ser considerado em estudos com cultivos sequenciais. A dependência espacial da produtividade de soja aumentou entre os anos estudados. Entre os nutrientes aplicados anualmente, via adubação, verificou-se a formação de um padrão de distribuição espacial, em 1986 e em 1988, especialmente para os teores de P.The chemical analysis of plant tissue is an efficient method to assess the nutritional status. This study aimed to characterize the spatial variability of plant nutrients and soybean yield in an experimental area (120 x 160 m, totaling 1.92 ha) of a Rhodic Hapludox under no tillage for two years. Soybean leaf and grain yield were sampled at 63 points in a regular 20 m grid. Plant nutrient contents (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) were determined analyzing the 3rd leaf from the top, collected from five plants randomly chosen near the sampling points. The crop yield was measured in 5 m² subplots and expressed in kg ha-1. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to assess the measures of central tendency and dispersion. Spatial variability was analyzed using semivariogram parameters and contour maps based on interpolation by ordinary kriging. Spatial dependence was observed for some foliar nutrient contents and crop productivity in a homogeneously fertilized area of about 2 ha. Spatial dependence was not constant over time, which should be taken into account in studies with sequential crops. The spatial dependence of soybean yield increased in the two years studied. Among the nutrients applied annually by fertilization, the formation of a spatial pattern was observed in 1986 and 1988, especially for P.

Com o objetivo de avaliar a eficiência de utilização do N pela cultura de milho (Zea mays L.), usando-se fertilizante marcado com 15N, aplicado parceladamente (duas formas), e o efeito residual deste fertilizante nas duas culturas subseqüentes em sucessão (aveia preta e milho), sob implantação do sistema plantio direto, foi conduzido um experimento, no sudeste do Brasil, nos anos agrícolas 2003/2004 e 2004/2005, sob um solo de textura areno-argilosa (Hapludox). Os tratamentos consistiram da dose de 120kg ha-1 de N, na forma de sulfato de amônio marcado (15N) e dois parcelamentos de N 30-90 e 60-60kg ha-1. Nas plantas de milho e aveia preta, avaliaram-se o N total acumulado, o N proveniente do fertilizante e a recuperação de N-fertilizante. O incremento da dose de fertilizante nitrogenado aplicado na semeadura (60kg ha-1 de N), no ano agrícola 2003/2004, proporcionou aumento no aproveitamento de N pela planta (65%) em relação ao tratamento que recebeu 30kg ha-1 de N na semeadura (45%).The objective of this research was to evaluate: a)the N use efficiency by a maize (Zea mays L.) crop, using 15N labeled fertilizer applied in two splittings, and b) the residual effect of this fertilizer in two subsequent crops in succession (black oats and maize), under the introduction of the no tillage system. The experiment was carried out in Southest Brazil, in the cropping seasons 2003/2004 and 2004/2005, under a sandy-clayey loam soil (Hapludox) The first maize crop was in 2003/2004, the second one in 2004/2005 and the black oats crop in between. Treatments consisted of two ways of application of two N splittings (30-90 and 60-60kg ha-1) as 15N labeled ammonium sulphate fertilizer. In the maize and black oat plants, the following were evaluated: accumulated total N, nitrogen in plant derived from fertilizer and N fertilizer recovery. The treatment with 60kg ha-1 of N applied at sowing, in the 2003/2004 crop, increased the plant N use (65%) in relation to the treatment that received 30kg ha-1 of N at sowing (45%).

Os solos submetidos a sistemas de produção que não incluem o preparo do solo, estão condicionados, em sua sustentabilidade, a um manejo que priorize o acompanhamento da compactação que o tráfego de máquinas provoca. Foram realizados ensaios de campo com o objetivo de avaliar a reologia de um solo Typic Hapludert, submetido ao tráfego de veículos em dois sistemas de preparo do solo (preparo convencional - LC, e semeadura direta - SD). Os subtratamentos foram quatro intensidades de tráfego (0; 80; 160 e 240 Mg km ha-1). As variáveis experimentais dependentes foram: índice de cone (IC) e densidade aparente a seco (DA). Para 160 e 240 Mg km ha-1, encontraram-se diferenças estatísticas significativas no IC em relação à testemunha. Para o LC, com as maiores intensidades de tráfego, encontraram-se valores de DA superiores a 1,83 Mg m-3. O comportamento mecânico do solo sob tráfego é mais diferente em SD que em LC. Existe uma relação direta entre o número de passadas e a profundidade onde se localiza a camada de maior resistência à penetração nos solos sob tratamento com LC.A former concern related to agricultural soil, under no tillage systems, might be the state of compaction due to farm machinary traffic. Two treatments corresponding to two different tillage systems (disk plowed, LC, and no tillage, SD) included four traffic subtreatmets (0; 80; 160, and 240 Mg km ha-1) on a Typic Hapludert. Cone index (IC) and dry bulk density (DA) were the experimental dependent variables asessed. Soil reology under traffic had a different behaviour in both treatments. In both treatments for the higher traffic intensities (160 and 240 Mg km ha-1) statistical significant difference (P < 0,05) were measured when compared with the control plots, when the IC was considered. Considering LC treatment and the higher traffic intensities, the dry bulk densities values measured arised to 1.83 Mg m-3, the disk plowed, and no tillage under traffic soils reologies are different. If the depth of the maximum response in terms of IC measurements is considered, a direct relationship between traffic intensities and depth, could be stablished.

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de Ciências Agrárias is the property of Sociedade de Ciencias Agrarias de Portugal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In direct sowing, desiccation of the cover crops with herbicides can affect N availability in agroecosystems, reducing N use efficiency by the crop in succession. In this sense, the objective of the study was to evaluate nitrogen losses in the soil–plant system after application of the herbicides glyphosate and glufosinate-ammonium on pearl millet [ Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Brown, var. ADR500]. Plants were grown in a sandy soil, fertilized with 15N ammonium sulfate, at N dose of 135.7 mg kg−1. After herbicide application, the N distribution within the plant was changed, with an observed N reduction in leaves and increased N in stalks. The glyphosate and glufosinate reduced, by 25 and 30%, respectively, the amount of N in plant tissues and increased by 3.0 g m−2 the losses in the soil–plant system of the N provided from the fertilizer. This information can be useful in preparing management strategies that will provide greater nitrogen fertilization effectiveness and, consequently, smaller environmental impacts from the use of nitrogen fertilizers and herbicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forage grasses used in cropping no-till systems in tropical regions alter soil chemical properties, but their long-term impact on soil microbial processes of the nitrogen (N) cycle and microbial community abundance, composition and structure are unknown. Here, microbial functions related to nitrogen fixation, nitrification and denitrification as well as bacterial, archaeal and fungal populations were evaluated in a long-term field experiment in which tropical forage grasses palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. Ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster) and ruzigrass (U. ruziziensis (R. Germ. and C.M. Evrard) Crins) were cultivated with or without N fertilization. Uncultivated soil was used as a control. Forage grasses, especially palisade grass, increased soil bacterial and fungal abundances, whereas the archaeal population was highest in uncultivated soil. In soils cultivated with forage grasses, N fertilization favored N-cycle-related genes; however, cultivation of palisade grass increased the abundances of amoA bacteria (AOB) and amoA archaea (AOA) genes associated with soil nitrification and decreased the abundances of genes nirS , nirK and nosZ genes related to denitrification, compared to ruzigrass and control, regardless of N input. In addition, abundances of total bacteria and total fungi were associated with the N cycle and plant biomass in soils cultivated with forage grasses. Forage cultivation clearly benefitted the soil nutrient environment (S-SO 4 2-, Mg2+, total-C and -N, N-NO 3 - and N-NH 4 +) and microbiome (bacteria and fungi) compared with uncultivated soil. In soil cultivated with palisade grass, the microbial community composition was unresponsive to N addition. The high N uptake by palisade grass supports the competitive advantage of this plant species over microorganisms for N sources. Our results suggest that palisade grass has advantages over ruzigrass for use in agriculture systems, regardless of N input. [Display omitted] • Palisade grass increases nitrifiers and decreases denitrifiers regardless of N fertilization. • Forages, especially palisade grass, increase soil bacterial and fungal abundances. • The archaeal population is highest in uncultivated soil. • High N uptake by forages provides a competitive advantage over microorganisms for N. • Microbial community composition under ruzigrass might contribute to N losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]