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Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the impacts of nitrogen topdressing fertilization and plant density of second-crop maize on the biomass and crude protein production of ruzigrass (Urochloa ruziziensis) grown in intercropping. The experiment was carried out during two growing seasons in a randomized complete block design, in split plots, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of N topdressing rates (0 and 80 kg ha−1) and maize plant densities (40, 60, 80, and 100 thousand plants per hectare). Ruzigrass biomass accumulation was measured at the V14, R1, R3, and R6 stages of maize growth, as well as during ruzigrass desiccation. Ruzigrass crude protein content and production and biomass partitioning to leaves, stems, and senescent tissues were evaluated in the R6 stage of maize. The increase in maize plant density reduced ruzigrass growth. However, nitrogen fertilization and maize plant density did not affect ruzigrass biomass partitioning. During intercropping, N fertilization did not affect ruzigrass yield. After maize harvest, N fertilization resulted in a higher ruzigrass biomass (30.2% in 2019) and crude protein (13.8%) production. Low maize plant densities and N topdress fertilization improve the biomass production of ruzigrass in intercropping.

The desiccation time of high-biomass pasture and nitrogen (N) fertilization of pasture and soybean can influence the soybean sowing, establishment and growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate how the time of desiccation of the preceding pasture of Urochloa brizantha cv. BRS Piatã, cultivated at three levels of N, and by the soybean N fertilization affect soybean growth and N accumulation. Three N rates (0; 150 and 300 kg ha-1), broadcast as urea on the U. brizantha pasture were evaluated separately in each N level, every one considered as one experiment. In each experiment, five times of pasture desiccation were evaluated (60; 45; 30; 15, and 1 day before soybean sowing) and two levels of soybean N fertilization: 30 kg ha-1 (urea) broadcast at sowing or without N fertilization. A randomized complete block design with five replications was used. Early desiccation of U. brizantha pasture favors the establishment of soybean and promotes an increase in biomass and N accumulation in the vegetative stages, however these differences are not observed during the grain filling, regardless the soybean N fertilization. The soybean yield was not influenced by the desiccation time. N fertilization with 30 kg ha-1 at sowing intensifies soybean growth at the vegetative phase, but after full flowering, there were no effects on biomass and grain yield, independently of the desiccation time.

Precrops have different growth patterns, nitrogen (N) requirements, and production of residues varying in amounts and quality that may affect the N-clycling and the soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) cropped in succession. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of precrops and N fertilization on soybean performance. An experiment was conducted in Londrina, Paraná State, Brazil, with six precrops treatments: fallow, ruzigrass (Urochloa ruziziensis), showy rattlebox (Crotalaria spectabilis), corn (Zea mays) without or with 80 kg ha−1 of N at topdressing as urea, and wheat (Triticum aestivum). Subplots consisted of two levels of N fertilization at soybean sowing: 0 and 30 kg ha−1 of N as ammonium nitrate at sowing. Urochloa ruziziensis as precrops increased the soybean yield (5,171 kg ha-1) when compared with corn (4,346 kg ha-1) and fallow (4,467 kg ha-1). In 2016/17, N fertilization of soybean with 30 kg ha−1 of N at sowing, although increasing the initial plant growth (745 kg ha-1 with vs. 662 kg ha-1 without), impairs nodulation (100 mg pl-1 with vs. 130 g pl-1 without) and does not increase grain yield. Oil and protein concentrations in soybean grains are not influenced by precrops and N fertilization at sowing. We found that the use Urochloa ruziziensis as cover crop in soybean precrops is a good recommendation option in tropical regions of Brazil, because increasing the yield of soybean grown in succession. N fertilization at in soybean sowing it should not be recommended even in the presence of a large amount of straw.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chiseling and gypsum application on soil physical properties, soybean root growth and grain yield. An experiment was carried out in Londrina, Paraná state, Brazil, under a randomized complete block design, with six replications. The soil in the experimental area is classified as a dystroferric Red Latosol (Oxisol), containing 720 g kg-1 of clay. The experiment comprised four treatments: (1) continuous no-tillage (CNT) system without gypsum application, (2) CNT with gypsum application at 3.5 Mg ha-1, (3) chiseled soil without gypsum, and (4) chiseled soil with gypsum application. Regardless of gypsum application, chiseling increased water infiltration rate in soil and reduced penetration resistance. Gypsum application affected neither water infiltration nor soil penetration resistance in both no-tillage (NT) and chiseled soil systems. Moreover, gypsum application improved soybean root development at a depth range of 0.20-0.40 m in NT system. Chiseling increased root growth in the surface layer (0-0.20 m depth). Either isolated or combined, chiseling and gypsum application had no impact on soybean grain yield throughout one cropping season.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de culturas de entressafra e fertilização com N mineral na implantação da soja sobre os teores de nitrato e amônio no solo durante a entressafra e a safra da soja. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos completos casualizados, com cinco repetições e em esquema de parcelas subdivididas. Nas parcelas foram alocados seis tratamentos de entressafra: pousio, milho segunda safra com 0 ou 80 kg de N ha-1 em cobertura, trigo, braquiária ruziziensis e crotalária spectabilis, sendo as duas últimas destinadas à cobertura do solo. Nas subparcelas foram alocados dois níveis de N na implantação da soja (0 e 30 kg de N ha-1). De abril de 2016 a fevereiro de 2017 foram realizadas 26 coletas de solo na camada de 0,0-0,1 m, sendo avaliados os teores de nitrato e amônio nas amostras. Durante o período de entressafra da soja, os maiores teores de nitrato no solo foram observados no milho segunda safra adubado com 80 kg de N ha-1, enquanto os teores de amônio variaram menos entre os tratamentos de entressafra. As culturas de entressafra não influenciaram os teores de nitrato e amônio no solo durante o ciclo da soja em sucessão. Na fase vegetativa da soja, os teores de nitrato no solo foram superiores quando a soja foi adubada com 30 kg de N ha-1, em relação à ausência de adubação, mas nas fases de formação de vagens e de grãos essa diferença não ocorreu.

O sistema agroflorestal com eucalipto e soja é uma opção de uso do solo em regiões com solo arenoso e clima quente. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho da cultura da soja associada a renques simples de eucalipto maculata (Corymbia maculata) na região Noroeste do Paraná. O sistema agroflorestal foi implantado em outubro de 2009, usando a sucessão soja/ Urochloa ruziziensis nos entre renques simples de eucalipto. O desempenho da cultura da soja foi avaliado na safra 2015/16, em dois experimentos, um com espaçamento entre renques de 14 m e outro com 28 m. Como testemunha, foi considerada uma área contígua, sem a presença de árvores. O crescimento e o acúmulo de nitrogênio na massa seca da soja, avaliados no pleno florescimento, foram reduzidos em função da interferência do eucalipto, com maior intensidade no menor espaçamento entre os renques. A redução de produtividade de grãos de soja causada pelas árvores foi de 65 e 44% em relação à testemunha, nos espaçamentos de 14 e 28 m entre renques, respectivamente. Os teores de nitrogênio na massa seca e de proteína e óleo nos grãos de soja não foram alterados pela interferência das árvores.

Os resíduos de plantas que permanecem no solo em um sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária constituem em uma importante reserva de nutrientes para a cultura em sucessão. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a liberação de cálcio (Ca), magnésio (Mg) e enxofre (S) de palha de pastagem de Urochloa brizantha cv. BRS Piatã, cultivada em três doses de nitrogênio (N) e submetida a duas épocas de dessecação em relação à semeadura da soja. O experimento foi conduzido em Londrina, Paraná, entre março de 2016 e março de 2018. Foram avaliadas três doses de N na pastagem de U. brizantha cv. BRS Piatã (0; 150 e 300 kg N ha-1), constituindo três piquetes distintos. Em cada piquete foram avaliadas duas épocas de dessecação da pastagem (60 e 15 dias antes da semeadura da soja), com quatro repetições. Os teores de Ca e S na palha de pastagem de U. brizantha não variam com o tempo de decomposição, enquanto os teores de Mg foram reduzidos, independentemente da adubação nitrogenada e da época de dessecação. A quantidade de Ca liberada pela palha de pastagem de U. brizantha até o final do ciclo da soja em sucessão foi de, aproximadamente, 15 kg ha-1, independentemente da adubação nitrogenada e da época de dessecação. A quantidade de Mg liberada pela U. brizantha até o final do ciclo da soja em sucessão variou de 10 a 15 kg ha-1, com tendência de haver maior quantidade liberada na presença de adubação nitrogenada na pastagem. A quantidade de S liberada pela U. brizantha até o final do ciclo da soja em sucessão variou de 4 a 6 kg ha-1, com tendência de haver menor quantidade liberada na presença de adubação nitrogenada na pastagem, independentemente da época de dessecação.

A argila dispersa está diretamente relacionada com a erosão hídrica, especialmente durante o desprendimento e arraste de partículas. O plantio direto é uma das mais importantes estratégias para conservação do solo e da água nas regiões tropical e sub-tropical, e quando associado com a rotação de culturas, pode reduzir o grau de dispersão de argila. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar, após 24 anos, o efeito de diferentes sistemas de manejo e de culturas no grau de dispersão de argila de um Latossolo Vermelho. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado em um esquema fatorial 4x2, com quatro manejos do solo (plantio direto contínuo, plantio direto com escarificação a cada três anos, aração de discos seguida de gradagem leve e gradagem pesada seguida de gradagem leve) e dois sistemas de cultivo (sucessão de cultura e rotação). O grau de dispersão da argila foi avaliado e associado aos atributos químicos do solo da camada 0,00-0,10 m. O grau de dispersão da argila é afetado pelos sistemas de manejo do solo sem efeito dos sistemas de cultivo. O sistema de manejo de solo com menor perturbação do solo (plantio direto contínuo) possui o maior grau de dispersão de argila do que os que perturbam o solo, independentemente do implemento agrícola utilizado ou da intensidade do distúrbio do solo. O desequilíbrio eletroquímico do solo, causado principalmente pela acidez potencial do solo, está positivamente correlacionado ao aumento do grau de dispersão de argila da camada superficial do solo sob plantio direto contínuo.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to determine the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium released by N-fertilized Urochloa brizantha straw, desiccated before sowing of no-tillage soybean (Glycine max) in succession. The pasture was grown in three paddocks, each fertilized with one N rate (0, 150, or 300 kg ha-1), and assessed at two desiccation periods (60 or 15 days before soybean sowing), in four replicates. Nitrogen fertilization of U. brizantha pasture increases N and K cycling and the release of these nutrients to the subsequent soybean crop. The quantity of K released by U. brizantha straw fertilized with 150 or 300 kg ha-1 N (about 80 kg ha-1 K) offsets that contained in an export of up to 4 Mg ha-1 soybean grains, assuming zero K losses in the system. An early desiccation of the U. brizantha pasture does not improve K uptake by the soybean crop, since 50% of the nutrient is released in the first 20 days after desiccation. The dynamics of P release from U. brizantha straw (about 6 to 10 kg ha-1 during the soybean crop) is not influenced by N fertilization and the time of pasture desiccation.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of isolated or combined roots and straw of black oat and wheat, as previous crops in autumn/winter, on the performance of soybean in succession. The experiment was carried out in the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 crop seasons in a randomized complete block design, with four replicates. The following seven treatments were applied in the autumn/winter of 2017 and 2018, before soybean planting: fallow; straw of black oat or wheat, distributed on plots kept under fallow during autumn/winter, without roots; plots only with roots of black oat or wheat, without straw; and plots with straw and roots of black oat or wheat. Soybean crop performance was estimated using the following variables: plant density, leaf area index, soil plant analysis development (SPAD) index, shoot dry matter, grain yield, and yield components. In comparison with fallow, the cultivation of black oat or wheat, as previous crops during the autumn/winter, increases soybean grain yield. The impact of the roots of black oat or wheat on soybean yield is similar to that of straw. Soybean agronomic performance is improved in the combined presence of roots and straw of black oat or wheat.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate how branch and stem variables contribute to grain yield in individual soybean (Glycine max) plants, cultivated at different planting densities, in a modern cultivar with indeterminate growth type. A field experiment was carried out during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 crop seasons, in a randomized complete block design with 12 replicates, using the cultivar NK7059 RR at four planting densities: 135, 235, 315, and 440 thousand plants per hectare. Grain yield per plant was evaluated and represented phenotypic plasticity, while the number of branches per plant, percentage of grain production in branches, and separate yield components from branches and stems were considered as the independent variables. The number of pods in branches per plant was found to be the most important variable for soybean plasticity. In addition, the number of pods per plant on stems, number of branches per plant, and the percentage of grain production in branches were also associated with plasticity. Contrastingly, the number of grains per pod and the mass of a thousand grains in the branches and stems contributed little to plasticity in 'NK7059 RR' soybean.

Combining forest and crop species into a production system may enhance its sustainability. This study aimed to evaluate the yield components, yield and grain quality of soybean cultivars, in an agroforestry system containing Eucalyptus grandis. A complete randomized block design, in a split-plot arrangement, with three replications, was used. Four soybean cultivars were allocated into the plots (BRS 359 RR, BRS 360 RR, BMX Potência RR and NA 5909 RR). The subplots consisted of five positions between the rows of E. grandis (spaced in 28 m - close to the trees on the east and west sides, intermediate position on the east and west sides and at the center of the row). The yield components and soybean grain yield reduce significantly the closer the plants are seeded to the rows of E. grandis. However, the oil and protein contents in soybean grains are not influenced by the position between rows, regardless of the cultivar. Among all evaluated cultivars, NA 5909 RR presents the best agronomic performance in the agroforestry system containing eucalyptus.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of roots and straw of palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha) and Ruzi grass (U. ruziziensis), used as cover crops in autumn-winter, on soybean performance. Seven treatments were evaluated in a randomized complete block design, with four replicates: fallow, during autumn-winter; straw of U. ruziziensis or U. brizantha 'BRS Piatã', distributed in plots kept under fallow in the winter, without roots; plots only with roots of U. ruziziensis or U. brizantha, without straw; and plots with straw and roots of U. ruziziensis or U. brizantha. The grass species were planted during the 2014/2015 crop season, and treatments were evaluated at the end of the 2015/2016 crop season, without drought during the soybean cycle. The oil and protein contents of soybean grains were not affected significantly by the treatments. However, the cultivation of grass species during autumn-winter increased soybean grain yield in comparison with fallow. Grass root effects are more expressive than those of straw. The combined presence of roots and straw confers a better performance to soybean than the isolated presence of roots or straw.

Vigorous growth of soybean root system is a desired trait in breeding programs. However, few studies have evaluated this feature under field conditions. The aim of this research was to evaluate root growth of eight soybean cultivars under different water availability conditions. The experiment was carried out in Londrina, Paraná state, Brazil, during two growing seasons - with and without water deficit during the vegetative period. Soybean roots were sampled at flowering and assessed for dry matter yield, area and length at 0-0.25; 0.25-0.50; 0.50-0.75 and 0.75-1.00 m depth ranges. On average, root length and area of the cultivars Embrapa 48 and BRS 284 under water deficit were 66% and 40% larger than the others at 0.25-0.50 and 0.50-0.75 m layers, respectively. Under suitable water supply, BRS 282 showed the highest root length and area. Apart from the cultivars Embrapa 48, BRS 284, and BRS 255RR, soybean root growth was mostly lower under water deficit throughout the vegetative stage, which might been due to a higher soil resistance to root penetration, resulting from low soil water content. Drought increased the proportion of soybean roots at subsoil layers, mainly for Embrapa 48 and BRS 284. The cultivars Embrapa 48 and BRS 284 are promising to be used in breeding programs targeting superior root growth in subsoil layers.

A demanda de nitrogênio (N) pela soja é atendida pela mineralização da matéria orgânica e pela fixação simbiótica de N, sendo questionável a necessidade de adubação nitrogenada mineral. A densidade de plantas pode afetar a absorção do N presente na solução do solo, bem como o processo de fixação simbiótica. Os efeitos da interação da densidade de plantas e da aplicação de N mineral, em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento da soja foram pouco elucidados. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho produtivo da soja e os teores de óleo e proteína nos grãos em diferentes épocas de aplicação de N mineral, em duas densidades de plantas contrastantes. O experimento foi conduzido em Londrina, PR, nas safras 2013/14 e 2014/15, utilizando-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e parcelas subdivididas. Nas parcelas, foram alocadas duas densidades de plantas (110 e 450 mil plantas ha-1) e, nas subparcelas, três épocas de aplicação de 45 kg de N ha-1 (semeadura, V4 e R5.2), além do controle sem a aplicação de N. Não houve interação entre a densidade de plantas e a adubação nitrogenada para todas as variáveis avaliadas. A densidade de plantas não alterou a produtividade e os teores de óleo e proteína nos grãos. O único componente de rendimento influenciado pela densidade foi o número de vagens por planta, o qual foi superior na menor densidade. A adubação nitrogenada mineral, aplicada em diferentes épocas, não afetou o desempenho produtivo da soja e os teores de óleo e proteína nos grãos.

Soil mechanical resistance, aeration, and water availability directly affect plant root growth. The objective of this work was to identify the contribution of mechanical and hydric stresses on maize root elongation, by modeling root growth while taking the dynamics of these stresses in an Oxisol into consideration. The maize crop was cultivated under four compaction levels (soil chiseling, no-tillage system, areas trafficked by a tractor, and trafficked by a harvester), and we present a new model, which allows to distinguish between mechanical and hydric stresses. Root length density profiles, soil bulk density, and soil water retention curves were determined for four compaction levels up to 50 cm in depth. Furthermore, grain yield and shoot biomass of maize were quantified. The new model described the mechanical and hydric stresses during maize growth with field data for the first time in maize crop. Simulations of root length density in 1D and 2D showed adequate agreement with the values measured under field conditions. Simulation makes it possible to identify the interaction between the soil physical conditions and maize root growth. Compared to the no-tillage system, grain yield was reduced due to compaction caused by harvester traffic and by soil chiseling. The root growth was reduced by the occurrence of mechanical and hydric stresses during the crop cycle, the principal stresses were mechanical in origin for areas with agricultural traffic, and water based in areas with soil chiseling. Including mechanical and hydric stresses in root growth models can help to predict future scenarios, and coupling soil biophysical models with weather, soil, and crop responses will help to improve agricultural management.

Sistemas agroflorestais são opções para a intensificação sustentável da produção agropecuária, sobretudo em regiões que apresentam clima tropical e solos arenosos. Objetivou-se nesse trabalho avaliar o desempenho da cultura da soja em sistemas agroflorestais com Eucalyptus urograndis na região Noroeste do Paraná. Os sistemas foram implantados em outubro de 2009, usando renques simples e duplos de eucalipto. O desempenho da cultura da soja foi avaliado na safra 2015/16, em quatro experimentos. Em cada experimento foi utilizada uma conformação espacial de plantas de eucalipto: renques simples com baixa densidade de árvores, renques simples com alta densidade, renques duplos com baixa densidade e renques duplos com alta densidade. Como testemunha, foi considerada uma área contígua, sem a presença de árvores. Nos quatro experimentos, o crescimento e o teor de nitrogênio na massa seca da soja, avaliados no pleno florescimento, não foram reduzidos expressivamente em função da interferência do eucalipto. A redução de produtividade de grãos de soja causada pelas árvores variou de 40 a 43% em relação à testemunha. Os teores de proteína e óleo nos grãos de soja não foram alterados pela interferência das árvores.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial de práticas culturais, adotadas na entressafra, para reduzir a população e os danos causados por Pratylenchus brachyurus em soja. Realizou-se um experimento em área naturalmente infestada, nas safras 2010/2011, 2011/2012 e 2012/2013, em Vera, MT. Os tratamentos foram: milheto (Pennisetum glaucum) 'ADR 7010' (2010/2011) e 'ADR 300' (nas entressafras seguintes); milho (Zea mays) 'BRS 1010' (2010/2011) e 'GNZ 2005' (nas entressafras seguintes); braquiária ruziziensis (Urochloa ruziziensis); capim-marandu (U. brizantha 'Marandu'); crotalária (Crotalaria ochroleuca); C. juncea; C. spectabilis; C. spectabilis + milheto 'ADR 300' (de 2011/2012 em diante); alqueive mecânico (duas gradagens + herbicida); pousio (sem controle de ervas daninhas); e testemunha (alqueive químico, com aplicação de herbicida). O alqueive mecânico, as crotalárias e C. spectabilis + milheto reduziram a população do nematoide antes da semeadura e nos estádios iniciais da soja. Após a colheita da soja, a população de nematoides não diferiu entre os tratamentos, o que indica que a multiplicação destes na cultura foi maior nos manejos com menor população inicial. O uso de C. spectabilis, milheto e C. spectabilis + milheto contribuíram para as maiores produtividades de soja. O cultivo de C. spectabilis, solteira ou consorciada ao milheto 'ADR 300', é a melhor opção para reduzir a população e os danos causados por P. brachyurus à soja na entressafra.

In Brazil, soybean has been introduced in areas with sandy soil and tropical climate, often under crop-livestock system. The use of nitrogen (N) for this crop is supplied by the soil organic matter mineralization and the biological N fixation. However, there are questions about the effect of nitrogen fertilization in soybean crop under sandy soils with a high amount of straw. The aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance of two soybean cultivars in different doses (20 and 45 kg N ha-1) and application times (sowing, at flowering or early grain filling) of N in sandy soil with high amount of Urochloa brizantha straw. Two experiments were conducted in Northwest of Paraná state, Brazil, the first experiment with the BMX Potência RR cultivar and the second one with the BRS 360 RR cultivar, in a sandy soil (11% clay). The experiment were composed by seven treatments (interaction between factors and the control), settled in a randomized block design with four replications. In sandy soil, with high amount of U. brizantha straw, the nitrogen fertilizer applied at different doses and at soybean development stages, cultivars BMX Potência RR and BRS 360 RR, does not influence the photoassimilates partition between stem and leaves, foliar N concentration, yield, yield components, and the oil and protein content in the grains. = No Brasil, a soja tem sido introduzida em regiões que apresentam solos arenosos e clima tropical, sendo muitas vezes integrada com a pecuária. A demanda da oleaginosa por nitrogênio(N) é suprida pela mineralização da matéria orgânica do solo e pela fixação biológica do N. No entanto, há questionamentos quanto ao efeito da adubação nitrogenada na cultura da soja cultivada em solos arenosos, com alta quantidade de palha de gramíneas. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o desempenho de duas cultivares de soja, em solo arenoso, após dois anos com pastagem de Urochloa brizantha, submetidas a diferentes doses (20 e 45 kg de N ha-1) e épocas de aplicação (semeadura, no início do florescimento e no início do enchimento dos grãos) de N em solo com elevada quantidade de palha de U. brizantha. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos no Noroeste do Paraná, Brasil, um com a cultivar BMX Potência RR e outro com a cultivar BRS 360 RR, em um solo muito arenoso (11% de argila). Ao todo, foram testados sete tratamentos (fatores combinados e a testemunha), arranjados em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Em solo arenoso, com alta quantidade de palha de pastagem de U. brizantha, a adubação nitrogenada, aplicada em diferentes doses e estádios de desenvolvimento da soja, cultivares BMX Potência RR e BRS 360 RR, não influencia a partição de fotoassimilados entre folhas e caules, o teor de N nas folhas, a produtividade, os componentes de rendimento e os teores de óleo e proteína nos grãos.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de alturas de pastejo e épocas de dessecação de uma pastagem de Urochloa ruziziensis e da adubação nitrogenada sobre o desempenho da soja. Foram testadas três alturas (15, 35 e 50 cm) de pastejo contínuo da pastagem por bovinos, durante seis meses, além de um piquete sem pastejo, que constituíram quatro experimentos distintos. Em cada experimento, utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em arranjo de parcelas subdivididas. Nas parcelas principais, foram alocadas quatro épocas de dessecação da pastagem (35, 28, 20 e 8 dias antes da semeadura da soja); e, nas subparcelas, foram realizados dois tratamentos (sem e com 30 kg ha-1 de N, aplicado a lanço na semeadura). O manejo da pastagem de U. ruziziensis a 35 cm de altura confere maior produtividade de grãos de soja cultivada em sucessão à pastagem. Os intervalos de 8 a 35 dias, entre a dessecação da pastagem de U. ruziziensis e a semeadura da soja, não alteram o desempenho agronômico da cultura. Após o manejo da pastagem de U. ruziziensis, a aplicação de 30 kg ha-1 de N à soja, em semeadura, proporciona maior altura de plantas e de inserção da primeira vagem, mas não altera a produtividade de grãos.

ABSTRACT: In the last few cropping seasons, some soybean producers have tested the application of a hill drop sowing method, usually from three to four seeds every 30 to 40cm. However, there is a lack of information in the literature about the effect of this practice on soybean performance. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a hill drop sowing with different number of plants per hole on soybean performance. The study was conducted in Londrina - PR, Brazil, during the 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2016/17 cropping seasons. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with four replications and a 2x5 factorial scheme. The first factor consisted of two soybean cultivars, BRS 359RR and NK 7059RR analyzed in the first two cropping seasons and BRS 359RR and BRS 1010IPRO in the last cropping season. The second factor was constituted by five in-hill hole-spacing treatments (HS) (8, 16, 24, 32 and 40cm), with rows spaced 50cm apart. To maintain the same plant density in all treatments (270,000 plants ha-1), sowing was performed manually, being then thinned out. After thinning, the distribution was one plant per hole at HS8, 2 plants at HS16, 3 plants at HS24, 4 plants at HS32, and 5 plants at HS40. The agronomic performance of soybean in hill drop sowing with different number of plants per hole is similar to that of an equidistant distribution of plants.

Root-lesion nematode (RLN) (Pratylenchus brachyurus) is an important challenge to soybean production in Central Brazil due to its widespread occurrence, along with the absence of resistant cultivars and strategies for its management. The aim of this research was to evaluate the relationship among soil properties, RLN populations, and soybean crop growth using geostatistical analysis. The experiment was conducted in a soybean field located in the northern half of Mato Grosso state, in Brazil, with a history of damages by RLN. The results suggest a positive correlation between plant height and values of pH, Ca, Mg, and base saturation. On the other hand, RLN population was positively correlated with organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, and soil potential acidity. Moreover, our findings also indicate that soybean plant growth is reduced under acidic soil conditions, as susceptibility to RLN increases. Thus, the correction of soil acidity to suitable levels for soybean crop becomes an important strategy to minimize damages by RLN.

A cultura da soja apresenta alta plasticidade fenotípica da parte aérea, alterando a sua morfologia em função da densidade de plantas. No entanto, os seus efeitos no crescimento e na distribuição de raízes no perfil do solo ainda não estão elucidados. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de três densidades de plantas de soja sobre variáveis relacionadas ao crescimento de raízes, em diferentes camadas de solo e posições (linha e entrelinhas). Foram conduzidos dois experimentos na safra 2014/2015 em Londrina, PR, um com a cultivar BRS 359 RR e outro com a cultivar BMX Potência RR. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados, com três repetições e parcelas subsubdivididas. Nas parcelas principais, foram alocadas três densidades de semeadura (150, 300 e 450 mil sementes ha-1); nas subparcelas, cinco camadas de solo (0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40 e 40-50 cm); e nas subsubparcelas, três posições (linha, entrelinha à esquerda e entrelinha à direita). O aumento da densidade de plantas provoca a formação de raízes mais finas, com tendência de haver maior ocupação das entrelinhas e das camadas subsuperficiais do solo, mas a magnitude dessa resposta é dependente da cultivar.

The spatial arrangement of soybean plants affects the intraspecific competition for light, water and nutrients, which can change the biomass production, incidence of pests, diseases and weeds, plant lodging, and grain yield. This work aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance under different row spacing, plant densities and crossed rows. Two field experiments were carried out in Campo Mourão, Paraná State, Southern Brazil, using the randomized complete block experimental design, in a 3x3x2 factorial arrangement, with four replications. The treatments were formed by the combination of three row spacings (0.30, 0.45, and 0.60 m), three plant densities (300,000; 450,000; and 600,000 plants ha-1), and two row design (crossed or parallel rows). For all variables, interaction of the experimental factors was not significant. The row spacing of 0.45 m provided the highest grain yield in relation to 0.30 and 0.60 m. The density of 300,000 plants ha-1 showed higher yield of soybeans in late sowing. The crossed lines did not increase the productive performance in soybean.

Estimation of soil load-bearing capacity from mathematical models that relate preconsolidation pressure (σp) to mechanical resistance to penetration (PR) and gravimetric soil water content (U) is important for defining strategies to prevent compaction of agricultural soils. Our objective was therefore to model the σp and compression index (CI) according to the PR (with an impact penetrometer in the field and a static penetrometer inserted at a constant rate in the laboratory) and U in a Rhodic Eutrudox. The experiment consisted of six treatments: no-tillage system (NT); NT with chiseling; and NT with additional compaction by combine traffic (passing 4, 8, 10, and 20 times). Soil bulk density, total porosity, PR (in field and laboratory measurements), U, σp, and CI values were determined in the 5.5-10.5 cm and 13.5-18.5 cm layers. Preconsolidation pressure (σp) and CI were modeled according to PR in different U. The σp increased and the CI decreased linearly with increases in the PR values. The correlations between σp and PR and PR and CI are influenced by U. From these correlations, the soil load-bearing capacity and compaction susceptibility can be estimated by PR readings evaluated in different U.

Increases in the soybean grain yield without significant alterations in the production cost can be achieved with variations in the spatial plant arrangement. The sowing in crossed rows has aroused the interest of Brazilian soybean producers once this practice was used in some areas with record-breaking soybean yield in Brazil in 2010/11 and 2011/12 growing seasons. This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance of soybean cultivars with determinate growth habit managed under different spatial plant arrangements, including crossed rows. The experiments were carried out in Londrina, PR, at 2011/12 and 2012/13 growing seasons. A randomized complete block experimental design in a 2x2x2 factorial scheme was used, with three replications. The treatments were formed by combining two row spacing (0.4 and 0.6 m), two seeding rates (375,000 and 562,500 seeds ha-1) and two sowing systems (crossed or parallel rows).The cultivar BRS 294 RR was used in 2011/12 and BRS 295 RR in 2012/13 growing season. In both cultivars and years the grain yield was not affected by the sowing system, seeding rate, or by the interactions among factors, showing the high soybean phenotypic plasticity. Row spacing of 0.6 m showed the highest soybean grain yield in BRS 294 RR, mainly due to a higher grain production in the branches.

The integrated crop-livestock system is one of the main alternatives in the diversification of production systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on the growth and accumulation of N in soybean plants, of grazing pressure and period of desiccation of U. ruziziensis in relation to planting the soybean and fertilising the crop with nitrogen (N). Three grazing heights were studied for a pasture of U. ruziziensis, under continuous grazing for six months (15, 35 and 50 cm) and under no grazing, giving four experiments. A randomised complete block design was used, with split lots and three replications. The lots comprised the four periods for desiccation of the pasture (35, 28, 20 and 8 days before sowing the soybean), and the sub-lots comprised the nitrogen fertilisation of the soybean (no fertilisation and 30 kg N ha-1 in the form of ammonium sulphate, broadcast when sowing). Grazing pressure had little effect on growth and the accumulation of N in the soybean shoot. Increases in the interval between desiccation of the pasture and sowing the soybean gave greater growth and accumulation of N in the crop at the beginning of the growth cycle, but by the full-flowering stage, such differences were not significant. Fertilisation of the soybean with mineral N gave greater growth and accumulation of N only at the beginning of the growth cycle, but by the full-flowering stage, there was no difference between applying the nitrogen fertiliser or not. = O sistema integração lavoura-pecuária é uma das principais alternativas para a diversificação de sistemas de produção. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de pressões de pastejo em Urochloa ruziziensis, de épocas de dessecação desta, em relação à semeadura da soja e da adubação na cultura com nitrogênio (N), sobre o crescimento e acúmulo de N pelas plantas de soja. Foram estudadas três alturas de manutenção da pastagem de U. ruziziensis, pastejada de forma contínua por seis meses (15; 35 e 50 cm), além da ausência de pastejo, constituindo quatro experimentos. Foi utilizado o delineamento de blocos completos casualizados, com parcelas subdivididas e três repetições. Nas parcelas, foram alocadas quatro épocas de dessecação da pastagem (35; 28; 20 e 8 dias antes da semeadura da soja) e, nas subparcelas, a adubação nitrogenada na soja (ausência e 30 kg ha-1 de N na forma de sulfato de amônio, aplicados a lanço, na semeadura). A pressão de pastejo teve pouca influência no crescimento e acúmulo de N na parte aérea da soja. O aumento do intervalo entre a dessecação da pastagem e a semeadura da soja proporcionou maior crescimento e acúmulo de N na cultura no início do ciclo de desenvolvimento, mas no estádio de pleno florescimento essas diferenças não foram significativas. A adubação com N mineral na soja proporcionou maior crescimento e acúmulo de N somente no início do ciclo de desenvolvimento, mas no estádio de pleno florescimento não houve diferença entre a aplicação ou não de fertilizante nitrogenado.

Alterations in the spatial arrangement of soybean plants might provide significant increases in soybean grain yield, without changing the sustainability of production systems. This research aimed to evaluate the performance of the BRS 294 RR soybean cultivar in twin row and narrow row spacing and different seeding rates. The experiment was carried out in Londrina, PR, from November 2011 to March 2012. The randomized complete block experimental design was used in a 5x2 factorial arrangement with three replications. The treatments were formed by combining five row spacings (19 cm, 38 cm, 57 cm, twin row of 19/38 cm, and twin row of 19/57 cm) with two seeding rates (375,000 and 562,500 seeds ha-1). The narrow row reduced the soybean grain yield. The twin row produced grain yields similar to those seen with traditional soybean spacing. The higher seeding rate did not result in higher soybean yields in all row spacings evaluated, demonstrating the phenotypic plasticity of the cultivar evaluated

The integrated crop-livestock system is a key strategy for both grain and livestock production. The cultivation of grass species in between two soybean cropping seasons has been an important component of this system, in Brazil. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the yield of glyphosate-resistant soybean cultivars intercropped with Urochloa species, under different forage management systems. A total of six experiments, consisting of three soybean cultivars (BRS 295 RR, BRS 316 RR, and BRS 294 RR) and two grass species (Urochloa ruziziensis and Urochloa brizantha), were established. For each experiment, four treatments (soybean only; grass only; soybean intercropped with a grass species, with the application of glyphosate to decrease the growth of grass; and soybean intercropped with a grass species, without growth suppression) were evaluated in a completely randomized experimental design, with four replications. For each experiment, only one soybean cultivar and one grass species were used. The grasses were sown in the soybean inter-rows at 27 days after sowing (DAS), while the glyphosate application to the treatment with grass suppression was performed at 84 DAS for the soybean or 57 DAS for the grasses. The yields of the three soybean cultivars were not significantly affected by either grass species, even though the shoot dry-matter yields for both of the intercropped grass species were high, though lower than the values obtained without the interference imposed by soybean.

Soil penetration resistance is an important indicator of soil physical quality and the critical limit of 2 MPa has been widely used to characterize the soil physical quality, in both no-tillage and conventional systems. The aim of this study was to quantify the influence of different tillage and cropping systems on the soil penetration resistance in a Rhodic Eutrudox. The experiment was carried out in a 5 × 2 factorial, completely randomized block design (tillage systems vs cropping systems), with four replications. The tillage systems consisted of: conventional tillage disk harrow; minimum tillage with annual chiseling; minimum tillage with chiseling every three years; no-tillage for 11 consecutive years; and no-tillage for 24 consecutive years. The factor cropping systems was represented by: crop rotation and crop succession. The soil penetration resistance (SPR) was determined in 20 soil samples per treatment and layer (0.0-0.10; 0.10-0.20 and 0.20-0.30 m) for each soil matric potential: -6, -10, -33, -100, -500 kPa. The SPR was determined at a volumetric soil water content equivalent to the fraction of plant-available water of 0.7. There were no differences of soil penetration resistance between the two cropping systems. Differences in soil penetration resistance among tillage systems were related to the matric potential at which the samples were equilibrated. The critical SPR limit of 2 MPa normally used for conventional tillage should be maintained. However, this value of 2 MPa is inappropriate for the physical quality characterization of Rhodic Eutrudox under no-tillage and/or minimum tillage with chiseling. Regardless of the cropping systems, the critical SPR limit should be raised to 3 MPa for minimum tillage with chiseling and to 3.5 MPa for no-tillage.

The integrated crop- livestock-forest system can enhance the production of soybeans, meat and wood in regions characterized by sandy soils and warm climate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield of soybean, Urochloa ruziziensis grass and eucalyptus in an integrated system during the first four years after the establishment of eucalyptus in the northwestern region of Paraná state, Brazil. The experiment was established in October 2009, using soybean (summer) -U. ruziziensis (autumn/winter) succession between single rows of Corymbia maculata (eucalyptus species). The spacing between tree rows and eucalyptus plants in the row were 14 and 4.2 m, respectively. Adjacent plots had the same soybean-U. ruziziensis succession, but without eucalyptus. The spatial variability of soybean grain yields and grass shoot dry matter production was evaluated with and without trees, and the data was analyzed using geostatistics, with the results expressed as spatial variability maps. The tree component did not significantly affect soybean yield in the first two growing seasons. In the 3rd and 4th growing season (2011/12 and 2012/13), the interference of eucalyptus reduced the soybean grain yield by 2.9 and 27.0%, respectively, and the effect was stronger close to the tree rows. In July 2012, the tree component reduced the shoot dry matter productivity of U. ruziziensis by 29.2%. At 19 and 35 months after eucalyptus planting, the cumulative wood volume production was 0.73 and 5.17 m³ ha-1, respectively.

Integrated crop-livestock farming system have demonstrated various economic and environmental advantages. However, there is lack of information on the effects of different desiccation times of Urochloa ruziziensis and grazing pressures on the soybean performance. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of three soybean cultivars, sown after different desiccation times of U. ruziziensis grazed at three heights during the 2012/13 growing season, in southern Brazil. The U. ruziziensis were continuously grazed for 6 months by 6, 4 and 2 animal units (AU) per hectare, leading to average pasture heights of 15; 35; and 50 cm, respectively. Each pasture height constituted a different experiment. The experiments were laid out using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split-plot arrangement in four replications. The treatments consisted of four desiccation times (35; 28; 20; and 8 days before the soybean sowing), allocated in the main plots, and three soybean cultivars (Vmax RR; BMX Potência RR; and NA 5909 RR), distributed in the subplots. Increased interval between U. ruziziensis desiccation and soybean sowing resulted in higher soybean plant density and height, but the effects on soybean grain yields were not significant. The highest soybean grain yield was obtained when the pasture height was maintained in 35 cm, regardless of soybean cultivars. The performance of the three soybean cultivars was not influenced by the interaction between desiccation time and the pasture residue mass on the soil at soybean sowing, defined by the pasture height.

The soil penetration resistance is an important indicator of soil compaction and is strongly influenced by soil water content. The objective of this study was to develop mathematical models to normalize soil penetration resistance (SPR), using a reference value of gravimetric soil water content (U). For this purpose, SPR was determined with an impact penetrometer, in an experiment on a Dystroferric Red Latossol (Rhodic Eutrudox), at six levels of soil compaction, induced by mechanical chiseling and additional compaction by the traffic of a harvester (four, eight, 10, and 20 passes); in addition to a control treatment under no-tillage, without chiseling or additional compaction. To broaden the range of U values, SPR was evaluated in different periods. Undisturbed soil cores were sampled to quantify the soil bulk density (BD). Pedotransfer functions were generated correlating the values of U and BD to the SPR values. By these functions, the SPR was adequately corrected for all U and BD data ranges. The method requires only SPR and U as input variables in the models. However, different pedofunctions are needed according to the soil layer evaluated. After adjusting the pedotransfer functions, the differences in the soil compaction levels among the treatments, previously masked by variations of U, became detectable.

O cultivo integrado da soja com pastagens é uma das principais formas para diversificar os sistemas de produção de grãos no Brasil. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar o efeito de intensidades de pastejo em U. ruziziensis, de épocas de dessecação desta em relação à semeadura da soja e da adubação da cultura com nitrogênio mineral sobre o crescimento e o desempenho produtivo da cultivar de soja NK 7059 RR. Foram testadas três alturas de manejo da pastagem de U. ruziziensis (15, 35 e 50 cm), pastejada de forma contínua por seis meses, além de um piquete sem pastejo, constituindo quatro experimentos distintos. Em cada experimento foi utilizado o delineamento de blocos completos casualizados, com três repetições, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas. Nas parcelas foram alocadas quatro épocas de dessecação da pastagem (35, 28, 20 e 8 dias antes da semeadura da soja) e, nas subparcelas, a adubação nitrogenada na soja (sem N ou com 30 kg de N ha-1 na semeadura). Após a análise estatística de cada experimento, realizou-se análise conjunta. As intensidades de pastejo não afetaram significativamente o crescimento e o desempenho da soja cultivada em sucessão. O aumento do intervalo entre a dessecação e a semeadura da soja e a adubação nitrogenada na cultura incrementaram o crescimento e o acúmulo de N no início do ciclo de desenvolvimento da cultura, mas essas diferenças foram inexpressivas no período reprodutivo, não afetando a produtividade de grãos.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento de duas cultivares de soja com tipos de crescimento determinado e indeterminado, submetidas a diferentes arranjos espaciais de plantas, incluindo a semeadura cruzada. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos, um com a cultivar BRS 294 RR, que possui tipo de crescimento determinado e grupo de maturidade relativa 6.3 e outro com a cultivar BRS 359 RR, tipo de crescimento indeterminado e grupo de maturidade relativa 6.0. Nos dois experimentos, foi utilizado o delineamento experimental de blocos completos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 2x2x2, com três repetições. Os tratamentos foram formados pela combinação de dois espaçamentos entrefileiras (0,4 e 0,6 m), duas densidades de semeadura (375 e 562,5 mil sementes ha-1, com percentual de germinação de 81%) e de duas formas de semeadura (semeadura cruzada e não cruzada). O efeito do arranjo de plantas sobre o crescimento foi distinto entre as cultivares. Para a cultivar BRS 294 RR, que possui crescimento vegetativo vigoroso, com alta ramificação, em geral, o aumento da densidade, a redução do espaçamento e o cruzamento das fileiras não propiciou maior crescimento de plantas. No entanto, a maior produtividade foi observada no espaçamento de 0,6 m, em relação ao de 0,4 m. Para a cultivar BRS 359 RR, que possui arquitetura compacta das plantas, o aumento da densidade e a redução do espaçamento propiciaram maior crescimento e cobertura do solo pela comunidade de plantas, mas não afetaram a produtividade de grãos. Nas duas cultivares, a semeadura cruzada não conferiu aumentos de produtividade.

No Brasil, a soja tem sido introduzida em regiões que apresentam solos arenosos e clima tropical, sendo muitas vezes integrada com a pecuária. A demanda da oleaginosa por nitrogênio(N) é suprida pela mineralização da matéria orgânica do solo e pela fixação biológica do N. No entanto, há questionamentos quanto ao efeito da adubação nitrogenada na cultura da soja cultivada em solos arenosos, com alta quantidade de palha de gramíneas. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o desempenho de duas cultivares de soja, em solo arenoso, após dois anos com pastagem de Urochloa brizantha, submetidas a diferentes doses (20 e 45 kg de N ha-1) e épocas de aplicação (semeadura, no início do florescimento e no início do enchimento dos grãos) de N em solo com elevada quantidade de palha de U. brizantha. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos no Noroeste do Paraná, Brasil, um com a cultivar BMX Potência RR e outro com a cultivar BRS 360 RR, em um solo muito arenoso (11% de argila). Ao todo, foram testados sete tratamentos (fatores combinados e a testemunha), arranjados em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Em solo arenoso, com alta quantidade de palha de pastagem de U. brizantha, a adubação nitrogenada, aplicada em diferentes doses e estádios de desenvolvimento da soja, cultivares BMX Potência RR e BRS 360 RR, não influencia a partição de fotoassimilados entre folhas e caules, o teor de N nas folhas, a produtividade, os componentes de rendimento e os teores de óleo e proteína nos grãos.

A integração lavoura-pecuária por meio da sucessão entre pastagem de braquiária no outono/inverno e culturas de grãos no verão constitui-se em uma opção para aumentar e diversificar a renda do produtor e melhorar a qualidade do sistema plantio direto. Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da época de dessecação da pastagem ou da pressão de pastejo por bovinos sobre atributos físicos do solo e a produtividade da soja em um sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária (SILP), foi conduzido um experimento sobre um Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico. Nas parcelas principais, foram aplicadas pressões de pastejo equivalentes a 6,9; 9,4; e 16,5 unidades animais por hectare durante 19 dias em pastagem de Brachiaria brizantha cv. 'Xaraes', cuja fitomassa foi dessecada 30 dias antes da semeadura da soja (DAS). Também foram conduzidos tratamentos sem pastejo, nos quais a fitomassa foi dessecada aos 30, 44 e 52DAS. Foi determinada a fitomassa remanescente da pastagem, densidade, porosidade e resistência à penetração do solo e a produtividade das cultivares de soja 'BRS 294RR' e 'BRS 255RR', semeadas em subparcelas. As alterações nos atributos físicos do solo pelo pisoteio se concentraram na camada de 0,0-0,05m, contudo as maiores pressões de pastejo aumentaram o grau de compactação do solo até a camada de 0,2-0,3m. A produtividade da cultivar 'BRS 294RR' aumentou e a da cultivar 'BRS 255RR' não foi afetada pelo incremento da pressão de pastejo, demostrando que há diferença de resposta entre os genótipos ao grau de compactação do solo e, principalmente, à fitomassa remanescente da pastagem. A produtividade da soja em SILP com alta produção de matéria seca de B. brizantha é afetada pelo intervalo entre a dessecação da pastagem e a semeadura da cultura.Crop livestock integration systems (CLIS) involving pastures of Brachiaria brizantha in autumn/winter and soybeans in summer have been considered an option to increase and diversify crop production and improve no-tillage system. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of grass desiccation timings or cattle grazing pressures on soil physical attributes and soybean yields in a crop-livestock integration system. The experiment was carried out on a dark red Latosol (Rhodic Eutrudox, US Soil Taxonomy) in southern Brazil. In the major plots, grazing pressures of 6.9, 9.4, and 16.5 animal unities per hectare were applied during 19 days to a pasture of Brachiaria brizantha cv. 'Xaraes', which phytomass was desiccated 30 days before soybean sowing (DBS). Ungrazed plots were desiccated 30, 44 and 52 DBS. Remaining phytomass of the pasture; soil bulk density, porosity and soil resistance to penetration; and yield of soybean cultivars 'BRS 294RR' and 'BRS 255RR' (sowed in subplots), were determined. Changes in soil physical attributes by animal trampling were concentrated on topsoil layer (0.0-0.05m), and soil compaction level was increased by the highest grazing pressure down the 0.2-0.3 layer. The yield of soybean cv. 'BRS 294RR' was increased with rising grazing pressures, whereas the yield of soybean cv. 'BRS 255RR' was not affected, showing that soybean genotypes had different responses to soil compaction level and, mainly, to remaining phytomass of pasture. In CLIS with high production of B. brizantha dry mass, soybean yields are closely associated to time interval between grass desiccation and soybean planting.

A compactação dos solos agrícolas, em decorrência da intensificação da agricultura com elevado tráfego de máquinas, vem se tornando, nos últimos anos, fator limitante ao crescimento e desenvolvimento das plantas. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, em um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico muito argiloso, cultivado em sistema plantio direto, a influência da compactação induzida pelo tráfego de um trator agrícola MF 292 (105 cv), com massa total de 5 Mg e com pressão de inflação de 96 kPa nos pneus dianteiros (14.9-24 R1) e 110 kPa nos pneus traseiros (18.4-34 R1), sobre a densidade, porosidade, resistência do solo à penetração e estabilidade de agregados, bem como as consequências sobre o crescimento radicular da cultura do milho. O estudo foi realizado na Fazenda Experimental de Ciências Agrárias da UFGD, no município de Dourados, MS. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos casualizados, com cinco repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por estados induzidos de compactação, sendo: PD - condição atual que reflete o histórico de oito anos de plantio direto; e plantio direto com compactação adicional por tráfego de trator em uma (PDc1), duas (PDc2), quatro (PDc4) e seis passadas (PDc6). A microporosidade do solo não foi alterada pela compactação adicional. Analisando o sistema radicular do milho, foram observadas reduções nos valores de diâmetro, comprimento e superfície radicular, ocorrendo decréscimo de 85 % no comprimento radicular, comparando o PD com o PDc6. O aumento da compactação do solo induzida pelo tráfego de trator a partir de duas passadas (220 kPa) promoveu aumento da Ds e redução da Macro e Pt, e a partir de quatro passadas (440 kPa) promoveu aumento da RP de maneira efetiva, até 0,10 m de profundidade. A macroporosidade do solo é um bom indicador da sua qualidade para avaliações de comprimento e superfície radicular.Compaction of agricultural soils due to intensive farming with intense traffic of agricultural machinery has become a limiting factor for crop development in recent years. The objective of this study was to evaluate a Rhodic Acrustox under no-tillage for the influence of compaction on the soil density, porosity, penetration resistance and aggregate stability, and the consequences on corn root growth. Compaction was induced by tractor traffic of MF 292 (105 hp), with a mass of 5 Mg and pressure inflation of 96 kPa for front tires (14.9-24 R1) and 110 kPa for rear tires (18.4 - 34 R1) in the following treatments: NT - current condition that reflects the history of eight years of no-tillage, no-tillage with additional compaction by tractor traffic in one (NT - 1), two (NT - 2), four (NT - 4) and six passes (NT - 6). Soil microporosity was not affected by additional compaction. The root diameter, length and surface values were reduced, with a decrease of 85 % in root length of NT compared to NT - 6. Increased soil compaction induced by tractor traffic with two passes (220 kPa) or more increased soil density and reduced macroporosity and total porosity, while four passes (440 kPa) or more resulted in an increase in soil penetration resistance to a depth of 0.10 m. Macroporosity is a good indicator of soil quality in assessments of root length and surface.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar se o sistema de preparo do solo afeta a distribuição e o acúmulo de matéria seca (MS), carbono (C) e nitrogênio (N) das raízes de soja (Glycine max) e milho (Zea mays), em um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico muito argiloso. A amostragem das raízes até 1 m de profundidade foi feita com anéis volumétricos. A distribuição em profundidade e o acúmulo de MS, C e N das raízes não foram influenciados pelo preparo do solo. A densidade de comprimento de raízes na camada de 0-0, 10 m foi de 0,7 a 1,4 cm cm-3 em soja, e de 1,2 a 1,6 cm cm-3 em milho, e decresceu nas demais camadas. O acúmulo de MS das raízes foi de 1,94 a 2,01 Mg ha-1 em soja, e de 2,50 a 3,79 Mg ha-1 em milho. Houve acúmulo de 0,61 a 0,63 Mg ha-1 de C e de 36,9 a 38,2 kg ha-1 de N em soja, e de 0,72 a 1,10 Mg ha-1 de C e de 18,78 a 28,48 kg ha-1 de N em milho. Independentemente do sistema de preparo do solo, 80% das raízes situam-se entre 0,43 e 0,54 m de profundidade em soja, e entre 0,40 e 0,46 m em milho.The objective of this work was to examine whether soil tillage systems affect the distribution and accumulation of dry matter (DM), carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) of root systems of soybean (Glycine max) and corn (Zea mays) in a clayey Typic Haplorthox. Volumetric rings were used for root sampling down to 1 m depth. The distribution in depth and accumulation of DM, C and N of soybean and corn roots were not affected by soil tillage systems. Root length density was 0.7-1.4 cm cm-3 for soybean and 1.2-1.6 cm cm-3 for corn in the 0-0.10 m layer and decreased in the other layers. Root DM input was 1.94-2.01 Mg ha-1 in soybean and 2.50-3.79 Mg ha-1 in corn. For soybean, C and N root inputs were 0.61-0.63 Mg ha-1 and 36.9-38.2 kg ha-1, respectively. For corn, C and N root inputs were 0.72-1.10 Mg ha-1 and 18.78-28.48 kg ha-1, respectively. Independently of the tillage system, 80% of the roots were concentrated in the upper surface layer 0.43 to 0.54 m deep for soybean and in the upper surface layer 0.40 to 0.46 m deep for corn.

Um número crescente de trabalhos, inclusive no Brasil, vem sugerindo a avaliação do C da biomassa microbiana (CBM) como um bioindicador da qualidade dos solos. A maioria dos estudos emprega dois métodos: de fumigação-incubação (FI), pioneiro, em que o CBM é estimado pela diferença entre as quantidades de CO2 liberadas durante a incubação (10 dias) pelo solo fumigado e pelo solo não-fumigado, enquanto no de fumigação-extração (FE) essa determinação é feita a partir da extração e quantificação do C das amostras fumigadas e não-fumigadas após 24 h. A correlação entre os dois métodos, porém, foi realizada em apenas três agroecossistemas brasileiros: na Amazônia, nos Cerrados e em três solos do Rio de Janeiro. Neste trabalho, os métodos FE e FI foram comparados em um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico eutrófico típico do norte do Paraná. As avaliações foram feitas em amostras de solo de um ensaio realizado por 12 anos em Londrina, com seis tratamentos, incluindo três sistemas de manejo do solo (sistema plantio direto, PD; sistema preparo convencional com aração e gradagem, PC; e PD com uso de cruzador a cada três anos, Cr) e dois sistemas de manejo de culturas em sucessão ou rotação. Foram realizadas coletas de solo, da camada de 0-10 cm, em quatro fases do sistema de produção: pós-colheita de inverno (trigo na sucessão e tremoço na rotação); pós-aração de verão (dos tratamentos PC e Cr); pós-plantio de verão (soja na sucessão e milho na rotação); e na época de florescimento de verão. Em geral, não foi observada grande variabilidade em nenhum dos métodos, sendo o coeficiente de variação maior quanto menor o teor de CBM. Quando as coletas nas diferentes fases foram consideradas em conjunto, não houve diferença entre os métodos FE e FI em nenhum dos seis tratamentos estudados, bem como na análise conjunta de todos os tratamentos. Considerando todos os tratamentos, foi constatada correlação positiva significativa entre os métodos FE e FI, no entanto, na análise de cada tratamento, a significância ocorreu apenas para os tratamentos sob PD e PC em rotação ou sucessão de culturas, mas não para o uso do cruzador (Cr). Os resultados indicam que ambos os métodos podem ser utilizados para avaliar o CBM em condições semelhantes às do norte do Paraná, mas apontam a necessidade de se desenvolverem mais estudos comparativos entre os dois métodos nos solos brasileiros, em função de variações na quantidade e qualidade de matéria orgânica, assim como na intensidade de revolvimento do solo e incorporação de resíduos.More and more studies, including in Brazil, have suggested the use of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) as a bioindicator of soil quality. Most studies employ two methods: the pioneer of fumigation-incubation (FI), in which the MBC is estimated based on CO2 emission from fumigated and non-fumigated soil samples after 10 days of incubation and fumigation-extraction (FE), in which MBC is estimated based on C extraction from fumigated and non-fumigated soil samples after 12 h. However, in Brazil the correlation between both methods has been evaluated in three ecosystems only: in the Amazon, the Cerrado and three soils of the State of Rio de Janeiro. In this paper the methods FE and FI were compared in a typical Dark Red Oxisol in the North of Paraná State. The analyses were performed in a 12 year-field trial in Londrina with six treatments, including three soil managements (no-tillage, NT; conventional tillage with traditional ploughing and disking, CT; and NT using a field cultivator every three years, FC) and two crop management types (crop rotation, CR; or multiple cropping, MC) systems. Four soil samples (0-10 cm) were taken: after winter harvest (wheat in CR and lupin in MC), after summer ploughing (for CT and FC treatments), after summer sowing (soybean in CR and maize in MC) and in the summer crop flowering stage. In general the variability was low by both methods and the coefficient of variation was higher, the lower the MBC values. No differences between the FE and FI methods were detected when the four samplings at different stages as well as when all treatments were considered together. When all treatments were analyzed together, the correlation between FE and FI was positive and statistically significant. However, when each treatment was considered separately significance was observed for the treatments NT and CT in CR and MC, but not for FC. Results indicate that both methods may be used to evaluate MBC under similar conditions in Northern Paraná, however, they also indicate that more studies should be performed in Brazilian soils comparing both methods as a function of qualitative and quantitative changes in the organic matter contents as well as in the incorporation of crop residues.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar e validar um conjunto mínimo de parâmetros para o monitoramento, em campo, da microbiota do solo e da fixação biológica do N2 (FBN) pela soja. Os ensaios foram conduzidos em áreas de plantios comerciais (safra 2002/2003) e experimentais (safra 2004/2005), em blocos ao acaso. O C e o N da biomassa microbiana (CBM e NBM) mostraram-se adequados para a avaliação quantitativa da microbiota do solo e ambos os parâmetros foram correlacionados significativamente, portanto, apenas um deles precisa ser determinado. Foram obtidas correlações positivas e significativas entre a massa da parte aérea seca das plantas (MPAS) e o CBM e o NBM. A análise do DNA total do solo por eletroforese em géis desnaturantes (DGGE) detectou alterações qualitativas na microbiota do solo, relacionadas à homogeneidade da área e a diferenças entre tratamentos, áreas e coletas. A massa de nódulos secos (MNS) foi o melhor parâmetro para a avaliação da nodulação. Correlações significativas foram constatadas entre a MPAS e o N total acumulado na parte aérea (NTPA). Resultados semelhantes foram observados entre a MPAS e o N de ureídos (NTU). O monitoramento da FBN pela soja pode ser realizado apenas pela determinação da MNS e da MPAS.The objective of this work was to evaluate and validate a minimum set of parameters capable of monitoring, under field conditions, soil microbes and/or the biological N2 fixation process with the soybean crop. The field trials were performed in commercial fields (2002/2003) and experimental areas (2004/2004), with complete randomized blocks design. Microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN) were adequate for the quantitative evaluation of soil microbes; the parameters were significantly correlated therefore the determination of only one of them is sufficient. Positive and significant correlations were also obtained between the parameters of shoot dry weight (SDW) and MBC and MBN. The analysis of total soil DNA by the denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis method (DGGE) detected qualitative changes in soil microbes, related to the homogeneity of the area, as well as to differences among treatments, areas and harvests. Nodule dry weight (NDW) was the most suitable parameter for the evaluation of nodulation. Significant correlations were obtained between the SDW and the total N accumulated in shoots (TNS). Similar results were obtained between SDW and total N-ureides (TNU). Monitoring of the symbiosis in soils traditionally cropped with soybean and poor on N may be achieved only by the determination of NDW and SDW.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi definir, para as condições edafoclimáticas do Brasil, níveis aceitáveis de dispersão de alguns parâmetros biológicos, utilizados em estudos de impacto ambiental de novas tecnologias usadas na cultura da soja. Dois ensaios com soja convencional e transgênica foram conduzidos em 11 municípios de seis estados e no Distrito Federal; os parâmetros avaliados foram: carbono e nitrogênio da biomassa microbiana, respiração basal e quociente metabólico microbiano, eletroforese do DNA do solo em géis desnaturantes (DGGE), fixação biológica do nitrogênio, população de rizóbios, número e massa de nódulos secos, ocupação dos nódulos pelas estirpes de Bradyrhizobium, massa de matéria seca da parte aérea, nitrogênio total e nitrogênio como ureídos na parte aérea. A variabilidade temporal de: carbono e nitrogênio, da biomassa microbiana, da respiração basal e do quociente metabólico microbiano foi adequada, e o coeficiente de variação máximo aceitável foi estimado em 35%. A homogeneidade entre repetições, tratamentos e coletas foi confirmada por DGGE. Em solos pobres em nitrogênio, os parâmetros de massa de nódulos e massa da parte aérea, com coeficiente de variação máximo de 33 e 18%, respectivamente, foram adequados para avaliar a fixação biológica do N, que contribuiu com 72 a 88% do nitrogênio total da parte aérea.The objective oh this work was to define, for edaphoclimatic conditions of Brazil, acceptable levels of dispersion of some biological parameters, used in studies of environmental impact due to the adoption of new technologies with the soybean crop. Two experiments were performed in eleven counties, in six states and in the Federal District, with conventional and transgenic soybean. Evaluated parameters were: carbon and nitrogen of the microbial biomass, microbial respiration, microbial metabolic quotient, electrophoresis of soil DNA in denaturating gradient gel (DGGE), biological nitrogen fixation, number of rhizobial cells, nodule number and nodule dry weight, nodule occupancy by Bradyrhizobium strains, shoot dry weight, total nitrogen in shoot and nitrogen as ureides in shoot. The temporal variability for carbon and nitrogen of microbial biomass, microbial respiration and microbial metabolic quotient was adequate, and the maximum coefficient of variation was estimated at 35%. The homogeneity between replicates, treatments and harvests was confirmed by the DGGE method. In N-poor soils, the parameters of nodules and shoot dry weight, with maximum coefficient of variation 33 and 18%, respectively, were adequate for evaluation of biological nitrogen fixation, which contributed from 72 to 88% of total nitrogen in shoot.

Neste estudo foram avaliados atributos qualitativos e quantitativos da microbiota do solo, visando monitorar alterações por diferentes manejos do solo e das culturas. As avaliações foram feitas em um ensaio a campo, conduzido há 14 anos em Londrina, PR, sob plantio convencional (PC) ou plantio direto (PD) e com sucessão (S) (soja/trigo) ou rotação (R) (tremoço/milho/aveia-preta/soja/trigo/soja/trigo/soja) de culturas, quando todos os sistemas estavam com soja no estádio de florescimento pleno. Os incrementos no C e N da biomassa microbiana (CBM e NBM) no PD foram de 114 e 157 %, respectivamente, em comparação ao PC; além disso, o quociente metabólico (qCO2) foi inferior em 37 % no PD, indicando maior eficiência metabólica da microbiota do solo. Não foram detectadas diferenças nesses atributos em função dos sistemas de rotação e sucessão de culturas. A diversidade genética da comunidade bacteriana total do solo foi superior no PD e inferior no PC com sucessão de culturas. Em relação à fixação biológica do N2, a massa, o N total e a fração de N-ureídos acumulados na parte aérea e a eficiência dos nódulos em fixar N2 foram superiores no PD. A diversidade genética dos rizóbios foi afetada, principalmente, pelo manejo das culturas, sendo superior com a rotação, provavelmente pelo maior número de espécies de plantas. Contudo, com a rotação ocorreu decréscimo na eficiência do processo de fixação biológica do N2, o que pode estar relacionado com os teores mais elevados de N no solo, ou com a menor pressão de seleção por bactérias eficientes. Desse modo, para microrganismos do solo com função específica, como os rizóbios, a diversidade genética pode ser distinta da funcionalidade.In this study, quantitative and qualitative microbiological parameters were evaluated to detect differences related to soil and crop management. The study was carried out in a field experiment installed 14 years ago on a Rhodic Eutrudox, in Londrina, PR, Brazil. Treatments were a combination of a crop sequence (S) (soybean/wheat) and a crop rotation (R) (lupin/maize/black oat/soybean/wheat/soybean/wheat/soybean), either under conventional tillage (CT) or no-tillage (NT). Evaluations were performed when all systems were under the soybean cropping season, at full flowering. Amounts of microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen (MB-C and MB-N, respectively) were 114 and 157 % higher in NT than in CT. Furthermore, the metabolic quotient (qCO2) was lower under NT, indicating higher metabolic efficiency of the soil microbes. These parameters were not affected by the crop sequence/rotation. Genetic diversity of the total soil bacterial community was higher under NT and lower in the CT system with crop sequence. Regarding the biological N2 fixation, it was found that plant biomass, total N and fraction of N-ureides in shoots, as well as nodule efficiency, were higher under NT. Genetic diversity of rhizobia was affected mainly by crop management and was higher under crop rotation, probably due to the greater number of plant species. However, crop rotation decreased the efficiency of the biological N2 fixation process, which may be related to more abundant N in the soil or to a lower selection pressure for efficient rhizobia. For soil microbes with specific functions, e.g., rhizobia, genetic diversity may therefore differ from functionality.

O sistema integração lavoura-pecuária é uma das principais alternativas para a diversificação de sistemas de produção. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de pressões de pastejo em Urochloa ruziziensis, de épocas de dessecação desta, em relação à semeadura da soja e da adubação na cultura com nitrogênio (N), sobre o crescimento e acúmulo de N pelas plantas de soja. Foram estudadas três alturas de manutenção da pastagem de U. ruziziensis, pastejada de forma contínua por seis meses (15; 35 e 50 cm), além da ausência de pastejo, constituindo quatro experimentos. Foi utilizado o delineamento de blocos completos casualizados, com parcelas subdivididas e três repetições. Nas parcelas, foram alocadas quatro épocas de dessecação da pastagem (35; 28; 20 e 8 dias antes da semeadura da soja) e, nas subparcelas, a adubação nitrogenada na soja (ausência e 30 kg ha-1 de N na forma de sulfato de amônio, aplicados a lanço, na semeadura). A pressão de pastejo teve pouca influência no crescimento e acúmulo de N na parte aérea da soja. O aumento do intervalo entre a dessecação da pastagem e a semeadura da soja proporcionou maior crescimento e acúmulo de N na cultura no início do ciclo de desenvolvimento, mas no estádio de pleno florescimento essas diferenças não foram significativas. A adubação com N mineral na soja proporcionou maior crescimento e acúmulo de N somente no início do ciclo de desenvolvimento, mas no estádio de pleno florescimento não houve diferença entre a aplicação ou não de fertilizante nitrogenado.

This study focused on the effects of organic and inorganic amendments and straw retention on the microbial biomass (MB) and taxonomic groups of bacteria in sugarcane-cultivated soils in a greenhouse mesocosm experiment monitored for gas emissions and chemical factors. The experiment consisted of combinations of synthetic nitrogen (N), vinasse (V; a liquid waste from ethanol production), and sugarcane-straw blankets. Increases in CO2-C and N2O-N emissions were identified shortly after the addition of both N and V to the soils, thus increasing MB nitrogen (MB-N) and decreasing MB carbon (MB-C) in the N+V-amended soils and altering soil chemical factors that were correlated with the MB. Across 57 soil metagenomic datasets, Actinobacteria (31.5%), Planctomycetes (12.3%), Deltaproteobacteria (12.3%), Alphaproteobacteria (12.0%) and Betaproteobacteria (11.1%) were the most dominant bacterial groups during the experiment. Differences in relative abundance of metagenomic sequences were mainly revealed for Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia with regard to N+V fertilization and straw retention. Differential abundances in bacterial groups were confirmed using 16S rRNA gene-targeted phylum-specific primers for real-time PCR analysis in all soil samples, whose results were in accordance with sequence data, except for Gammaproteobacteria. Actinobacteria were more responsive to straw retention with Rubrobacterales, Bifidobacteriales and Actinomycetales related to the chemical factors of N+V-amended soils. Acidobacteria subgroup 7 and Opitutae, a verrucomicrobial class, were related to the chemical factors of soils without straw retention as a surface blanket. Taken together, the results showed that MB-C and MB-N responded to changes in soil chemical factors and CO2-C and N2O-N emissions, especially for N+V-amended soils. The results also indicated that several taxonomic groups of bacteria, such as Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia, and their subgroups acted as early-warning indicators of N+V amendments and straw retention in sugarcane-cultivated soils, which can alter the soil chemical factors.

Integrated crop-livestock farming system have demonstrated various economic and environmental advantages. However, there is lack of information on the effects of different desiccation times of Urochloa ruziziensis and grazing pressures on the soybean performance. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of three soybean cultivars, sown after different desiccation times of U. ruziziensis grazed at three heights during the 2012/13 growing season, in southern Brazil. The U. ruziziensis were continuously grazed for 6 months by 6, 4 and 2 animal units (AU) per hectare, leading to average pasture heights of 15; 35; and 50 cm, respectively. Each pasture height constituted a different experiment. The experiments were laid out using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split-plot arrangement in four replications. The treatments consisted of four desiccation times (35; 28; 20; and 8 days before the soybean sowing), allocated in the main plots, and three soybean cultivars (Vmax RR; BMX Potência RR; and NA 5909 RR), distributed in the subplots. Increased interval between U. ruziziensis desiccation and soybean sowing resulted in higher soybean plant density and height, but the effects on soybean grain yields were not significant. The highest soybean grain yield was obtained when the pasture height was maintained in 35 cm, regardless of soybean cultivars. The performance of the three soybean cultivars was not influenced by the interaction between desiccation time and the pasture residue mass on the soil at soybean sowing, defined by the pasture height.

The integrated crop- livestock-forest system can enhance the production of soybeans, meat and wood in regions characterized by sandy soils and warm climate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield of soybean, Urochloa ruziziensis grass and eucalyptus in an integrated system during the first four years after the establishment of eucalyptus in the northwestern region of Paraná state, Brazil. The experiment was established in October 2009, using soybean (summer) -U. ruziziensis (autumn/winter) succession between single rows of Corymbia maculata (eucalyptus species). The spacing between tree rows and eucalyptus plants in the row were 14 and 4.2 m, respectively. Adjacent plots had the same soybean-U. ruziziensis succession, but without eucalyptus. The spatial variability of soybean grain yields and grass shoot dry matter production was evaluated with and without trees, and the data was analyzed using geostatistics, with the results expressed as spatial variability maps. The tree component did not significantly affect soybean yield in the first two growing seasons. In the 3rd and 4th growing season (2011/12 and 2012/13), the interference of eucalyptus reduced the soybean grain yield by 2.9 and 27.0%, respectively, and the effect was stronger close to the tree rows. In July 2012, the tree component reduced the shoot dry matter productivity of U. ruziziensis by 29.2%. At 19 and 35 months after eucalyptus planting, the cumulative wood volume production was 0.73 and 5.17 m³ ha-1, respectively.