Ammonia volatilization from different beef cattle production systems with tropical pastures during the seasons.

2016

AgroDB - integration of database management systems with crop models.

2016

Nitrate in soil solution with use of plant cocktails as green manure in diferent tillage systems in the brazilian semi-arid

Tillage systems strongly affect nutrient transformations and plant availability. The objective of this study was to assess the nitrate dynamic in soil solution in different tillage systems with use of plant cocktail as green manure in fertilized melon (Cucumis melon) in Brazilian semi-arid. The treatments were arranged in four blocks in a split-plot design and included three types of cover crops and two tillage systems, conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT). The data showed no strong effect of plant cocktails composition on NO3-N dynamic in the soil. Mean concentration of NO3-N ranged from 19.45 mg L-1 at 15 cm to 60.16 mg L-1 at 50 cm soil depth, indicating high leachability. No significant differences were observed between NT and CT treatments for 15 cm depth. The high soil moisture content at ~ 30 cm depth concentrated high NO3-N in all treatments, mean of 54.27 mg L-1 to NT and 54.62 mg L-1 to CT. The highest NO3-N concentration was observed at 50 cm depth in TC (60.16 mg L-1). High concentration of NO3-N in CT may be attributed to increase in decomposition of soil organic matter and crop residues incorporated into the soil.

Growth of native trees in two agroforestry systems.

Agroforestry systems with eucalyptus prevail in Central and Southeast Brazil, and little information is available about systems using native trees. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the development of seven native tree species grown under two agroforestry systems. The experiment was conducted starting in 2007 in 12-hectare area in the municipality of São Carlos, São Paulo state, Brazil. The tree species planted in the two systems (a silvopastoral system and an agrisilvicultural system) were: 'capixingui' (Croton floribundus) and 'mutambo' (Guazuma ulmifolia) (tutors), 'jequitibá-branco' (Cariniana estrellensis), 'canafistula' (Peltophorum dubium) and 'ipê felpudo' (Zeyheria tuberculosa) (timber trees), and 'angico-branco' (Anadenanthera colubrina) and 'pau-jacaré' (Piptadenia gonoacantha) (N-fixing trees). Data were collected for 48 months. The results show differences among tree development, which was evaluated as growth in height and diameter, as well as sensitivity to insect and disease damage. The overall results show that the agrisilvicultural system allowed better tree development. The species with best performance in the two systems were capixingui, mutambo and canafístula. Ipê-felpudo and jequitibá-branco showed the worst results. The high variability among individuals of the same species indicates the possibility of high production advances with selective breeding of these species.