Distribution of Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 in soils and sugar cane crops at Corumbatai river basin, São Paulo State, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Using geostatistical analysis to evaluate the presence of Rotylenchulus reniformis in cotton crops in Brazil: Economic implications

In recent years, the productivity of cotton in Brazil has been progressively decreasing, often the result of the reniform nematode Rotylenchulus reniformis. This species call reduce crop productivity by up to 40%. Nematodes can be controlled by nematicides but, because of expense and toxicity, application of nematicides to large crop areas may be undesirable. In this Work. a methodology using geostatistics for quantifying the risk of nematicide application to small crop areas is proposed. This risk, in economic terms, can be compared to nematicide cost to develop an optimal strategy for Precision Farming, Soil (300 cm(3)) was sampled in a regular network from a R. reniformis-infested area that was a cotton monoculture for 20 years. The number of nematodes in each sample was counted. The nematode number per volume of soil was characterized using geostatistics, and 100 conditional simulations were conducted. Based on the simulations, risk maps were plotted showing the areas where nematicide should be applied in a Precision Farming context. The methodology developed can be applied to farming in countries that ale highly dependent on agriculture, with useful economic implications.

Sewage sludge as nitrogen and phosphorus source for cane-plant and first ratoon crops

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Susceptibility of winter crops to Pratylenchus brachyurus and effect on the nematode population in the maize crop

The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of winter crops to Pratylenchus brachyurus and their effect on the population of phytonematodes in the maize. To study the effect of the plants on nematodes, an experiment was set up in sandy, naturally-infested soil. The area was divided into strips, consisting of six blocks of 16 treatments, with eight winter treatments, subdivided on the basis of the fertilizer used (organic: bird litter, and synthetic: NPK). The initial nematode population was determined by sampling the soil (100 cm(3)) and weeds (10 g of root). The winter treatments put in place (bristle oats, chickpea, vetch bean, common bean, oilseed radish, wheat, intercropped bristle oats + oilseed radish and fallow), and the nematode population determined 100 days after sowing. Subsequently, two maize crops (summer and short season) were planted, and the nematode population in the soil and roots determined during crop full bloom. To evaluate the susceptibility of winter crops to nematodes, an experiment was conducted under controlled conditions, determining the nematode reproduction factor (RF) in the treatments described above. Both in the field and under controlled conditions, it was observed that the bristle oats, oilseed radish and intercropped oats + oilseed radish exhibited lower reproduction rates for P. brachyurus. In the field, lower population of nematodes was observed with the application of bird litter. Under controlled conditions, the highest RF were observed in the fallow plot and under common bean and chickpea, in that order.

Co-accumulation of microbial residues and particulate organic matter in the surface layer of a no-till Oxisol under different crops

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Physical quality of an Oxisol cultivated with maize submited to cover crops in the pre-cropping period

The intensive use of land alters the distribution of the pore size which imparts consequences on the soil physical quality. The Least Limiting Water Range (LLWR) allows for the visualization of the effects of management systems upon either the improvement or the degradation of the soil physical quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical quality of a Red Latosol (Oxisol) submited to cover crops in the period prior to the maize crop in a no-tillage and conventional tillage system, using porosity, soil bulk density and the LLWR as attributes. The treatments were: conventional tillage (CT) and a no-tillage system with the following cover crops: sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) (NS), pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke) (NP) and lablab (Dolichos lablab L.) (NL). The experimental design was randomized blocks in subdivided plots with six replications, with the plots being constituted by the treatments and the subplots by the layers analyzed. The no-tillage systems showed higher total porosity and soil organic matter at the 0-0.5 m layer for the CT. The CT did not differ from the NL or NS in relation to macroporosity. The NP showed the greater porosity, while CT and NS presented lower soil bulk density. No <= 10 % airing porosity was found for the treatments evaluated, and value for water content where soil aeration is critical (theta(PA)) was found above estimated water content at field capacity (theta(FC)) for all densities. Critical soil bulk density was of 1.36 and 1.43 Mg m(-3) for NP and CT, respectively. The LLWR in the no-tillage systems was limited in the upper part by the theta(FC), and in the bottom part, by the water content from which soil resistance to penetration is limiting (theta(PR)). By means of LLWR it was observed that the soil presented good physical quality.

Nitrogen Supply for Cover Crops and Effects on Peanut Grown in Succession under a No-Till System

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Dolomite and phosphogypsum surface application effects on annual crops nutrition and yield

Brazil has extensive area with acid soils. Using phosphogypsum and soil acidity tolerant cultivars are alternatives to crop establishment in no-till system without previous limestone incorporation in many agricultural soils of Brazil. However, it remains unknown how phosphogypsum and limestone surface application affects rice (Oryza sativa L.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) nutrition and yield under a no-till system. A field experiment was conducted in a sandy clay loam, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Haplorthox, previously cultivated under conventional tillage, in Botucatu, Sao, Paulo State, Brazil. Treatments included four dolomitic limestone rates (0, 1100, 2700, and 4300 kg ha(-1)), two phosphogypsum rates (0 and 2100 kg ha(-1)), and two upland rice cultivars (Caiapo and IAC 202). in 2002-2003, and two bean cultivars (Perola and Carioca), in 2003-2004. Both amendments were applied on the surface, without soil incorporation. The content of Ca, Mg, and Mn in flag leaves and rice yield increased with limestone surface application. Liming increased the shoot dry matter of IAC 202 rice. Phosphogypsum increased S contents in leaves of both rice cultivars, and resulted in higher grain yield in the Caiapo rice. Liming increased K contents in leaves of both bean cultivars. In the absence of phosphogypsum, liming increased S contents and grain yield of bean. Content of Mg in leaves was reduced by phosphogypsum in lower limestone rates. In phosphogypsum presence, liming reduced Zn contents in leaves and increased bean shoot dry matter. Phosphogypsum increased Ca and S, and reduced Mg contents in bean leaves. Using soil acidity tolerant cultivars promoted higher crop yields in no-till systems establishment, even when the effective soil amelioration had not yet been achieved.

Soybean root growth and yield in rotation with cover crops under chiseling and no-till

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Spray deposition on weeds of common bean crops

A.C.P. Rodrigues-Costa, D. Martins, N.V. Costa, and M.R.R. Pereira. 2011. Spray deposition on weeds of common bean crops. Cien. Inv. Agr. 38(3): 357-365. Weed control failure in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production may be related to inappropriate herbicide application techniques. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to evaluate the amount of spray solution deposition that occurred on the weeds, Bidens pilosa L. and Brachiaria plantaginea (Link) Hitch., both within and between rows of common beans. The research was arranged in a randomized block design with four replications. The following 6 spray nozzles were used: flat fan nozzles XR 110015 VS (150 L ha(-1)) and XR 11002 VS (200 L ha(-1)); cone nozzles TX VK 6 (150 L ha(-1)) and TX VK 8 (200 L ha(-1)); and twin flat fan nozzles TJ60 11002 VS (150 L ha(-1)) and TJ60 11002 VS (200 L ha-1). The results showed that the loss of the spray solution on the soil occurred mainly within the bean rows and with a high intensity when using a nozzle spraying 200 L ha(-1). At 30 days after sowing, the TX (150 L ha(-1)) nozzle was the only nozzle that promoted deposits of less than 210.0 mu L g(-1) of dry mass. The spray nozzles showed a good performance in the deposition of the spray solution on the weeds that occurred both within and between the rows. However, for both species there was great variation in individual deposits depending on their location in relationship to the plants.

Cover crops and herbicide timing management on soybean yield under no-tillage system

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ammonium and nitrate in soil and upland rice yield as affected by cover crops and their desiccation time

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Boron rates for triticale and wheat crops

No Brasil não existem registros de respostas de adubação com boro para a cultura do triticale, sendo a ação deste nutriente uma incógnita, tanto em relação a deficiência quanto a toxidez, causas que levam a redução de produtividade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a resposta do triticale a diferentes níveis de boro em comparação com o trigo (Triticum aestivum). Utilizou-se um Latossolo Vermelho distrófico com teor inicial de boro de 0,08 mg dm-3. O delineamento foi um fatorial 4 ´ 4, distribuído em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições, quatro níveis de boro: 0; 0,62; 1,24 e 1,86 mg dm-3 de B e três cultivares de triticale, IAC 3, BR 4 e BR 53, mais um cultivar de trigo, IAPAR 38, para comparação. Cada cultivar respondeu de forma diferente com relação às variáveis estudadas em função da aplicação de diferentes níveis de boro. O trigo (IAPAR 38) apresenta maior eficiência na absorção de boro. A cultivar de triticale mais responsiva quanto à absorção foi a IAC 3, que apresentou característica semelhante ao trigo, seguida da cultivar BR 4, demonstrando serem cultivares tolerantes a maiores níveis de boro no solo. Para a BR 53, não ocorreu efeito para absorção, com a cultivar apresentando sensibilidade à toxidez de boro. A eficiência de absorção é diferenciada para cada genótipo possibilitando a escolha e utilização de plantas que possuam maior adaptação ao meio.

Evaluation of the performance of a castor-oil based formulation in limiting pesticide residues in strawberry crops

A study was made to evaluate the effect of a castor oil-based detergent on strawberry crops treated with different classes of pesticides, namely deltamethrin, folpet, tebuconazole, abamectin and mancozeb, in a controlled environment. Experimental crops of greenhouse strawberries were cultivated in five different ways with control groups using pesticides and castor oil-based detergent. The results showed that the group 2, which was treated with castor oil-based detergent, presented the lowest amount of pesticide residues and the highest quality of fruit produced.

Evidence that the Ceratobasidium-like white-thread blight and black rot fungal pathogens from persimmon and tea crops in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest agroecosystem are two distinct phylospecies

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)