Sugarcane productivity correlated with physical-chemical attributes to create soil management zone

The socioeconomic importance of sugar cane in Brazil is unquestionable because it is the raw material for the production of ethanol and sugar. The accurate spatial intervention in the management of the crop, resulting zones of soil management, increases productivity as well as its agricultural yields. The spatial and Person's correlations between sugarcane attributes and physico-chemical attributes of a Typic Tropustalf were studied in the growing season of 2009, in Suzanápolis, State of São Paulo, Brazil (20°28'10'' S lat.; 50°49'20'' W long.), in order to obtain the one that best correlates with agricultural productivity. Thus, the geostatistical grid with 120 sampling points was installed to soil and data collection in a plot of 14.6 ha with second crop sugarcane. Due to their substantial and excellent linear and spatial correlations with the productivity of the sugarcane, the population of plants and the organic matter content of the soil, by evidencing substantial correlations, linear and spatial, with the productivity of sugarcane, were indicators of management zones strongly attached to such productivity.

Magnetic susceptibility in the prediction of soil attributes in two sugarcane harvesting management systems

This study aimed to investigate the potential use of magnetic susceptibility (MS) as pedotransfer function to predict soil attributes under two sugarcane harvesting management systems. For each area of 1 ha (one with green sugarcane mechanized harvesting and other one with burnt sugarcane manual harvesting), 126 soil samples were collected and subjected to laboratory analysis to determine soil physical, chemical and mineralogical attributes and for measuring of MS. Data were submitted to descriptive statistics by calculating the mean and coefficient of variation. In order to compare the means in the different harvesting management systems it was carried out the Tukey test at a significance level of 5%. In order to investigate the correlation of the MS with other soil properties it was made the correlation test and aiming to assess how the MS contributes to the prediction of soil complex attributes it was made the multiple linear regressions. The results demonstrate that MS showed, in both sugarcane harvesting management systems, statistical correlation with chemical, physical and mineralogical soil attributes and it also showed potential to be used as pedotransfer function to predict attributes of the studied oxisol.

Relations between the yield of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and chemical attributes of an Acrustox under no-tillage

In crop year 2006/07, in Selviria, MS, Brazil, were analyzed the productivity of beans because of the chemical attributes of an Acrustox cultivated under conditions of high technological level of management by no-tillage irrigated with pivot central. The objective was to select, among the attributes studied soil, the one with the best representation to explain the variability of agricultural productivity. Geostatistical grid was installed to collect data from soil and plant, with 117 sampling points in an area of 2,025 m(2) and homogeneous slope of 0.055 m m(-1). From the standpoint of linear and spatial bean yield was respectively explained in terms of P and soil pH. So much for the values of phosphorus (P) in the intermediate layer and subsurface between 24-26 mg dm(-3), as well as for Hydrogen (pH) in the surface layer between 5.0 to 5.4, resulted in sites with the most high yield (2,160-2,665 kg ha(-1)).

Immunocastration improves carcass traits and beef color attributes in Nellore and Nellore x Aberdeen Angus crossbred animals finished in feedlot

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

Variabilidade espacial de atributos físicos de solos antropogênico e não antropogênico na região de Manicoré, AM

Better knowledge of the anthropogenic soils can help create future scenarios for the Amazon region through information that supports the sustainable planning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spatial variability of soil physical anthropogenic and not anthropogenic in the region of Manipur, AM. In the study area we selected two, one with no anthropogenic soils (native forest) and another with anthropogenic soils (black earth archaeological). In each area, we established a grid measuring 70 x 70 m and the soils were sampled at the points of intersection of the grid with regular spacing of 10 by 10 feet, making a total of 64 sampling points in each landscape. Soil samples were collected at a depth from 0.0 to 0.10 I did the analyzes physical (texture, bulk density, macroporosity, microporososidade, porosity and aggregate stability). Then, the data were subjected to descriptive statistics and geostatistics. It was found that the anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic soils showed different behaviors in relation ace their spatial structures. The spatial variability that prevailed in anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic soil was moderate and weak indicating that these soils are strongly linked to changes in the soil by extrinsic factors. The soil was observed anthropogenic best results for total porosity, microporosity and bulk density, showing superior characteristics compared for agronomic soil not anthropogenic. And the range of values found in the above two areas were used in the mesh, showing greater spatial continuity in these environments.

Spatial variability structure of soil CO2 emission and soil attributes in a sugarcane area

Soil CO2 emission (F-CO2) is influenced by chemical, physical and biological factors that affect the production of CO2 in the soil and its transport to the atmosphere. F-CO2 varies in time and space depending on environmental conditions, including the management of the agricultural area. The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial variability structure of F-CO2 and soil attributes in a mechanically harvested sugarcane area (green harvest) using fractal dimension (D-F) derived from isotropic variograms at different scales (fractograms). F-CO2 showed an overall average of 1.51 mu mol CO2 m(-2) s(-1) and correlated significantly (P < 0.05) with soil physical attributes, such as soil bulk density, air-filled pore space, macroporosity and microporosity. Topologically significant DF values were obtained from the characterization of F-CO2 at medium and large scales (above 20 m), with values of 2.92 and 2.90, respectively. The variations in D-F with scales indicate that the spatial variability structure of F-CO2 was similar to that observed for soil temperature and total pore volume and was the inverse of that observed for other soil attributes, such as soil moisture, soil bulk density, microporosity, air-filled pore space, silt and clay content, pH, available phosphorus and the sum of bases. Thus, the spatial variability structure of F-CO2 presented a significant relationship with the spatial variability structure for most soil attributes, indicating the possibility of using fractograms as a tool to better describe the spatial dependence of variables along the scale. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Spatial and Temporal Prediction Model of Corn Grain Yield as a Function of Soil Attributes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Soil microbiological attributes under summer/winter crops rotation in a no-tillage system

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

Sampling density and proportion for the characterization of the variability of Oxisol attributes on different materials

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

Effects on soil chemical attributes and cotton yield from ammonium sulfate and cover crops

Fertilizer use in no-till systems must be aligned with a correct interpretation of soil chemical attributes and crop demands. The objectives of this work were evaluate the effects of pre-sowing application of ammonium sulfate (AS) and of cover crops on the yields and soil chemical attributes of no-till cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. r. latifolium Hutch) over two harvesting years. The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design, with the plots in strips, and the variables were three cover crops (Raphanus sativus L., Avena strigosa L. and Avena sativa L.) and four AS doses (0, 150, 300, and 450 kg ha-1) applied over millet dry biomass. The cotton in the experimental plots was manually harvested on April 25, 2007 and April 24, 2008. The soil samples were collected between cotton rows in all plots on May 5, 2007 and May 12, 2008, at depths of 0.0-0.05, 0.05-0.10, and 0.10-0.20 m for soil fertility analyses. The increasing doses of AS induced lower soil pH, and calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) levels in the superficial soil layer, as well as higher exchangeable aluminum (Al) and sulfur (S) levels until a depth of 0.20 m. Seed cotton yields increased with increasing AS doses.

Changes in the phytoplankton structure downstream a large reservoir: effects of tributaries on the assemblages attributes

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

Soil physical and microbiological attributes cultivated with the common bean under two management systems

Agricultural management systems can alter the physical and biological soil quality, interfering with crop development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical and microbiological attributes of a Red Latosol, and its relationship to the biometric parameters of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), irrigated and grown under two management systems (conventional tillage and direct seeding), in Campinas in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The experimental design was of randomised blocks, with a split-plot arrangement for the management system and soil depth, analysed during the 2006/7 and 2007/8 harvest seasons, with 4 replications. The soil physical and microbiological attributes were evaluated at depths of 0.00-0.05, 0.05-0.10, 0.10-0.20 and 0.20-0.40 m. The following were determined for the crop: density, number of pods per plant, number of beans per pod, thousand seed weight, total weight of the shoots and harvest index. Direct seeding resulted in a lower soil physical quality at a depth of 0.00-0.05 m compared to conventional tillage, while the opposite occurred at a depth of 0.05-0.10 m. The direct seeding showed higher soil biological quality, mainly indicated by the microbial biomass nitrogen, basal respiration and metabolic quotient. The biometric parameters in the bean were higher under the direct seeding compared to conventional tillage.

Extrinsic factors affecting water absorption in chilling of broiler chicken carcasses

Brazil occupies an outstanding position as a producer and exporter of chicken meat, and the maintenance and expansion of this position require a constant evolution, especially in variables which determine quality. An important quality parameter of poultry meat is the amount of water absorbed by the carcass during processing. In Brazil, carcasses chilling is done by immersion in chilled water. In this process, the carcass is rehydrated and the water lost during transport and initial operations is replaced. At this stage, some care is needed to prevent the absorption of water upper than the level allowed by Brazilian law. This project aimed to evaluate extrinsic factors that can influence the absorption of water by the chicken meat. For this, 144 Cobb chickens divided into 24 groups of six birds were used. At 42 days of age, one chicken of each group, with weight ranging up to 10% more or less from the average of the group, was slaughtered in an experimental pilot scale abattoir where slaughter procedures were conducted under strictly controlled conditions. The chilling procedure was performed following a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement 3x2, where the factors were: three temperatures in the first section of the chilling system (4, 10 and 16ºC) and two degrees of water hardness (hard and soft water), with six treatments and four replications. Brazilian law provides that the water temperature in the first section of the chiller must not be higher than 16ºC, and the length of the carcasses in this section shall not exceed 30 minutes. All carcasses remained in the first section of the chiller for 30 minutes and then were transferred to another tank with water at 4ºC, remaining there until reaching 7ºC. The carcasses were weighed before and after chilling, to evaluate the percentage of water absorbed. The water absorption was influenced by the initial temperature of the water in the chiller and by the water hardness. When initially immersed in water at 4ºC, carcasses water absorption averaged 2.70%, a significantly lower absorption than the values found for the carcasses that were initially immersed in water at 16ºC, 3.83% (p<0.05). The carcasses immersed in water at 10ºC had mean water absorption of 3.66%, not differing from the means observed in the other two treatments (p>0.05). In hard water, the average water absorption was 2.46% and, in soft water, 4.33% (p<0.05). In all treatments, the water absorption did not exceed the limit established by Brazilian legislation, which is a maximum of 8%. This information is important to control the absorption of water by carcasses in chicken meat processing, preventing consumers from being harmed.

Phytogeographic retrospective in ecotonal areas guided by soil attributes

Re-establishing deforested ecosystems to pre-settlement vegetation is difficult, especially in ecotonal areas, due to lack of knowledge about the original physiognomy. Our objective was to use a soils database that included chemical and physical parameters to distinguish soil samples of forest from those of savannah sites in a municipality located in the southeastern Brazil region. Discriminant analysis (DA) was used to determine the original biome vegetation (forest or savannah) in ecotone regions that have been converted to pasture and are degraded. First, soils of pristine forest and savannah sites were tested, resulting in a reference database to compare to the degraded soils. Although the data presented, in general had a high level of similarity among the two biomes, some differences occurred that were sufficient for DA to distinguish the sites and classify the soil samples taken from grassy areas into forest or savannah. The soils from pastured areas presented quality worse than the soils of the pristine areas. Through DA analysis we observed that, from seven soil samples collected from grassy areas, five were most likely originally forest biome and two were savannah, ratified by a complementary cluster analysis carried out with the database of these samples. The model here proposed is pioneer. However, the users should keep in mind that using this technology, i.e., establishing a regional-level database of soil features, using soil samples collected both from pristine and degraded areas is critical for success of the project, especially because of the ecological and regional particularities of each biome.

Soil greenhouse gas emissions and their relations to soil attributes in a sugarcane area

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