Mitigation of N2O emissions from grassland by nitrification inhibitor and actilith F2 applied with fertilizer and cattle slurry

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is involved in both ozone destruction and global warming. In agricultural soils it is produced by nitrification and denitrification mainly after fertilization. Nitrification inhibitors have been proposed as one of the management tools for the reduction of the potential hazards of fertilizer-derived N2O. Addition of nitrification inhibitors to fertilizers maintains soil N in ammonium form, thereby gaseous N losses by nitrification and denitrification are less likely to occur and there is increased N utilization by the sward. We present a study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) and of the slurry additive Actilith F2 on N2O emissions following application of calcium ammonium nitrate or cattle slurry to a mixed clover/ryegrass sward in the Basque Country. The results indicate that large differences in N2O emission occur depending on fertilizer type and the presence or absence of a nitrification inhibitor. There is considerable scope for immediate reduction of emissions by applying DCD with calcium ammonium nitrate or cattle slurry. DCD, applied at 25 kg ha-1, reduced the amount of N lost as N2O by 60% and 42% when applied with cattle slurry and calcium ammonium nitrate, respectively. Actilith F2 did not reduce N2O emissions and it produced a long lasting mineralization of previously immobilized added N.

Effects of hand weeding strip and nitrogen fertilizer on corn plants

The objective of the present research was to evaluate effects of different strip weed control associated with nitrogen fertilizer on corn applied after planting. The experiment was set and conducted in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, and the hybrid planted was Dekalb 333-B. A completely randomized block design with four replications was used. Experimental plots were disposed as a factorial scheme 2 x 2 x 4, constituted by two types of weeding on row (with or without manual hoeing), two types of weeding on inter-row (with or without manual hoeing), and four nitrogen levels applied after planting (00, 60, 90, and 120 kg ha-1). Plots were composed by six rows with 5 m length. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied at 35 days after emergence (d.a.e). For weed community it was evaluated: weed density, dominancy, frequency, and relative importance. The main weed species were: Brachiaria plantiginea, Amaranthus retroflexus, Bidens pilosa, Cyperus rotunds, Brachiaria decumbens, Euphorbia heterofila, Oxalis latifolia, Acanthospermum hispidum, Commelina benghalensis. It was evaluated corn height at 40 and 100 d.a.e., first ear insertion height at 100 d.a.e., and final grain yield at harvesting. Plants and first ear insertion height were affected when nitrogen fertilizer was not applied. Treatments without weed control showed that weed interfered negatively with plants height. There were no correlation between weeds and nitrogen fertilizer for all parameters evaluated. Parcels without weed showed the highest ear weights and final grain production. Treatments that received nitrogen fertilizer, independently of studied arrangement, provided higher yields.

Calcium silicate and organic mineral fertilizer applications reduce phytophagy by Thrips palmi Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on eggplants (Solanum melongena L.)

Thrips palmi Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a phytophagous insect associated with the reduction of eggplant productivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of calcium silicate and/or an organic mineral fertilizer, together or separately, in increasing the resistance of eggplants to T. palmi. The treatments were calcium silicate, organic mineral fertilizer, calcium silicate associated with this fertilizer and the control. Mortality and number of lesions caused by nymphs of this insect on eggplant leaves were evaluated after 3, 6, 9 and 12 leaf applications of these products. The calcium silicate and the organic mineral fertilizer reduced both the population of T. palmi and the damage caused by its nymphs, suggesting a possible increase in eggplant resistance to this pest as a result of the treatments.

Theoretical and experimental evaluation of the influence of the length of drill rods in the SPT-T test

The influence of soil drill rod length on the N value in the SPT-T test has been studied extensively by Mello (1971), Schmertmann & Palacios (1979), Odebrecht et al. (2002) and Cavalcante (2002). This paper presents an analysis of the Standard Penetration Test supplemented with torque measurement (SPT-T). A theoretical study of the resistance of the rod material to torsion and bending indicated that the shear stress caused by the rod self-weight represents less than 1% of that caused by the torsional moment. An experimental study with electric torquemeters attached to a horizontal rod system, as well as two field tests in the vertical direction, were also carried out to compare and substantiate the results. The purpose of these tests was to analyze changes along the length of the rod in response to successive increments at 1-meter intervals. Torque measurements were taken at each increment of the length to ascertain the accuracy of the theoretical data. The difference between the applied torque and the measured torque at the end of rod system was lower than the minimum scale of mechanical torquemeters used in practice.

Avaliação de hastes sulcadoras na mobilização do solo em semeadura direta do milho

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Desempenho de semeadoras-adubadoras de milho (Zea mays L.) em sistema de plantio direto

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

Mobilização do solo e desempenho operacional de semeadora-adubadora com dois tipos de hastes sulcadoras em plantio direto de milho

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Densidade de semeadura da soja e profundidade de deposição do adubo no sistema plantio direto

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Sistema plantio direto: população de plantas de milho e velocidade de semeadura em consórcio com braquiárias

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Mecanismos de distribuição do fertilizante e adubação nitrogenada em cobertura no arroz de terras altas em plantio direto

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Root system and root and stem base organic reserves of pasture Tanzania grass fertilizer with nitrogen under grazing

The goal of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) and of total nitrogen (N), as well as, to evaluate the root system in Tanzania-grass pastures fertilized with doses of urea in fall, spring and summer. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of Iguatemi, Maringa, Parana, Brazil, from March 2007 to March 2008. The experimental design was complete random blocks with subplots and four repetitions. The plots showed doses of N (50, 100 e 150 kg ha(-1) of N) plus the control (no N fertilization), and the subplots the season of the year. Root samples were taken at depths of 0-10, 10-20 and 20-40 cm. Root biomass showed a trend for mass accumulation up to a dosage of 100 kg ha(-1) for all seasons evaluated. Also, about 80% of the root system of Tanzaniagrass plants was found on the 0-10 cm layer for all dosages of N. Nitrogen fertilizer above 100 kg ha(-1) may foster fast forage plant growth reducing its NSC root storage capacity although favoring NSC and total N storage at stem base. NSC and total N concentrations were highest in fall, demonstrating that its usage is greater in spring due to the weather conditions being favorable to plant growth. In the regrowth, the largest reserve of total N was at the 0-10 cm root layer and the largest NSC reserve is at stem base.

Influence of Implant Drill Materials on Wear, Deformation, and Roughness After Repeated Drilling and Sterilization

Purpose:The aim of this study was to evaluate deformation, roughness, and mass loss of stainless steel, diamond-like carbon (DLC)-coated and zirconia drills after multiple osteotomies with sterilization procedures.Materials and Methods:Drilling procedures were performed using stainless steel (G1), DLC-coated (G2), and zirconia (G3) drills. All groups were divided in subgroups 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, corresponded to drills used 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 times, respectively.Results:No significant differences in mass and roughness were detected among all groups and subgroups. In SEM images, all groups revealed signs of wear while coating delamination was detected in G2. Drills from G1 displayed more irregular surface, whereas cutting edges were more regular in G3.Conclusion:Zirconia drills presented more regular surfaces whereas stainless steel drills revealed more severe signs of wear. Further studies must be performed to evaluate the putative influence of these findings in heat generation.

Evaluation of Bone Heating, Drill Deformation, and Drill Roughness After Implant Osteotomy: Guided Surgery and Classic Drilling Procedure

Purpose: This study evaluated and compared bone heating, drill deformation, and drill roughness after several implant osteotomies in the guided surgery technique and the classic drilling procedure. Materials and Methods: The tibias of 20 rabbits were used. The animals were divided into a guided surgery group (GG) and a control group (CG); subgroups were then designated (G0, G1, G2, G3, and G4, corresponding to drills used 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 times, respectively). Each animal received 10 sequential osteotomies (5 in each tibia) with each technique. Thermal changes were quantified, drill roughness was measured, and the drills were subjected to scanning electron microscopy. Results: Bone temperature generated by drilling was significantly higher in the GG than in the CG. Drill deformation in the GG and CG increased with drill use, and in the CG a significant difference between GO and groups G3 and G4 was observed. In the GG, a significant difference between GO and all other groups was found. For GG versus CG, a significant difference was found in the 40th osteotomy. Drill roughness in both groups was progressive in accordance with increased use, but there was no statistically significant difference between subgroups or between GG and CG overall. Conclusion: During preparation of implant osteotomies, the guided surgery technique generated a higher bone temperature and deformed drills more than the classic drilling procedure. The increase in tissue temperature was directly proportional to the number of times drills were used, but neither technique generated critical necrosis-inducing temperatures. Drill deformation was directly proportional to the number of times the drills were used. The roughness of the drills was directly proportional to the number of reuses in both groups but tended to be higher in the GG group.

Growth and flowering of miltonia flavescens lindl. var. stellata regel orchid under different doses of a slow release fertilizer

The Orchidaceae is one of the most numerous and diversified families in the Plant Kingdom. Miltonia flavescens Lindl. is a native orchid to the southern region of Brazil. Studies related to the nutrition and fertilization of orchids are scarce, specific and existent only for few species. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different doses of a slow release fertilizer (Osmocote (R) 9/15/12 + micro) on the development of M. flavescens var. stellata Regel cultivated in pots with pine bark and coconut fiber (1:1, v:v) as the substrate. The treatments consisted of: no fertilizer application (control), application of 2.5 g, 5 g and 10 g of fertilizer per liter of substrate. The experimental design was set in randomized blocks, with five replications and three plants per plot. The experiment was carried out along 25 months and the fertilizer was applied every five months. The evaluated plant parameters were: length of the longest pseudobulb, number of pseudobulbs, diameter of pseudobulbs, number of shoots, number of leaves and flowering. There was a significant increment on all evaluated characteristics with the increase of the fertilizer dose. The highest dose provided a more profuse flowering, with a larger number of flower stems and flowers, in addition to bigger flower stems and flowers. These results show that the supply of nutrients in an appropriate amount is of a great importance for the development and flowering of M. flavescens.

Soil phosphorus availability and soybean response to phosphorus starter fertilizer

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