Wheat yield and physical properties of a brown latosol under no-tillage in south-central Paraná

Soil management influences the chemical and physical properties of soil. Chemical conditions have been thoroughly studied, while the role of soil physical conditions regarding crop yield has been neglected. This study aimed to analyze the wheat yield and its relationship with physical properties of an Oxisol under no-tillage (NT). The study was carried out between 2010 and 2011, in Reserva do Iguaçu, State of Paraná, Brazil, on the Campo Bonito farm, after 25 years of NT management. Based on harvest maps of barley (2006), wheat (2007) and maize (2009) of a plot (150 ha), zones with higher and lower yield potential (Z1 and Z2, respectively) were identified. Sampling grids with 16 units (50 x 50 m) and three sampling points per unit were established. The wheat grain yield (GY) and water infiltration capacity (WIC) were evaluated in 2010. Soil samples with disturbed and undisturbed structure were collected from the 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m layers. The former were used to determine soil organic carbon (Corg) levels and the latter to determine soil bulk density (BD), total porosity (TP), macroporosity (Mac), and microporosity (Mic). Soil penetration resistance (PR) and water content (SWC) were also evaluated. The wheat GY of the whole plot was close to the regional average and the yield between the zones differed significantly, i.e. 22 % higher in Z1 than in Z2. No significant variation in Mic was observed between zones, but Z1 had higher Corg levels, SWC, TP and Mac and lower BD than Z2 in both soil layers, as well as a lower PR than Z2 in the 0.00-0.10 m layer. Therefore, soil physical conditions were more restrictive in Z2, in agreement with wheat yield and zone yield potential defined a priori, based on the harvest maps. Soil WIC in Z1 was significantly higher (30 %) than in Z2, in agreement with the results of TP and Mac which were also higher in Z1 in both soil layers. The correlation analysis of data of the two layers showed a positive relationship between wheat GY and the soil properties TP, SWC and WIC.

Atributos químicos do solo associados à produtividade do trigo em um talhão com diferentes potenciais produtivos

Potenciais produtivos distintos têm sido verificados entre talhões, bem como dentro desses, em áreas sob muitos anos de plantio direto (PD). Ferramentas de agricultura de precisão (AP) podem auxiliar a identificar tais diferenças, mas para manejar eficientemente a fertilidade do solo nessas condições a amostragem deve ser representativa. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a influência de atributos químicos do solo, conforme a camada ou profundidade de amostragem, na produtividade da cultura do trigo, em uma área sob PD de longa duração, utilizando zonas de um talhão com potenciais produtivos distintos. O estudo foi feito em Reserva do Iguaçu, PR, em área com 25 anos de PD e cinco anos de adoção de técnicas de AP. A partir de mapas de colheita anteriores, identificaram-se duas zonas, Z1 (alta produtividade) e Z2 (baixa produtividade), onde se estabeleceram malhas com 16 unidades amostrais. A produtividade do trigo foi estimada em três pontos por unidade, coletando-se amostras de solo de 0,0-0,1 e de 0,1-0,2 m nos mesmos pontos. A produtividade do trigo foi 22 % maior em Z1 do que em Z2, de acordo com os mapas de colheita utilizados. Os teores de carbono orgânico do solo (Corg) foram maiores em Z1, nas duas camadas do solo. Na camada de 0,1-0,2 m, a saturação (m%) e os teores de Al3+ foram significativamente maiores em Z2; nessa camada, Z1 apresentou maiores valores de pH e saturação por bases (V%) e teores de Ca2+, Mg2+ e K+. Houve correlação positiva da produtividade com os teores de Corg nas duas camadas do solo. Considerando somente a camada de 0,1-0,2 m, a correlação foi positiva com os valores de pH e V% e com a disponibilidade de Ca2+, Mg2+ e K+; e negativa, com a disponibilidade de Al3+. As diferenças na fertilidade do solo entre Z1 e Z2 se deram principalmente na camada de 0,1-0,2 m e foram associadas à diferença de produtividade do trigo, indicando ser importante a presença desse estrato na amostragem do solo em áreas de PD de longa duração, visando representar corretamente o estado de fertilidade do solo.

Soil fertility, nutrition and yield of maize and barley with gypsum application on soil surface in no-till

Annual crop yield and nutrition have shown differentiated responses to modifications in soil chemical properties brought about by gypsum application. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gypsum application rates on the chemical properties of a Latossolo Bruno (Clayey Oxisol), as well as on the nutrition and yield of a maize-barley succession under no-till. The experiment was set up in November 2009 in Guarapuava, Parana, Brazil, applying gypsum rates of 0.0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 Mg ha-1 to the soil surface upon sowing maize, with crop succession of barley. Gypsum application decreased the levels of Al3+ and Mg2+ in the 0.0-0.1 m layer and increased soil pH in the layers from 0.2-0.6 m depth. Gypsum application has increased the levels of Ca2+ in all soil layers up to 0.6 m, and the levels of S-SO4(2-) up to 0.8 m. In both crops, the leaf concentrations of Ca and S were increased while Mg concentrations have decreased as a function of gypsum rates. There was also an effect of gypsum rates on grain yield, with a quadratic response of maize and a linear increase for barley. Yield increases were up to 11 and 12 % in relation to control for the maximum technical efficiency (MTE) rates of 3.8 and 6.0 Mg ha-1 of gypsum, respectively. Gypsum application improved soil fertility in the profile, especially in the subsurface, as well as plant nutrition, increasing the yields of maize and barley.

EFFECT OF RICE STRAW AND NITRATE LEVELS IN SOIL SOLUTION ON NITROUS OXIDE EMISSION

Among the greenhouse gases, nitrous oxide (N2O) is considered important, in view of a global warming potential 296 times greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO2) and its dynamics strongly depend on the availability of C and mineral N in the soil. The understanding of the factors that define emissions is essential to develop mitigation strategies. This study evaluated the dynamics of N2O emissions after the application of different rice straw amounts and nitrate levels in soil solution. Pots containing soil treated with sodium nitrate rates (0, 50 and 100 g kg-1 of NO−3-N) and rice straw levels (0, 5 and 10 Mg ha-1), i.e., nine treatments, were subjected to anaerobic conditions. The results showed that N2O emissions were increased by the addition of greater NO−3 amounts and reduced by large straw quantities applied to the soil. On the 1st day after flooding (DAF), significantly different N2O emissions were observed between the treatments with and without NO−3 addition, when straw had no significant influence on N2O levels. Emissions peaked on the 4th DAF in the treatments with highest NO−3-N addition. At this moment, straw application negatively affected N2O emissions, probably due to NO−3 immobilization. There were also alterations in other soil electrochemical characteristics, e.g., higher straw levels raised the Fe, Mn and dissolved C contents. These results indicate that a lowering of NO−3 concentration in the soil and the increase of straw incorporation can decrease N2O emissions.

Do Rates and Splitting of Phosphogypsum Applications Influence the Soil and Annual Crops in a No-Tillage System?

ABSTRACT Applications of phosphogypsum (PG) provide nutrients to the soil and reduce Al3+ activity, favoring soil fertility and root growth, but allow Mg2+ mobilization through the soil profile, resulting in variations in the PG rate required to achieve the optimum crop yield. This study evaluated the effect of application rates and splitting of PG on soil fertility of a Typic Hapludox, as well as the influence on annual crops under no-tillage. Using a (4 × 3) + 1 factorial structure, the treatments consisted of four PG rates (3, 6, 9, and 12 Mg ha-1) and three split applications (P1 = 100 % in 2009; P2 = 50+50 % in 2009 and 2010; P3 = 33+33+33 % in 2009, 2010 and 2011), plus a control without PG. The soil was sampled six months after the last PG application, in stratified layers to a depth of 0.8 m. Corn, wheat and soybean were sown between November 2011 and December 2012, and leaf samples were collected for analysis when at least 50 % of the plants showed reproductive structures. The application of PG increased Ca2+ concentrations in all sampled soil layers and the soil pH between 0.2 and 0.8 m, and reduced the concentrations of Al3+ in all layers and of Mg2+ to a depth of 0.6 m, without any effect of splitting the applications. The soil Ca/Mg ratio increased linearly to a depth of 0.6 m with the rates and were found to be higher in the 0.0-0.1 m layer of the P2 and P3 treatments than without splitting (P1). Sulfur concentrations increased linearly by application rates to a depth of 0.8 m, decreasing in the order P3>P2>P1 to a depth of 0.4 m and were higher in the treatments P3 and P2 than P1 between 0.4-0.6 m, whereas no differences were observed in the 0.6-0.8 m layer. No effect was recorded for K, P and potential acidity (H+Al). The leaf Ca and S concentration increased, while Mg decreased for all crops treated with PG, and there was no effect of splitting the application. The yield response of corn to PG rates was quadratic, with the maximum technical efficiency achieved at 6.38 Mg ha-1 of PG, while wheat yield increased linearly in a growing season with a drought period. Soybean yield was not affected by the PG rate, and splitting had no effect on the yield of any of the crops. Phosphogypsum improved soil fertility in the profile, however, Mg2+ migrated downwards, regardless of application splitting. Splitting the PG application induced a higher Ca/Mg ratio in the 0.0-0.1 m layer and less S leaching, but did not affect the crop yield. The application rates had no effect on soybean yield, but were beneficial for corn and, especially, for wheat, which was affected by a drought period during growth.

Em busca de metodologias investigativas com as crianças e suas culturas

Este artigo apresenta reflexões sobre metodologias investigativas com as crianças e suas culturas, a partir do referencial da Sociologia da Infância. Este campo teórico considera as crianças como atores sociais que acionam estratégias de luta por meio das suas culturas de pares. Na produção acadêmica brasileira sobre as crianças e suas culturas, ainda não possuímos uma tradição de estudos que tratem das vozes das crianças por elas próprias. A questão motivou a organização deste texto em três sessões. Na primeira, refletimos sobre a ausência das crianças como protagonistas das pesquisas brasileiras e as influências de uma ciência androcêntrica, que nasce com a modernidade. Na segunda, apresentamos a etnografia das infâncias como possibilidade de contato e aceitação dos adultos nos grupos infantis para a compreensão das suas culturas de pares. Na terceira, levantamos algumas idéias acerca dos traços das culturas infantis como base teórica para a construção de outros modos de fazer pesquisa que articulem ciência e estética, razão e emoção, fantasia e realidade.