Potassium cycling in a corn-brachiaria cropping system

Growing corn mixed with forage crops can be an alternative for pasture and Mulch production during relatively dry winters in tropical areas, making no-till feasible in some regions. However, little is known about nutrient dynamics in this cropping system. The objective of the present work was to evaluate K dynamics in a production system in which corn was either grown as a sole crop or mixed with Brachiaria brizantha. In the second year of the experiment, nitrogen rates ranging from 0 to 200 kg ha(-1) were applied to the system. Dry matter yields and potassium contents in the soil, as well as residues and plants were determined at corn planting and harvest. Potassium balance in the system was calculated. Corn grain yield in mixed crop responded up to 200 kg ha(-1) N. The introduction of brachiaria in the system resulted in higher amounts of straw on the soil Surface and higher K recycling. Soil exchangeable K balance showed an excess K for both N rates only in the mixed system, however, when non-exchangeable K was also included in calculations, excess K was found in both mixed and sole corn systems. Large amounts of non-exchangeable K were taken up in the system involving brachiaria, which showed a considerable capacity in recycling K, increasing its contents in the surface soil layer. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Potassium Leaching as Affected by Soil Texture and Residual Fertilization in Tropical Soils

Potassium (K) leaching is affected by soil texture and available K, among other factors. In this experiment, effects of soil texture and K availability on K distribution were studied in the presence of roots, with no excess water. Soils from two 6-year field experiments on a sandy clay loam and a clay soil fertilized yearly with 0, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha-1 of K2O were accommodated in pots that received 90 kg ha-1 of K2O. Soybean was grown up to its full bloom (R2). Under field conditions, K leaching below the arable layer increased with K rates, but the effect was less noticeable in the clay soil. Potassium leaching in a sandy clay loam soil was related to soil K contents from prior fertilizations. With no excess water, in the presence of soybean roots, K distribution in the profile was significant in the lighter textured soil but was not apparent on the heavier textured soil.

Physiological quality of soybean and wheat seeds produced with alternative potassium sources

O uso de fontes não convencionais para fornecimento de K às plantas tem sido amplamente estudado, mas os efeitos de materiais alternativos na qualidade fisiológica das sementes não são conhecidos. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de soja e trigo em função da aplicação fontes de potássio em uma sucessão de culturas. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos constaram de três fontes de K (KCl, rocha alcalina e fonolito moído, com 58%, 11% e 8.42% de K2O, respectivamente) aplicados em quatro doses (0, 25, 50 e 100 kg K2O ha-1). As doses de potássio foram aplicadas na soja e seu efeito residual foi avaliado na cultura do trigo, cultivado em sucessão. Logo após a colheita, as sementes de soja e trigo foram avaliadas pelos testes de teor de água, massa de sementes, germinação, primeira contagem, condutividade elétrica, comprimento de plântulas e massa da matéria seca de plântulas. Plantas de soja adubadas com fontes alternativas para fornecimento de K produzem sementes com maior massa e menor permeabilidade de membranas comparado às com KCl; maior qualidade fisiológica de sementes de soja e massa de sementes de trigo são obtidas com maiores doses de K2O independente da fonte.

Growth and development of Mentha piperita L. in nutrient solution as affected by rates of potassium

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Net melon resistance to Didymella bryoniae according to grafting and potassium levels

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Phosphorus and potassium balance in soil under crop rotation and fertilization

The use of crop rotation and manure application can provide sustainability for an agricultural production system by improving soil quality and increasing nutrient use efficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mineral, organic and mineral+organic fertilization on grain yield and on soil phosphorus and potassium balance, in two crop systems under no-till, with and without rotation of cover crops. The experiment was carried out from 2006 to 2008 on a clayey Rhodic Hapludox in Marechal Candido Rondon, Parana State, Brazil. The cropping sequence in the rotation system involving cover crops was black oat + hairy vetch + forage turnip/corn/pigeon pea/wheat/mucuna + brachiaria + sunn hemp, and in the succession system was wheat/corn/wheat/soybean. Organic and mineral+organic fertilizations consisted of the application of solely manure and manure combined with mineral fertilizer, respectively. Soil P and K balances were calculated after the second year of the experiment, up to a depth of 0.40 m. First year corn yields were higher in the crop succession system accompanied by mineral fertilization. In the second year, wheat and soybean yield did not vary between crop systems and nutrient sources, demonstrating the residual effect of crop rotation and manure use. Crop rotation with cover crops resulted in an increase in soil K levels by promoting the recycling of this nutrient in the soil. In both crop systems, the application of mineral and organic fertilizers - either in isolation or in combination - resulted in a negative soil P and K balance in the short term. This represents a threat to the sustainability of the agricultural production system in the long term, due to the depletion of soil nutrient reserves.

Potassium supply to cotton roots as affected by potassium fertilization and liming

O algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum ) apresenta alta exigência de K e é muito sensível a baixo pH do solo. A maior parte do K chega às raízes das plantas por difusão no solo. Por existir interação do K com Ca e Mg, a calagem pode interferir no movimento do K no solo, afetando a nutrição da planta. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o efeito de calcário dolomítico e de 0, 15, 30, 45 e 60 g kg-1 de K no suprimento de potássio às raízes do algodoeiro. As plantas foram cultivadas por 40 dias em vasos de 5 L contendo um Latossolo Vermelho-Escuro (68% de areia e 16% de argila). Houve um acréscimo na produção de matéria seca e na acumulação de K em função da adubação potássica. A intercepção radicular do K do solo foi também aumentada pela aplicação de K, mas não foi afetada pela calagem. O fluxo de massa e a difusão foram aumentadas linearmente com a aplicação de K até 60 mg kg-1, nos vasos com calagem. em vasos sem calagem a quantidade de K atingindo as raízes por difusão aumentou até 45 mg kg-1, decrescendo com a dose máxima de potássio. do mesmo modo, mais K entrou em contato com as raízes por fluxo de massa com a maior dose do nutriente. Isto aconteceu porque havia mais raízes finas nos vasos sem calagem e com a dose máxima de potássio. Com a diminuição da distância média entre as raízes, houve maior competição entre elas, culminando com a diminuição do K difundido até as raízes do algodoeiro.

Development of an amperometric sensor for potassium ions

Hollandite-type manganese oxides are nanofibrous crystals with sub-nanometer open tunnels that provide a unique property for sensing applications. Sensor based on hollandite-type manganese oxide was investigated for amperometric detection of potassium. With an operating potential of +0.63 V versus SCE, potassium ions produce oxidation currents at the sensor, which can be exploited for quantitative determinations. The amperometric signals are linearly proportional to potassium ions concentration in the range 2.7 x 10(-4) to 9.1 x 10(-4) Mol l(-1) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9990. The construction and renewal are simple and inexpensive.

An Electrochemical Sensor Based on Nanostructured Hollandite-type Manganese Oxide for Detection of Potassium Ions

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Development of an electrochemical sensor for potassium ions based on KSr(2)Nb(5)O(15) modified electrode

In the work described by this paper, we studied the development of a selective potassium ion sensor constituted of a carbon paste electrode modified (CPEM) with a novel KSr(2)Nb(2)O(15). The material KSr(2)Nb(2)O(15) is an oxide with the tetragonal tungsten bronze structure (TTB) type are in forefront both in the area of research as well as in industrial applications. The sensor response to potassium ions was linear in the concentration range 1.26 x 10(-5) at 1.62 x 10(-3) mol L(-1) (E (mV) = 32.7 + 51.1 log [K(+)]). The sensor based KSr(2)Nb(2)O(15), of the TTB-type presented very good potentiometric response, with a slope of 51.1 mV/dec (at 25 degrees C) and detection limit for the potassium ions of 7.27 x 10(-5) mol.L(-1)

Changes in sodium, potassium-ATPase induced by repeated fencamfamine: the roles of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and the nitric oxide-cyclic GMP pathway

Fencamfamine (FCF) is an indirect dopamine agent with effects similar to amphetamine and cocaine. In the present study, we investigate changes in Na,K-ATPase, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and cyclic GMP levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and striatum (ST) of animals acutely or repeatedly treated with FCF (3.5 mg/kg). Na,K-ATPase had a similar activity in control and repeatedly treated animals, but was reduced in the NAc of the acute group. This enzyme was reduced in the ST in acute and repeatedly treated animals, compared to the control group. Expression of the alpha(1,2,3)-Na,K-ATPase isoforms in the NAc and the ST was not altered in all groups studied. Acute FCF induced a significant increase in PKA activity in both the ST and the NAc. Repeatedly treated animals showed a higher increase in PKA activity in the NAc, but not in the ST, when compared to the acute group. There was also an increase in both NOS activity and cyclic GMP levels only in the NAc of FCF repeatedly treated animals compared to the acute and control groups. We suggest that chronic FCF treatment is linked to a modification in Na,K-ATPase activity through the PKA and NO-cyclic GMP pathway. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Multivariate optimization and validation of an analytical methodology by RP-HPLC for the determination of losartan potassium in capsules

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Comparative study of analytical methods by direct and first-derivative UV spectrophotometry for evaluation of losartan potassium in capsules

O losartano potássico é um agente anti-hipertensivo não peptídico, que exerce sua ação por bloqueio específico dos receptores da angiotensina II. Este trabalho propôs a validação e aplicação de métodos analíticos orientados ao controle de qualidade de losartano potássico 50 mg na forma farmacêutica cápsula, utilizando a espectrofotometria direta e derivada de primeira ordem na região do UV. Baseado nas características espectrofotométricas de losartano potássico, um sinal a 205 nm do espectro de ordem zero e um sinal a 234 nm do espectro de primeira derivada foram adequados para a quantificação. Os resultados foram usados para comparar essas duas técnicas instrumentais. O coeficiente de correlação entre as respostas e as concentrações de losartano potássico na faixa de 3,0-7,0 mg L-1 e 6,0-14,0 mg L-1 para espectrofotometria direta e derivada de primeira ordem em solução aquosa, respectivamente, foi de (r) of 0,9999 para ambos os casos. Os métodos foram aplicados para quantificação de losartano potássico em cápsulas obtidas de farmácias de manipulação locais e demonstraram ser eficientes, fáceis de aplicar e de baixo custo. Além disso, não necessitam de reagentes poluentes e requerem equipamentos economicamente viáveis.

Participation of alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenoceptors of the lateral hypothalamic area in water intake, and renal sodium, potassium and urinary Volume excretion induced by central administration of angiotensin II

The circumventricular structures and the lateral hypothalamus (LH) have been shown to be important for the central action of angiotensin II (ANGII) on water and electrolyte regulation. Several anatomical findings have demonstrated neural connection between circumventricular structures and the LH, the present experiments were conducted to investigate the role of the alpha-adrenergic antagonists and agonistic injected into the LH on the water intake, sodium and potassium excretion elicited by injections of ANGII into the lateral ventricle (LV), the water intake was measured every 30 min over a period of 120 min. The sodium, potassium and urinary volume were measured over a period of 120 min in water-loaded rats. The injection of ANGII into the LV increased the water intake, which was reduced by previous injection of clonidine (an alpha-2-adrenergic agonist) into the LH. The injection of yohimbine (an alpha-2-adrenergic antagonist) and prazosin (an alpha-l-adrenergic antagonist) into the LH, which was done before injecting ANGII into the LV, also reduced the water intake induced by ANGII. The injection of ANGII into the LV reduced the sodium, potassium and urinary volume. Previous treatment with clonidine attenuated the action of ANGII in reducing the sodium, potassium and urinary volume, whereas previous treatment with yohimbine attenuated the effects of ANGII but with less intensity than that caused by clonidine. Previous treatment with prazosin increased the inhibitory effects of ANGII in those parameters. The injection of yohimbine and prazosin, which was done before the injection of clonidine, attenuated the effect of clonidine on the ANGII mechanism. The results of this study led us to postulate that when alpha-2-adrenergic receptors are blocked, the clonidine may act on the imidazoline receptors to produce its effects on the ANGII mechanism. We may also conclude that the LH is involved with circumventricular structures, which present excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms. Such mechanisms are responsible for regulating the renal excretion of sodium, potassium and water, (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V.