Available content, surface runoff and leaching of phosphorus forms in a typic hapludalf treated with organic and mineral nutrient sources

The application of animal manure to soil can increase phosphorus availability to plants and enhance transfer of the nutrient solution drained from the soil surface or leached into the soil profile. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of successive applications of organic and mineral nutrient sources on the available content, surface runoff and leaching of P forms in a Typic Hapludalf in no-tillage systems. Experiment 1 was set up in 2004 in the experimental area of UFSM, in Santa Maria (RS, Brazil). The treatments consisted of: control (without nutrient application) and application of pig slurry (PS), pig deep-litter (PL), cattle slurry (CS), and mineral fertilizers (NPK). The rates were determined to meet the N crop requirements of no-tillage black oat and maize, grown in the 2010/2011 growing season. The soil solution was collected after each event (rain + runoff or leaching) and the soluble, particulate and total P contents were measured. In November 2008, soil was collected in 2 cm intervals to a depth of 20 cm, in 5 cm intervals to a depth of 40 cm, and in 10 cm intervals to a depth of 70 cm. The soil was dried and ground, and P determined after extraction by anion exchange resin (AER). In experiment 2, samples collected from the Typic Hapludalf near experiment 1 were incubated for 20, 35, 58, 73 and 123 days after applying the following treatments: soil, soil + PS, soil + PL, soil + CS and soil + NPK. Thereafter, the soil was sampled and P was analyzed by AER. The applications of nutrient sources over the years led to an increase in available P and its migration in the soil profile. This led to P transfer via surface runoff and leaching, with the largest transfer being observed in PS and PL treatments, in which most P was applied. The soil available P and P transfer via surface runoff were correlated with the amounts applied, regardless of the P source. However, P transfer by leaching was not correlated with the applied nutrient amount, but rather with the solution amount leached in the soil profile.

Nutrição e produtividade da nogueira-macadâmia em razão do parcelamento da adubação mineral

A disponibilidade de nutrientes durante o ano pode influenciar o desempenho da nogueira-macadâmia (Macadamia integrifolia). Contudo, não existem informações sobre a resposta dessa cultura ao parcelamento da adubação nas condições brasileiras. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência do parcelamento da adubação mineral na nutrição, produtividade e qualidade de frutos da nogueira-macadâmia. O experimento foi conduzido, durante três anos agrícolas, num Latossolo Vermelho, em Jaboticabal, SP. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados, com cinco repetições. O experimento foi constituído por quatro formas de parcelamento da adubação NPK (T1 - uma única aplicação, em outubro; T2 - duas aplicações, em outubro e dezembro; T3 - três aplicações, em outubro, dezembro e fevereiro; e T4 - quatro aplicações, em outubro, dezembro, fevereiro e abril). O parcelamento da adubação NPK proporcionou maiores teores de N nas folhas que a aplicação em dose única, mas não interferiu nos teores dos demais nutrientes. A produtividade da nogueira-macadâmia foi incrementada de forma similar com o parcelamento da adubação NPK em duas, três ou quatro vezes, entre outubro e abril, em comparação à aplicação única em outubro. A taxa de recuperação de amêndoas não foi interferida pelo parcelamento da adubação NPK.

Nitrogen fertilization (15NH4NO3) of palisadegrass and residual effect on subsequent no-tillage corn

Nitrogen is required in large amounts by plants and their dinamics in corn and perennial forages intercropped is little known. This study analyzed the efficiency of nitrogen fertilization (15NH4NO3) applied after corn grain harvest to palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) in intercrops sown at two times, as well as the N residual effect on the subsequent corn crop. The field experiment was performed in Botucatu, São Paulo State, in southeastern Brazil, on a structured Alfisol under no-tillage. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design in a split plot scheme with four replications. The main plots consisted of two intercropping systems (corn and palisadegrass sown together and palisadegrass sown later, at corn top-dressing fertilization). The subplots consisted of four N rates (0, 30, 60, and 120 kg ha-1 N). The subplots contained microplots, in which enriched ammonium nitrate (15NH4NO3) was applied at the same rates. The time of intercrop sowing affected forage dry matter production, the amount of fertilizer-derived N in and the N use efficiency by the forage plants. Nitrogen applied in autumn to palisadegrass intercropped with corn, planted either at corn sowing or at N top-dressing fertilization, increased the forage yield up to a rate of 60 kg ha-1. The amount of fertilizer-derived N by the forage plants and the fertilizer use efficiency by palisadegrass were highest 160 days after fertilization for both intercrop sowing times, regardless of N rates. Residual N did not affect the N nutrition of corn plants grown in succession to palisadegrass, but increased grain yield at rates of 60 and 120 kg ha-1 N, when corn was grown on palisadegrass straw from the intercrop installed at corn fertilization (top-dressing). Our results indicated that the earlier intercropping allowed higher forage dry matter production. On the other hand, the later intercrop allowed a higher corn grain yield in succession to N-fertilized palisadegrass.

Effect of potassium fertilization on yield and nutrition of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis)

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is a tree species native to the subtropical regions of South America, and is found in Brazil predominantly in the southern region. Despite the historical importance in this region, so far, studies on crop nutrition to improve yields are scarce. Thus, this study evaluated the effect of potassium rates on K soil availability, and the yield and nutritional status of yerba mate. The experiment was conducted in São Mateus do Sul, State of Paraná, on a Humox soil, where K2O rates of 0, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 kg ha-1 were tested on 7-year-old plantations. The experiment was harvested 24 months after installation by removing approximately 95 % of the canopy that had sprouted from the previous harvest. The soil was evaluated for K availability in the layers 0-10, 0-20, 10-20, and 20-40 cm. The plant parts leaf fresh matter (LM), twigs (TW), thick branches (BR) and commercial yerba mate (COYM), i.e., LM+TW, were analyzed. In addition, the relationship between fresh matter/dry matter (FM/DM) and K concentration in LM, AG and BR were evaluated. The fertilization increased K availability in all evaluated soil layers, indicating good mobility of the nutrient even at low rates. Yerba mate responded positively to increasing K2O rates with higher yields of all harvested components. The crop proved K-demanding, with a maximum COYM yield of 28.5 t ha-1, when 72 mg dm-3 K was available in the 0-20 cm layer. Yerba mate in the plant production stage requires soil K availability at medium to high level; in clayey soil with low K availability, a rate of 300 kg ha-1 K2O should be applied at 24 month intervals to obtain high yields. A leaf K concentration of 16.0 g ha-1 is suitable for yerba mate in the growth stage.

Effect of rock powder and vinasse on two types of soils

Can vinasse accelerate the change of minerals in rock dust to obtain fertilizers, using residues from alcohol agro-industries and mining? Answering this question was the main objective of this study. Therefore, an experiment was set up in the laboratory in a completely randomized design using Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) columns, in which the 0-50 cm layers of a clayey soil (eutroferric Red Oxisol) and sandy soil (Typic Quartzipsamment) were reproduced. We applied three different rates of basalt powder (0.0; 2.0, and 4.0 t ha-1) and one rate of vinasse (200 m³ ha-1) to the soils. The control was made by treatments with water (200 m³ ha-1) with the same rates of rock powder. Samples were first collected on the surface of each column (1, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 days after the application of vinasse and rock powder), and, at the end of the experiment, at the various depths and in leached water, to determine pH and the concentration of soluble Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+. There was a significant effect of the solvent and the soil on the surface layer, with higher concentrations found in the treatments with vinasse and in clayey soil, confirming the potential of vinasse to alter minerals in basalt powder. The resulting levels from the beginning to the end of the experiment suggest that sorption phenomena with neoformed mineral phases or organic acids may have occurred. It may be concluded that the use of rock powder and vinasse mixtures is a promising alternative for soil fertilization and recycling of waste from the sugarcane and mining industries.

SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND GROWTH OF SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS L.) AS AFFECTED BY THE APPLICATION OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS AND INOCULATION WITH ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI

The use of organic fertilizers and the inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi in the cultivation of oil crops is essential to reduce production costs and minimize negative impacts on natural resources. A field experiment was conducted in an Argissolo Amarelo (Ultisol) with the aim of evaluating the effects of fertilizer application and inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth attributes of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and on soil chemical properties. The experiment was conducted at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, using a randomized block design with three replicates in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement consisting of four treatments in regard to application of organic fertilizer (liquid biofertilizer, cow urine, mineral fertilizer, and unfertilized control) and two treatments in regard to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (with and without mycorrhizal fungi). The results showed that the physiological attributes of relative growth rate and leaf weight ratio were positively influenced by fertilization, compared to the control treatment, likely brought about by the supply of nutrients from the fertilizers applied. The growth and productivity attributes were positively affected by mycorrhization.

PHYTOAVAILABILITY OF COPPER IN INDUSTRIAL BY-PRODUCTS AND MINERAL FERTILIZERS

Alternative copper (Cu) sources could be used in fertilizer production, although the bioavailability of copper in these materials is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the extractants neutral ammonium citrate (NAC), 2 % citric acid, 1 % acetic acid, 10 % HCl, 10 % H2SO4, buffer solution pH 6.0, DTPA, EDTA, water, and hot water in the quantification of available Cu content in several sources, relating them to the relative agronomic efficiency (RAE) of wheat grown in a clayey Latossolo Vermelho eutrófico (Oxisol) and Neossolo Quartzarênico (Typic Quartzipsamment). Copper was applied at the rate of 1.5 mg kg-1 as scrap slag, brass slag, Cu ore, granulated copper, and copper sulfate. The extractants 10 % HCl, 10 % H2SO4, and NAC extracted higher Cu concentrations. The RAE values of brass slag and Cu ore were similar to or higher than those of Cu sulfate and granulated Cu. Solubility in the 2nd NAC extractant, officially required for mineral fertilizers with Cu, was lower than 60 % for the scrap slag, Cu ore, and granulated copper sources. This fact indicates that adoption of the NAC extractant may be ineffective for industrial by-products, although no extractant was more efficient in predicting Cu availability for wheat fertilized with the Cu sources tested.

Resposta do Feijoeiro Comum à Inoculação com Rizóbio e Suplementação com Nitrogênio Mineral em Dois Biomas Brasileiros

O feijoeiro comum (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) pode se beneficiar da fixação biológica de N2, mas respostas inconsistentes da cultura à inoculação com rizóbio indicam a necessidade de aplicação de N mineral complementar. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a resposta do feijoeiro à inoculação com rizóbio, associada à suplementação com N mineral, nos biomas Cerrado e Mata Atlântica. Foram conduzidos quatro experimentos de campo, dois em Santo Antônio de Goiás, GO, um em Valença, RJ e um em Macaé, RJ, onde a inoculação com estirpes comerciais de rizóbio foi comparada à inoculação com a estirpe BR 923 de Sinorhizobium sp., à adubação com N mineral e à suplementação com N na semeadura e em cobertura. A avaliação da população nativa de rizóbio indicou 105 células g-1 no solo na área experimental em Goiás, anteriormente cultivada com feijão, e 102células g-1 em Valença, anteriormente mantida com pastagem. Nos dois experimentos em Goiás, o rendimento de grãos, da ordem de 2.100 kg ha-1, não diferiu entre os tratamentos testemunha absoluta, inoculação com rizóbio ou aplicação de 120 kg ha-1 de N. Em Valença, a inoculação com estirpes comerciais forneceu rendimentos da cultivar Ouro Negro superiores à testemunha absoluta, na ausência de adubação de cobertura; na presença de 40 kg ha-1 de N em cobertura, a inoculação com rizóbio proporcionou rendimento de 3.420 kg ha-1, superior aos demais tratamentos. Na média das diferentes fontes de N na semeadura, a adubação de cobertura aumentou a produção de grãos de 2.367 para 2.542 kg ha-1. Em Macaé, em solo com alto teor de matéria orgânica, os maiores rendimentos foram obtidos com inoculação das estirpes comerciais associada a 40 kg ha-1 de N em cobertura, com efeito deletério da adubação de 80 kg ha-1 de N no plantio. Concluiu-se que em áreas sem cultivo prévio de feijão, a inoculação com estirpes comerciais de rizóbio aumentou o rendimento de grãos, em particular quando associada à adubação de cobertura com N.

RESERVA MINERAL DE K POR DIFERENTES MÉTODOS EM ARGISSOLOS SUBTROPICAIS

A integração de métodos químicos de extração e a difração de raios-X podem ampliar o entendimento das formas de reserva de K+ nas frações do solo e o seu potencial de liberação para as plantas. Os objetivos deste estudo foram empregar os métodos de extração química para estimar a reserva mineral de K+ das frações areia, silte e argila de solos subtropicais, associar os mecanismos de extração com as formas liberadas do nutriente e acompanhar a dinâmica dessa liberação em estudo de cinética. As frações areia, silte e argila dos horizontes A e Bt de três Argissolos subtropicais foram submetidas à extração de formas não trocáveis e estruturais de K+pelos métodos: ácido oxálico 0,01 mol L-1 (cinética de liberação até o tempo acumulado de 2.889 h); HNO3 1 mol L-1 fervente; NaHSO4 na forma de cristais; e HNO3/HF/H2SO4 concentrados (teores totais). A fração argila também foi submetida a tratamento com NaOH 5 mol L-1. As esmectitas dioctaedrais na fração argila foram consideradas importantes na dinâmica de liberação de formas de reserva de K+. A maior e menor liberação de formas não trocáveis e estruturais de K+ foram pela extração com NaHSO4 e pelo ataque ácido com HNO3, respectivamente. Com os dados da cinética de liberação de K+ é possível concluir que as plantas cultivadas, nos Argissolos estudados, no longo dos anos nos solos estariam bem nutridas a partir de formas não trocáveis e estruturais de K+.

DESEMPENHO AGRONÔMICO DO MILHO EM RAZÃO DO TRATAMENTO DE SEMENTES COMAZOSPIRILLUMSP. E DA APLICAÇÃO DE DOSES DE NITROGÊNIO MINERAL

A utilização de bactérias diazotróficas pode auxiliar a alcançar maiores produtividades e reduzir os impactos ambientais decorrentes da utilização de fertilizantes nitrogenados. Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do tratamento de sementes com bactérias do gêneroAzospirillum e da aplicação de doses de N mineral sobre o desempenho agronômico do milho em diferentes níveis de manejo. O experimento foi conduzido no campo, na cidade de Lages, SC, durante os anos agrícolas de 2011/2012 e 2012/2013. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso dispostos em parcelas subsubdivididas. Na parcela principal, foram testados dois níveis de manejo, o médio, expectativa de produtividade de 8.000 kg ha-1; e o alto, expectativa de produtividade de 18.000 kg ha-1. Nas subparcelas, testaram-se quatro doses de N, equivalentes a 0; 0,5; 1; e 1,5 vez a dose recomendada pela Comissão Sul Brasileira de Química e Fertilidade do Solo para atingir a expectativa de produtividade prevista em cada nível de manejo. Nas subsubparcelas, avaliou-se o efeito do tratamento de sementes com Azospirillumsp. O rendimento de grãos variou de 8.344 a 16.947 kg ha-1 no nível de manejo alto e aumentou quadraticamente com o aumento das doses de N, tanto nas parcelas inoculadas quanto nas não inoculadas. No nível de manejo médio, os rendimentos oscilaram entre 5.986 e 9.684 kg ha-1, aumentaram linearmente com o incremento na dose de N nos tratamentos inoculados e não foram influenciados pela aplicação de N mineral nos tratamentos sem inoculação. Nos dois sistemas de manejo, a eficiência de uso do N diminuiu com o incremento na dose de N, tanto nas parcelas inoculadas quanto nas não inoculadas. Não houve diferenças significativas no rendimento de grãos dos tratamentos com e sem inoculação, independentemente do sistema de manejo e da dose de N. Portanto, o tratamento de sementes com Azospirillumsp. não melhorou o desempenho agronômico do milho.

ORGANIC CARBON CONTENTS AND STOCKS IN PARTICLE SIZE FRACTIONS OF A TYPIC HAPLUDOX FERTILIZED WITH PIG SLURRY AND SOLUBLE FERTILIZER

The use of pig slurry (PS) as fertilizer can affect the soil quality and increase total stocks of soil organic carbon (TOC). However, the effects of PS on TOC amount and forms in the soil are not fully understood, particularly in areas under no-tillage (NT). The purpose of this study was to determine TOC contents and stocks in the particulate (POC) and mineral-associated C fractions (MAC) of an Oxisol after nine years of maize-oat rotation under NT, with annual applications of PS, soluble fertilizer and combined fertilization (pig slurry + soluble fertilizer). The experiment was initiated in 2001 in Campos Novos, Santa Catarina, with the following treatments: PS at rates of 0 (without fertilization - PS0); 25 (PS25); 50 (PS50); 100 (PS100); and 200 m3 ha-1yr-1 (PS200); fertilization with soluble fertilizer (SF); and mixed fertilization (PS + SF). The TOC content was determined in samples of six soil layers to a depth of 40 cm, and the POC and MAC contents in four layers to a depth of 20 cm. From the rate of 50 m3 ha-1yr-1 and upwards, the soil TOC content and stock increased according to the PS rates in the layers to a depth of 10 cm. The POC and MAC contents and stocks were higher in the surface layers, with a clear predominance of the second fraction, but a greater relative amplitude in the contents of the first fraction.

SOIL PHOSPHORUS THRESHOLDS IN EVALUATING RISK OF ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSFER TO SURFACE WATERS IN SANTA CATARINA, BRAZIL

The State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, has agricultural and livestock activities, such as pig farming, that are responsible for adding large amounts of phosphorus (P) to soils. However, a method is required to evaluate the environmental risk of these high soil P levels. One possible method for evaluating the environmental risk of P fertilization, whether organic or mineral, is to establish threshold levels of soil available P, measured by Mehlich-1 extractions, below which there is not a high risk of P transfer from the soil to surface waters. However, the Mehlich-1 extractant is sensitive to soil clay content, and that factor should be considered when establishing such P-thresholds. The objective of this study was to determine P-thresholds using the Mehlich-1 extractant for soils with different clay contents in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Soil from the B-horizon of an Oxisol with 800 g kg-1 clay was mixed with different amounts of sand to prepare artificial soils with 200, 400, 600, and 800 g kg-1 clay. The artificial soils were incubated for 30 days with moisture content at 80 % of field capacity to stabilize their physicochemical properties, followed by additional incubation for 30 days after liming to raise the pH(H2O) to 6.0. Soil P sorption curves were produced, and the maximum sorption (Pmax) was determined using the Langmuir model for each soil texture evaluated. Based on the Pmax values, seven rates of P were added to four replicates of each soil, and incubated for 20 days more. Following incubation, available P contents (P-Mehlich-1) and P dissolved in the soil solution (P-water) were determined. A change-point value (the P-Mehlich-1 value above which P-water starts increasing sharply) was calculated through the use of segmented equations. The maximum level of P that a soil might safely adsorb (P-threshold) was defined as 80 % of the change-point value to maintain a margin for environmental safety. The P-threshold value, in mg dm-3, was dependent on the soil clay content according to the model P-threshold = 40 + Clay, where the soil clay content is expressed as a percentage. The model was tested in 82 diverse soil samples from the State of Santa Catarina and was able to distinguish samples with high and low environmental risk.

Effect of Nitrogen and Potassium Rates on Early Development of Macaw Palm

ABSTRACT The economic exploitation of macaw palm [Acrocomia aculeate(Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.] is currently in transition, from extractivism to agricultural cultivation, thus requiring studies on the fertilization of the crop. This study evaluated the response of three genotypes of macaw palm to increasing rates of nitrogen and potassium, grown in the field until the 2nd year and to establish reference contents of mineral nutrients in the leaf. The experiment was a split-plot randomized block design with five main treatments (N and K rates) and three secondary treatments (genotypes), with three replications, each plot containing three plants. Plant height, leaf number, vigor, and nutrient contents in leaf tissues were evaluated at the end of 2nd year of cultivation. Differential responses were observed among genotypes, indicating that some genotypes are more efficient in the use of mineral inputs. There was a differentiated and positive response to increasing side-dressed N and K rates in the vegetative development of macaw genotypes until the 2nd year of field cultivation, indicating variability in the species in terms of nutrient use efficiency. The N and K fertilization rate corresponding to 360 g N + 480 g K2O per plant, in four split applications over the two years of cultivation, was insufficient to induce maximum vegetative development in the three macaw genotypes. There was no variation in macro- and micronutrient contents in leaf dry matter of the three macaw genotypes.