Water source utilization and foliar nutrient status differs between upland and flooded plant communities in wetland tree islands

Tree islands in the Everglades wetlands are centers of biodiversity and targets of restoration, yet little is known about the pattern of water source utilization by the constituent woody plant communities: upland hammocks and flooded swamp forests. Two potential water sources exist: (1) entrapped rainwater in the vadose zone of the organic soil (referred to as upland soil water), that becomes enriched in phosphorus, and (2) phosphorus-poor groundwater/surface water (referred to as regional water). Using natural stable isotope abundance as a tracer, we observed that hammock plants used upland soil water in the wet season and shifted to regional water uptake in the dry season, while swamp forest plants used regional water throughout the year. Consistent with the previously observed phosphorus concentrations of the two water sources, hammock plants had a greater annual mean foliar phosphorus concentration over swamp forest plants, thereby supporting the idea that tree island hammocks are islands of high phosphorus concentrations in the oligotrophic Everglades. Foliar nitrogen levels in swamp forest plants were higher than those of hammock plants. Linking water sources with foliar nutrient concentrations can indicate nutrient sources and periods of nutrient uptake, thereby linking hydrology with the nutrient regimes of different plant communities in wetland ecosystems. Our results are consistent with the hypotheses that (1) over long periods, upland tree island communities incrementally increase their nutrient concentration by incorporating marsh nutrients through transpiration seasonally, and (2) small differences in micro-topography in a wetland ecosystem can lead to large differences in water and nutrient cycles.

Crescimento inicial e morfologia foliar em plantas de Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth. Em função do manejo microbiano, sob estresse salino

The sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth.) is an endemic species of the Caatinga biome, considered tolerant to salt and water stress. The process of salinization of soil and groundwater and surface water is one of the most important problems of environmental degradation, with its harmful effects being more pronounced in the areas of arid and semiarid regions, and rapidly growing in many parts of the globe, causing problems of the major crop yield. Organic conditioners as barnyard manure, and rice hulls can contribute to reducing the PST, possibly due to the release of CO2 and the production of organic acids during the decomposition of organic matter, and act as sources of calcium and magnesium and inhibit the availability sodium. The intimate association of mycorrhizae and beneficial to plants results in increased uptake of water and nutrients by plants, especially phosphorus, due to their low mobility in soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the initial growth of thrush seedlings under inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi and fertilized with manure corral and irrigated with water of different salinity levels. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse conditions of vegetation on the premises of the Agricultural School of Jundiaí - UFRN, Campus Macaíba. The adopted statistical design was randomized composed of twelve treatments - three substrates (sterile soil, manure and FMA), four salinity levels (0.2, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 dS m-1 ) and five repetitions, totaling sixty experimental units. The results indicate that inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi own contributions to the growth of plants, especially in roots and shoots, which suggests that its application is beneficial in establishing thrush plants in natural conditions, with poor soil in P. Levels salinity caused no effects with statistical significance in plant development, indicating Sabia resistance to it.

Fontes de matéria orgânica para a formulação de fertilizantes organominerais peletizados no desenvolvimento da cultura do sorgo

Organo-mineral fertilizers have been used to both meet plants’ nutritional needs and reduce producers’ reliance on mineral fertilizers. This practice improves both the use of nutrients by plants and the soil structure due to the organic matter in these fertilizers. This study aimed to determine the effect of organic matter sources in the composition of organomineral fertilizers and compare it to the effect of traditional mineral fertilizers when it comes to the initial development of sorghum. Research was carried out in a greenhouse at the Federal University of Uberlandia, in Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Sorghum seeds of grain-bearing simple hybrid 1G100 were used in the seeding process. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design in a 4 x 3 + 2 factorial arrangement. Factors included four levels (50, 75, 100 and 125% of 450 kg ha-1, which is the recommended dose for sorghum crops), three organic matter sources in the composition of the organomineral fertilizers (sewage sludge, filter cake, and peat), a control (100% mineral fertilizer), and an untreated check (no fertilizers). Each experimental plot consisted of four plants divided into two pots. Oxisol was used in all pots. Analyses were performed at 30 and 60 days after seeding (DAS) and targeted: plant height, stem diameter, chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B, and leaf area. After this period, plants were removed from the soil, and had their aerial parts isolated to be dried in an air-forced oven before measurement of their dry mass. Means of the organomineral fertilizers outperformed those of both control and untreated check plots in almost all variables at 30 DAS. The only exception was variable stem diameter, in which organomineral fertilizers outperformed untreated check plots only. Sorghum fertilized with organomineral fertilizers also showed positive results in the variables analyzed at 60 DAS: even with dose reduction, their means were similar to those found in control plots. Organomineral fertilizers had higher means in some variables, such as diameter and dry mass of the aerial part, than both control and untreated check plots. In the conditions set in this study and considering the variables herein reported, organomineral fertilizers can substitute mineral fertilizers in the initial development of sorghum, even with some dose reductions.

Desempenho agronômico do milho com diferentes fontes e doses de nitrogênio

Nitrogen (N) is one of the major nutrients nutrients absorbed in corn crops, for this reason, nitrogen based fertilizers are expensive and suffer large losses to the environment. Therefore, a diversity of fertilizers, known as special or of enhanced efficiency fertilizers, has been commercialized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different sources and levels of nitrogen fertilization in coverage, for agronomic characteristics and corn grain productivity, cultivated in the Cerrado region. The experiment was installed in 2015, in Monte Carmelo-MG. The experimental design utilized was a RCBD with four replications. The treatments consisted of five N sources (common urea, polymerized urea, urea combined with NBPT (thiophosphate N-n-butiltriamida or N-n-butiltriamida of thiophosphoric acid), organomineral combined or not with NBPT), five topdress N levels (40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 kg ha-1) and a control (no N topdressing). The evaluated parameters were: the first spike insertion height (FSIH), plant height (PH), stem diameter (DC), number of rows per spike (RS), number of grains per row (GR), spike length (SL), spike diameter (SD), prolificacy (EP), 1,000-grain weight (TGW), leaf chlorophyll index (LCI), content of foliar nutrients, dry matter in aerial part of the plant (DM) and productivity (PG). The results showed that, with the exception of stem diameter, there was no significant statistical difference between sources of nitrogen, indicating that the organomineral source is as efficient as a mineral source. Regardless of the source, the addition of N fertilizers in increasing doses promoted enhanced development of corn plants, increased chlorophyll content, stem diameter, leaf N content, crude protein and productivity. For most phytotechnical features, there was no significant statistic difference in treatments compared to control.

Foliar phosphorus application enhances nutrient balance and growth of phosphorus deficient sugarcane

Although it is well known that nutrient imbalance in shoot tissues may impair plant performance, the interactive effect between foliar phosphorus (P) application and varying P availability in the rooting medium on the nutritional status of sugarcane has not been well studied. To fill this research gap, four sugarcane varieties (IAC91-1099, IACSP94-2101, IACSP94-2094 and IACSP95-5000) were evaluated using a combination of two concentrations of P in nutrient solution (P-deficient, PD = 0.02 mmol L^(−1) and P-sufficient, PS = 0.5 mmol L^(−1)) and foliar P application (none and 0.16 mol L^(−1)). The spray was applied until drip point three times during the experiment with 15 days intervals, after which the plants were harvested to quantify growth and shoot concentration of nitrogen (N), P, magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S) and manganese (Mn). The responses of sugarcane plants to foliar P spray at different levels of P supply in the rooting medium was not genotype-dependent. It was demonstrated for the averaged values across varieties, that foliar P application enhanced sugarcane performance under low P, as revealed by improvements of leaf area and dry matter production of shoot and root of PD plants. Under P limitation we also observed diminished shoot concentration of N, P, Mg, S and increased concentration of Mn. However, foliar P spray increased the concentrations of N, P, S and reduced shoot Mn. Furthermore, shoot P:N, P:Mg, P:S, P:Mn and Mg:Mn concentration ratios exhibited a positive relationship with shoot dry matter production. In conclusion, low P supply in the rooting medium impairs nutrient balance in shoot tissues of sugarcane at early growth; however, this effect was ameliorated by foliar P application which merits further study under field conditions.

Rôle des nutriments dans l’enracinement et le rendement en fruits chez la chicouté (Rubus chamaemorus)

La chicouté (Rubus chamaemorus L.) pousse naturellement dans les tourbières ombrotrophes. La culture de la chicouté dans les tourbières en fin d’exploitation serait très intéressante afin de maintenir des activités économiques sur ces sites ainsi que d’améliorer la disponibilité de ce petit fruit pour une future commercialisation. L’implantation de cette culture fait toutefois face à certains problèmes tels la faible survie des boutures au cours de la première année et un rendement fruitier très variable. Des essais de fertilisation et d’application d’auxine ont été réalisés pour augmenter la production de racines sur les boutures de rhizome au moment de la plantation afin de réduire leur mortalité. La fertilisation a permis d’augmenter la longueur des racines, mais seulement à la fin de la saison. Les fertilisants ont également stimulé la croissance des plants. Par contre, les concentrations d’auxine utilisées ont entraîné une très forte mortalité des boutures de chicouté. Aucun de ces traitements n’a permis d’augmenter la survie des boutures lors de la plantation. Afin de mieux comprendre les limitations nutritives liées aux faibles rendements fruitiers, nous avons utilisé une analyse compositionnelle (CND) nous permettant d’identifier les débalancements nutritifs. Cette analyse a montré que les parcelles moins productives sont caractérisées par une concentration foliaire plus élevée en manganèse, fer, soufre et cuivre. Les résultats de ce projet de maîtrise vont permettre d’améliorer la régie de fertilisation lors de la plantation de la chicouté en tourbière résiduelle, mais d’autres recherches doivent être menées afin de réduire la mortalité des boutures lors de la plantation.

Fungi associated with foliar diseases of wild and cultivated rice (Oryza spp.) in northern Queensland

During surveys of wild and cultivated rice in northern Queensland in 2014 and 2015, 92 fungal isolates were obtained from plants that were afflicted by foliar diseases, including the rice blast pathogen, Pyricularia oryzae, and the brown spot pathogen, Bipolaris oryzae. Seven species of Curvularia were found, viz. Curvularia aeria, C. alcornii, C. asianensis, C. clavata, C. lunata, C. muehlenbeckiae and an undescribed species. To remove uncertainty about the identity of the host plants from which the fungi were isolated, a DNA barcoding strategy was developed using regions of the chloroplast genome. Pathogenicity tests using wild rice isolates of P. oryzae indicated that many local rice varieties are susceptible to infection.

Aplicação foliar de molibdênio em adubos verdes e o desempenho do feijoeiro em sucessão

The knowledge of molybdenum application in legumes on the availability of N, by BNF, increased enzymatic activity and the residual effect caused on crops growth and yield can contribute to the greater scientific understanding involved in green manure processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Mo application and the N from Crotalaria juncea and Canavalia ensiformis green manures on common bean performance. Were conducted field experiments for the crops succession system (green manures - common bean) and laboratory essays for the enzymatic activities. Green manure production was installed in a factorial arrangement 2 x 4, with two green manure legumes species, sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea) and jack beans (Canavalia ensiformis), and four Mo doses (0, 40, 80, 120 g ha-1) in the form of sodium molybdate (Na2MoO4), foliar applied, in a randomized block design with four replicates. For succession crop (common bean) additional treatment was added, beans grown without any fertilization, following the same experimental design from the previous crop. The dry matter decomposition and the N mineralization of green manure were monitored through collection of residues over time, by using the litter bags method. In laboratory were carried out tests of nitrate reductase activity in green manures and common beans at 90 and 66 days after sowing, respectively. The sunnhemp responded linearly positively to the application of Mo as the dry matter and N accumulation. While the jack beans presented a negative quadratic response for dry matter and there was no adjustment of regression models to N. The jack beans showed a higher decomposition rate and N mineralization compared to sunnhemp. The half lives for decomposing 50% of dry matter on the soil was 123 and 104 days to sunnhemp and jack beans, respectively, and 50% of N present in the residues was mineralized at 93 and 85 days. In common bean, differed from the control for number of pods the dose of 40 g ha-1 of Mo in both species of green manures and the dose 80 g ha-1 of Mo in jack beans. For number of grains only in sunnhemp on the dose of 40 g ha-1 of Mo differ from the control. The nitrate reductase activity was influenced by developmental stage of green manure species. In common bean, the activity of nitrate reductase was up to three times higher than the dose 0 g ha-1 of Mo compared to treatment with application of Mo in both species. There was no effect of Mo doses or species of green manure on common bean yield.

Adubação nitrogenada no milho em sucessão à plantas de cobertura sob sistemas de cultivo do solo

To achieve high yields the corn crop is dependent on nitrogen. Systems of cover crops preceding corn and form of land cultivation are essential for the best use of nitrogen by corn. This study aimed to evaluate the use or not of nitrogen fertilization in corn in succession to cover crops, planted in three cropping systems. The experimental design was randomized blocks with sub-divided portion where the main plots consisted of three cultivation systems (tillage, conventional tillage and minimum tillage), the subplots by four plant cover in monocrop (oat, hairy vetch, field peas and turnip) and sub-subplots by nitrogen fertilization (0 and 160 kg ha-1 N). Evaluations were performed, the cover crops, soil cover rate, dry matter, content and accumulation of nutrients. In corn we evaluated yield components, yield, chlorophyll and nutrient levels in leaves. Among the species coverage studied the oat showed hardiness in the experiment, covering ground faster and showing more dry matter, however vetch hairy showed higher concentrations of N, P and K and higher accumulation of N ha-1. The soil tillage system influenced the K leaf content. The interaction cultivation x coverage showed significance for the total chlorophyll of corn. In the absence of N, N content and chlorophyll were higher where the corn was sown on the pea and hairy vetch. The corn production, despite a higher average in the presence of nitrogen fertilization, did not differ significantly when used the pea and hairy vetch as a cover crop.

Effects of organic fertilizers on the vegetative, nutritional, and productive parameters of blueberries ‘Corona’, ‘Legacy’, and ‘Liberty’

Organic farming does not allow using certain inputs, such as N, which differ in nutrient release rates and dynamics. To evaluate the effect of different organic fertilizers on the vegetative, nutritional, and productive parameters of blueberries ( Vaccinium corymbosum L.), a pot experiment was conducted in three consecutive seasons in a sandy soil of south-central Chile using ‘Corona’, ‘Legacy’ and ‘Liberty’. The following fertilizers were evaluated: compost (CM), Purely Grow (PG), Purely Lysine (PL), Fertil (F), blood meal (BM), lupine meal (LM), along with a control treatment without fertilization (C) and two conventional treatments with urea (CF) and sodium nitrate (S). Results indicate that vegetative growth and leaf N concentration prior to senescence were different among cultivars in the three evaluated seasons. The highest leaf N concentration was recorded in ‘Corona’ followed by ‘Legacy’ and ‘Liberty’ while levels tended to increase in the seasons. Quick-release N sources had greater effects on these parameters but with differences among cultivars. Fruit yield and weight were higher in ‘Corona’ followed by ‘Legacy’ and ‘Liberty’. Fruit yield was generally higher when using LM and F and showed no effect on fruit weight. Leaf chlorophyll content was higher in ‘Corona’ followed by ‘Legacy’ and ‘Liberty’, which increased when using CF, LM, BM, and PG. Finally, the organic fertilizer and blueberry cultivar that obtained the highest values for most of the evaluated parameters were LM and Corona, respectively.

Estimativa da área foliar do antúrio com o uso de funções de regressão

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo determinar quais variáveis dimensionais da folha são mais adequadas para utilização na estimativa da área foliar do antúrio (Anthurium andraeanum), cv. Apalai, por meio de equação de regressão linear, e comparar o desempenho de diferentes funções de regressão obtidas com o uso de aprendizado de máquina (AM). A variável que melhor estimou a área foliar foi o produto das dimensões lineares (comprimento e largura), CxL, sendo a equação proposta Af = 0.9672 *C x L, com coeficiente de determinação (R²) de 0,99. Verificou-se, também, com o uso de AM, que as funções lineares são mais adequadas para a estimação da área foliar dessa espécie vegetal.

Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on the Growth of NH-Ae 47-4 Variety of Okra

The paper evaluates the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth of okra (variety NH-Ae 47-4. Organic fertilizers (cow dung and poultry droppings) and inorganic (NPK 15:15:15 and Urea 64:0) fertilizers were used for the experiment. The fertilizers were weighed and applied at 5g, 10g and 15g and were replicated three times and each having a control. Vegetative growth parameters taken include, shoot fresh weight (g), dry weight (g), plant height (cm), leaf number, stem girth (cm), leaf area (cm2). The results obtained from the experiment showed that the effect of the treatments were significantly difference from the control for all the parameters accessed with urea fertilizer having least effect. Plants treated with poultry litters have best performance by recording the highest fresh and dry weight (0.39g) at 4 weeks after planting (WAP); highest stem height 29.33cm for all the concentrations applied. Similarly, it has highest leaf area and stem girth (64.67cm2and 2.23cm respectively) at 8WAP.

Teor de clorofila e produtividade do trigo em razão da adubação foliar com boro na presença de aminoácidos.

O trigo é uma cultura de ciclo anual cultivada no inverno. Nas culturas de arroz, trigo, aveia e milho, foram evidenciados boas correlações entre a leitura SPAD e a produtividade de grãos. O trabalho teve como objetivo estudar o efeito da adubação foliar com boro (B) na presença de aminoácidos (AAs) no teor de clorofila e produtividade de grãos do trigo, assim como na sua correlação. O experimento foi realizado na Embrapa Soja (Londrina - PR), no ano de 2014. O solo da área experimental é classificado como Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e seis tratamentos com doses de ácido bórico na presença de aminoácidos, exceto a testemunha. As doses estudadas foram: T1- 0 kg ha-1 de H3BO3 sem aminoácidos (Testemunha); T2- 0 kg ha-1 de H3BO3; T3- 1 kg ha-1 de H3BO3; T4- 2 kg ha-1 de H3BO3; T5- 4 kg ha-1 de H3BO3; T6- 8 kg ha-1 de H3BO3. O plantio da cultivar BRS Pardela foi realizado com semeadora com sistema de plantio direto, com espaçamento entre linha de 50 cm e a densidade de semeadura utilizada foi ajustada para atingir 250.000 plantas ha-1. A adubação de semeadura foi realizada com 40 kg ha-1 de N (ureia), 60 kg ha-1 de P2O5 (superfosfato triplo) + 40 kg ha-1 K2O (KCl) + 2,0 kg ha-1 de Cu (sulfato de cobre 24,5%), 2,0 kg ha-1 de Mn (sulfato de manganês 30%) e 2,0 kg ha-1 de Zn (sulfato de zinco 21%). A adubação em cobertura foi realizada aos 40 dias após o plantio com 20 kg ha-1 K2O (KCl). A adubação foliar com boro e AAs (2 L ha-1) foi realizada na fase final de alongamento e início de pré-espigamento. Foi utilizado o ácido bórico (17%B) e os aminoácidos na concentração (1/200, v/v) com 6,8% de glicina, 4,4% de prolina, 3,3% de ácido glutâmico, 2,7% de alanina, 1,9% de arginina, 1,7% de ácido aspártico, 1,3% de lisina, 1,3% de histidina e 1,0% de leucina. As práticas de proteção de plantas via controle químico de pragas, doenças e plantas daninhas foram realizadas conforme as indicações técnicas para a cultura de trigo a fim de não interferirem nos resultados obtidos. Avaliou-se a produtividade de grãos de trigo e o teor de clorofila, determinado indiretamente no terço médio da folha bandeira de cinco plantas por parcela, no florescimento, por meio de leituras SPAD com auxílio de um clorofilômetro digital (Minolta 502). Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância pelo teste F. A comparação de médias pelo teste de Tukey e as correlações foram feitas em nível de 5% de significância. Não houve efeito significativo dos tratamentos no teor de clorofila (SPAD) e na produtividade de grãos de trigo. A produtividade média de grãos foi de 4.266 kg ha-1 e 40 SPAD. Não houve correlação entre a leitura SPAD e a produtividade de grãos. Conclui-se que a adubação foliar com boro na presença de aminoácidos não modificou o teor de clorofila e a produtividade de grãos do trigo, bem como não houve correlação entre os fatores.