Alface americana fertirrigada com diferentes doses de ácido fosfórico e hidróxido de potássio

Fertirrigation with phosphoric acid has been considered as an option to avoid drips from clogging. In some cases, this acid cause soil acidification and it can be substituted bypotassium hydroxide. This study had the objective of evaluating the effects of different phosphoric acid and potassium hydroxide doses, applied via fertirrigation, on soil fertility, plant nutrition and lettuce yield, compared to the conventional fertilization system. The experiment was carried out in greenhouse, in the College of Agricultural Sciences, FCA/UNESP, Botucatu-SP-Brazil. The experimental design was the completely randomized block, with 6 treatments and 4 replications. Treatments consisted of the combinations of doses (25% and 50% of the recommended complete dose for the lettuce) and application ofcomplete dose (100%) of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) applied via fertirrigation, and a control (conventional fertilization system). The results showed that P and K availability in soil and nutrient concentration in plants were affected by treatments. Low phosphorus and potassium doses, applied via fertirrigation, were not efficient for the appropriate development of lettuce plants. The results showed that agronomic characteristics and commercial lettuce were affected by doses and application systems, especially the treatment with application of P and K full dose fertirrigation.

Crescimento e desordem nutricional em pimenteira malagueta cultivada em soluções nutritivas suprimidas de macronutrientes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Crescimento de mudas de Schizolobium amazonicum (Huber ex Ducke) em substrato fertilizado com nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio

The nutritional management of seedlings in the nursery is one of the most important practices that influence seedling quality. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on the development of Schizolobium amazonicum seedlings grown in 250 cm containers with a commercial substrate in the North of Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized design with five treatments and five replications, each replication being represented by 24 seedlings. The treatments were: control (only commercial substrate); nitrogen fertilization (150 g m-3 N using ammonium sulfate + 1.0 kg of ammonium sulfate dissolved in 100 L of water and applied in coverage); phosphorus fertilization (300 g P2O 5 m-3 using simple superphosphate); potassium fertilization (100 g m-3 K2O using potassium chloride + 0.3 kg of potassium chloride dissolved in 100 L of water and applied in coverage) and; complete (a mixture of the three nutrients, 150, 300 and 100 g m-3 N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively + 1.0 kg of ammonium sulfate + 0.3 kg of potassium chloride). The commercial substrate was composted milled pine bark plus vermiculite. Evaluations of the seedlings were performed at 90 days after sowing. The complete treatment (NPK) gave the highest values for biometric and best plant indices, which express the quality. When analyzing nutrients in isolation; potassium had the lowest effect. Based on these results it can be recommended to fertilize Schizolobium amazonicum seedlings in nurseries with 150, 300 and 100 g m-3 of N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively, plus 1.0 kg of sulfate ammonium and 0.3 kg of potassium chloride applied in coverage.

Doses de potássio em cobertura na cultura da abóbora

Although there are recommendations for the fertilization of commercial squash crops, studies which connect the effect of topdressing potassium fertilization and yield are still rare. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating topdressing potassium doses on squash (Mirian hybrid) yield, in an experimental farm of the Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, in São Manuel, São Paulo State, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with five treatments (0.0 kg ha-1, 50.0 kg ha-1, 100.0 kg ha-1, 200.0 kg ha-1 and 400.0 kg ha-1 of K2O) and six replications. Plant growth parameters, yield and fruit quality were evaluated. After harvesting, plant (leaves + stem) and soil macronutrients were submitted to chemical analysis and data to variance and regression analysis. It was concluded that the highest yield resulted from the topdressing dose of 199.0 kg ha-1 of K2O. A reduction in calcium and magnesium contents in the plant canopy and a higher K+ content in the soil were observed for increasing K2O levels.

Detection of enterotoxin A in coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from nutrition students

Background: Staphylococcus is a clinically important genus because of its capacity to produce enterotoxins and to cause food poisoning. Staphylococci are the most frequent microorganisms of the skin and mucosal microbiota, with an estimated 20 to 40% of individuals carrying these bacteria on their hands or nose. Since nutrition professionals are involved in the handling and preparation of foods and are possible carriers of these bacteria, the objective of this study was to investigate the presence of Staphylococcus on the hands and in the nasal fossae of undergraduate nutrition students and to determine the enterotoxigenic capacity of these microorganisms. Methods and Findings: A total of 201 strains were isolated from the hands and nose of 61 nutrition students. Of these, 180 (89.5%) were identified as coagulasenegative staphylococci and 21 (10.5%) as S. aureus. Thirty-seven (18.4%) Staphylococcus isolates were producers of enterotoxin A. Toxin production was detected in 5 (19%) of the S. aureus isolates and in 31 (17.2%) of the coagulase-negative staphylococci. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a large number of enterotoxin-producing staphylococci on the hands and nose of nutrition students and professionals involved in the handling and preparations of foods. These findings indicate the need for adequate hygiene measures to prevent food poisoning. © iMedPub.

Phosphorus and potassium budget in the soil-plant system in crop rotations under no-till

Soil management and crop rotations can affect P and K budget in soil, decreasing losses, and increasing fertilizer use efficiency. The P and K budget in the soil-plant system at depths up to 60. cm was studied for different soil managements and crop rotations under no-till for three years in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. The investigated crop rotations were: triticale (X Triticosecale) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) cropped in autumn-winter; pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) were grown in the spring, as well as an additional treatment with chiseling followed by a fallow period; and soybean (Glycini max, L., Merril) was cropped in the summer. Each year triticale and sunflower were grown in plots and pearl millet, forage sorghum, Sunn hemp and of chisel/fallow in sub-plots. The triticale/millet rotation led to the largest decrease in available P within the 0-0.60. m layer of the soil profile and the largest K increase within the 0-0.05. m layer. Potassium mobility in the soil profile and the increases in the available K content in the 0.40-0.60. m layer were independent of the management system. Crop rotations with or without chiseling are not effective in preventing soil P losses. There is considerable K leaching below 0.60. m, but chiseling and the use of high K accumulating plants as triticale results in lower K losses. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Upland rice growth and mineral nutrition as affected by cultivars and sulfur availability

A better understanding of the differential growth of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars with increasing soil S availability could help improve rice yield under upland conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate root and shoot growth and nutrition of upland traditional and modern rice cultivars as affected by S availability. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 (rates of S) × 3 (cultivars) factorial with four replications. Low availability of S in the soil reduces root and shoot development and the efficiency of N, P, and S uptake, as well as the concentration and content of these nutrients in rice cultivars. At 0 mg dm-3 of S, rice cultivars prioritize root growth over shoots, and the traditional cultivar does so with greater intensity. Our results suggested that more development of traditional cultivars under low S availability facilitates its adaptation in soils under this condition. On the other hand, the intermediate and modern cultivars are more responsive to S fertilization. Moreover, S fertilization allows significant increases in upland rice growth and must be considered in cropping systems aiming for high yields. © Soil Science Society of America.

Adubação de cobertura na batata-doce com doses combinadas de nitrogênio e potássio

Balanced fertilizations with N and K often increase the performance of crops, however, when there is absence of one of these nutrients in poor soils, can reduce crop response to fertilization with the other. The objective of this work was to evaluate the productivity of sweet-potato, the amount of sweetpotato without quality, and leaf nutrients analysis, of sweet-potato crop fertilized with N and K. The trial was conducted in farming for commercial production, in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo State, during February-June 2007, in a dystrophic Ultisol of medium texture. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design, with four replications, on factorial 4 x 4: levels of 0, 30, 60 and 120 kg N ha-1 (urea source) combined with levels of 0, 30, 60 and 120 kg K2O ha-1 (KCl source), applied to 39 days after planting of the crop. The sweet-potato is responsive to topdressing application with nitrogen and potassium, however, the greatest increases in productivity occur when doses of N and K are combined. Fertilization with N and K not increase the amount of sweet-potato without quality marketing. The highest increase in productivity of sweet-potato is reached with topdressing combined with 100 kg N ha-1 plus 120 kg K2O ha-1.

Improvement of grapevine iron nutrition by a bovine blood-derived compound

Iron (Fe) is essential for chlorophyll formation and plant growth. Irondeficiency chlorosis is a major nutritional disorder in several fruit trees cultivated in calcareous and alkaline soils, reducing fruit yield and quality and causing heavy economic losses. Since chelated Fe, the most widespread fertilizers used for preventing or curing Fe deficiency, pose risks of environmental pollution, the development of sustainable agronomic alternatives represents a priority for the fruit industry. In this work, we investigated the effectiveness of a bovine blood-derived product (BB; 0,125% Fe) for preventing Fe-deficiency in grapevine plants. During the vegetative season 2011 potted plants of five graft combinations: Sangiovese/S4O, Cabernet Sauvignon/S4O and Cabernet Sauvignon/140 Ruggeri, 140 Ruggeri/Cabernet Sauvignon, Vitis riparia/Cabernet Sauvignon were grown on calcareous soil. Soil treatments included: 1) Control; 2) Fe-EDDHA (Fe 6%); 3) Bovine-Blood (5 g/L); 4) Bovine-Blood (20 g/L). With the exception of Cabernet Sauvignon/S4O plants, Fe-EDDHA increased SPAD units (leaf chlorophyll content). Bovine-blood at low concentrations had similar or higher SPAD units than Fe-EDDHA. Increasing concentration resulted in further increases in SPAD units only in some graft combinations. Data highlight the efficiency of Fe blood-compound in the prevention of grapevine Fe-deficiency over one growing season.

Phosphorus and potassium balance in a corn-soybean rotation under no-till and chiseling

Nutrient use efficiency has become an important issue in agriculture, and crop rotations with deep vigorous rooted cover crops under no till may be an important tool in increasing nutrient conservation in agricultural systems. Ruzigrass (Brachiaria ruziziensis) has a vigorous, deep root system and may be effective in cycling P and K. The balance of P and K in cropping systems with crop rotations using ruzigrass, pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and ruzigrass + castor bean (Ricinus communis), chiseled or not, was calculated down to 0.60 m in the soil profile for 2 years. The cash crops were corn in the first year and soybean in the second year. Crop rotations under no-till increased available P amounts in the soil-plant system from 80 to 100 %, and reduced K losses between 4 and 23 %. The benefits in nutrient balance promoted by crop rotations were higher in the second year and under without chiseling. Plant residues deposited on the soil surface in no-till systems contain considerable nutrient reserve and increase fertilizer use efficiency. However, P release from ruzigrass grown as a sole crop is not synchronized with soybean uptake rate, which may result in decreased yields. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Photosynthetic and anatomical responses of Eucalyptus grandis leaves to potassium and sodium supply in a field experiment

Although vast areas in tropical regions have weathered soils with low potassium (K) levels, little is known about the effects of K supply on the photosynthetic physiology of trees. This study assessed the effects of K and sodium (Na) supply on the diffusional and biochemical limitations to photosynthesis in Eucalyptus grandis leaves. A field experiment comparing treatments receiving K (+K) or Na (+Na) with a control treatment (C) was set up in a K-deficient soil. The net CO2 assimilation rates were twice as high in +K and 1.6 times higher in +Na than in the C as a result of lower stomatal and mesophyll resistance to CO2 diffusion and higher photosynthetic capacity. The starch content was higher and soluble sugar was lower in +K than in C and +Na, suggesting that K starvation disturbed carbon storage and transport. The specific leaf area, leaf thickness, parenchyma thickness, stomatal size and intercellular air spaces increased in +K and +Na compared to C. Nitrogen and chlorophyll concentrations were also higher in +K and +Na than in C. These results suggest a strong relationship between the K and Na supply to E. grandis trees and the functional and structural limitations to CO2 assimilation rates. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effects of soil and foliar application of soluble silicon on mineral nutrition, gas exchange, and growth of potato plants

Silicon can alleviate biotic and abiotic stresses in several crops, and it has beneficial effects on plants under nonstressed conditions. However, there is still doubt about foliar-applied Si efficiency and Si effects on mineral nutrition, physiological processes, and growth of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants under wellwatered conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of soil and foliar application of soluble Si on Si accumulation, nutrients, and pigments concentration as well as gas exchange and growth of potato plants. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions in pots containing 35 dm3 of a Typic Acrortox soil. The treatments consisted of a control (no Si application), soil application of soluble Si (50 mg dm-3 Si), and foliar application of soluble Si (three sprays of 1.425 mM Si water solution, prepared with a soluble concentrate stabilized silicic acid), with eight replications. Both soil and foliar application of Si resulted in higher Si accumulation in the whole plant. Foliar application of Si resulted in the greatest Si concentration in leaves, and soil application increased Si concentration in leaves, stems, and roots. Silicon application, regardless of the application method, increased leaf area, specific leaf area, and pigment concentration (chlorophyll a and carotenoids) as well as photosynthesis and transpiration rates of wellwatered potato plants. However, only soil application increased P concentration in leaves and dry weight of leaves and stems. © Crop Science Society of America.

Produção e qualidade em gérbera de vaso cultivada com cloreto e silicato de potássio

The Gerbera is an ornamental perennial herb, belonging to the Asteraceae family. Its cultivation, as well as the entire market for flowers and ornamental plants, is now in full expansion phase. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and quality Potted gerbera cultivar Red, according to sources and doses of potassium. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at UNESP/Botucatu. The experimental design was randomized blocks, using a 2x5 factorial arrangement, with two sources (potassium silicate and chloride) and five doses (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg. L-1) 4 replications and 5 plants per plot. Weekly throughout the experimental period, assessments were made of the number of leaves (NL) and the diameter of the plant canopy (DP). at the end of the season and the reproductive cycle, at 42 and 60 days after acclimatization (DAA), respectively, were determined by leaf area (LA), mass (dry leaves (MSF), the dry mass of inflorescence (MSI) and total dry matter (TDM). at the point of marketing is that of open stamens, when the inflorescence had at least two rounds of open, releasing pollen, we determined the number of inflorescences (NI), the diameter of inflorescence (DI), the stem height (AH), the shank diameter (DH) and plant height (PH). Regardless of the doses, potassium silicate promoted greater diameter, leaf area, greater MSF, MST and increased stem height, characteristics that favor the sale of potted gerbera.

Nitrogen and potassium concentrations in the nutrients solution for melon plants growing in coconut fiber without drainage

With the objective of evaluating the effects of N and K concentrations for melon plants, an experiment was carried out from July 1, 2011 to January 3, 2012 in Muzambinho city, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The Bonus no. 2 was cultivated at the spacing of 1.1 × 0.4. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme with four N concentrations (8, 12, 16, and 20 mmol L-1) and four K concentrations (4, 6, 8, and 10 mmol L-1). The experimental plot constituted of eight plants. It was observed that the leaf levels of N and K, of N-NO3 and of K, and the electrical conductivity (CE) of the substrate increased with the increment of N and K in the nutrients' solution. Substratum pH, in general, was reduced with increments in N concentration and increased with increasing K concentrations in the nutrients' solution. Leaf area increased with increments in N concentration in the nutrients solution. Fertigation with solutions stronger in N (20 mmol L-1) and K (10 mmol L-1) resulted in higher masses for the first (968 g) and the second (951 g) fruits and crop yield (4,425 gm-2). © 2013 Luiz Augusto Gratieri et al.

Yield and mineral nutrition of soybean, maize, and congo signal grass as affected by limestone and slag

The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of superficial applicationof limestone and slag, and their effects on soil chemical attributes and on yield and mineral nutrition of soybean, maize, and Congo signal grass (Urochloa ruziziensis). The experiment was carried out in a Rhodic Hapludox under no tillage system. The treatments consisted of the use of limestone or slag (silicates of calcium and magnesium) to correct soilacidity, and of a control treatment without the use of soil correctives. Rates were calculated in order to raise soil base saturation up to 70%. Soybean was sown in November 2006and maize in December 2007. Congo signal grass was sown right after the harvests of soybean and maize, and it was cropped during the offseasons. Soil chemical attributes were evaluated at 6, 12, and 18 months after the application of the corrective materials. Slag isan efficient source for soil acidity correction, being able to raise the exchangeable base levels in the soil profile faster than lime. Both limestone and slag increase dry matter yield of Congo signal grass, and grain yield of soybean and maize. Slag is more effective in improving maize grain yield.