Cover crops and no-till effects on physical fractions of soil organic matter

Physical fractions (free light fraction, intra-aggregate light fraction and heavy fraction) of soil organic matter (SOM) are good indicators of soil quality for sustainable land use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cover crops on total organic carbon (TOC) and physical fractions of soil organic matter in soil under a no-tillage system (NTS) and a conventional tillage system (CTS, one plowing and two disking). A three-year field experiment was carried out as a cover crop-rice (Oryza sativa)-cover crop-rice rotation. Treatments included cover crops (Panicum maximum, Brachiaria ruziziensis, Brachiaria brizantha, and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), fallow, till or no till. The SOM was physically fractionated in free light fraction (FLF), intra-aggregates light fraction (IALF) and heavy fraction (HF). The levels of C in whole soil were also evaluated, as well as C in the light fractions (FLF+IALF) and in the HF. Results indicated that concentrations of C in the FLF and IALF in surface soils (0-0.05m) were much higher (10.8 and 1.95gkg-1, respectively) than that in the 0.05-0.1m soil depth (7.68 and 1.54gkg-1, respectively) and in the 0.1-0.2m soil depth (4.98 and 1.24gkg-1, respectively). The NTS resulted in higher levels of FLF (12.2gkg-1) and IALF (2.19gkg-1) than with CTS (1.37-7.30gkg-1). Millet had the highest C (19.5gkg-1) and N (1.1gkg-1) concentrations in soil. There was an accumulation of TOC and total N in the surface soil with cover crops, and concentrations of TOC were higher in the HF (79.0%) than in the light fractions (21.0%). Although SOM changed little during the two years of this experiment, the various C fractions were significantly affected by the tillage treatments. We conclude that SOM physical fractionation allowed seeing significant differences caused by the soil management in the organic matter dynamics in a short period of time. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Sustainable weed management on ornamental beds

The weed presence on ornamental beds is a main aspect that interferes with the garden maintenance, especially in tropical countries, as it causes an unpleasant effect and competes with the ornamentals. The use of herbicides is not always economically viable, besides, it causes phytotoxic effects on the ornamental plants, so the alternative to minimize this problem is the use of mulch; however, there is little information on the literature about it. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of rice straw mulching on the weed management of Salvia splendens beds. There were four treatments (0, 4, 6 and 8 t ha-1 of rice straw) and five replications. Brachiaria decumbens (200 plants m-2) and Amaranthus viridis (50 plants m-2) were sown in each plot in order to ensure the weed presence. The evaluation of the weed community was performed 60 days after sowing. The weeds on the plots of 0.48 m2 were identified and removed by hand and then dried in a chamber of forced air ventilation (under 703C) for the dry matter determination which later helped to calculate the phytosociological indexes like the Relative Density, Relative Frequency, Relative Dominance and the Importance Value Index. Nineteen species of weeds were identified. Among them, B. decumbens and A. viridis presented the highest Relative Importance level and the use of 8 t ha-1 of rice straw mulching helped to minimize the Relative Importance of these plants; however, the weed management with the use of rice straw was not effective.

Formas de fósforo no solo após o cultivo de braquiária e tremoço branco

Phosphorus is one of the major factor that limits agricultural productivity in most tropical soils. The objective of this study was to assess P transformations and availability in a soil cropped to brachiaria (Urochloa ruziziensis) and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.). The study was carried out in a greenhouse at Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Brachiaria and white lupin were grown in pots with soil fertilized with 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80mg dm-3 P. The plants were grown for 60 days, when they were harvested and the soil was sampled. Dry matter yields of both species were increased with P rates. Soil bioactive P is increased with P fertilization, but is not affected by the plant species. White lupin is more effective in taking up the organic soil P, but Brachiaria was more effective in reducing the soil maximum P adsorption capacity.

Produção de matéria seca da braquiária de acordo com os atributos químicos de um Latossolo em Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul

Rustic forages as the signal-grass are predominant in areas of Cerrado in extensive livestock systems that favor soil degradation. However, with time, not even these forages can have a good development in those areas. The objective of this study was to analyze the variability of plant and soil attributes; to define the linear and spatial correlations between signal-grass yield and the chemical attributes of the studied soil, and to evaluate, among the chemical attributes of the soil, which one that best explain the variability in this forage yield. The experiment was conducted in an area that had been under pasture for more than 30 years, belonging to UNESP - Ilha Solteira Campus, located in Selvíria - MS. A geostatistical grid was installed in an oxisol, for soil and plant data collection, with 121 sampling stations, consisted of eleven transections with 160 m width in the direction of the Cartesian axes. The dry mass yield of signal-grass was low, presenting high variation. The attributes MSr, N, PB, MO1, MO2, pHa1, pHa2, pHk1 and pHk2 did not vary at random. They presented data variability from low to high and followed clearly defined spatial patterns, ranging between 17.7-162.9 m. There was significant linear correlation at 1% between MSr and N leaf, and between MSr and PB. The cross semivariograms MSr=f(N) and MSr=f(PB) confirmed that the dry matter can be estimated from data of nitrogen leaf and crude protein content of this forage.

Desenvolvimento corporal de novilhas leiteiras suplementadas com minerais inorgânicos e orgânicos em pastejo na época das águas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

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.

Sorghum grain yield, forage biomass production and revenue as affected by intercropping time

Sorghum is an excellent alternative to other grains in poor soil where corn does not develop very well, as well as in regions with warm and dry winters. Intercropping sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] with forage crops, such as palisade grass [Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich) Stapf] or guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.), provides large amounts of biomass for use as straw in no-tillage systems or as pasture. However, it is important to determine the appropriate time at which these forage crops have to be sown into sorghum systems to avoid reductions in both sorghum and forage production and to maximize the revenue of the cropping system. This study, conducted for three growing seasons at Botucatu in the State of São Paulo in Brazil, evaluated how nutrient concentration, yield components, sorghum grain yield, revenue, and forage crop dry matter production were affected by the timing of forage intercropping. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design. Intercropping systems were not found to cause reductions in the nutrient concentration in sorghum plants. The number of panicles per unit area of sorghum alone (133,600), intercropped sorghum and palisade grass (133,300) and intercropped sorghum and guinea grass (134,300) corresponded to sorghum grain yields of 5439, 5436 and 5566kgha-1, respectively. However, the number of panicles per unit area of intercropped sorghum and palisade grass (144,700) and intercropped sorghum and guinea grass (145,000) with topdressing of fertilizers for the sorghum resulted in the highest sorghum grain yields (6238 and 6127kgha-1 for intercropping with palisade grass and guinea grass, respectively). Forage production (8112, 10,972 and 13,193Mg ha-1 for the first, second and third cuts, respectively) was highest when sorghum and guinea grass were intercropped. The timing of intercropping is an important factor in sorghum grain yield and forage production. Palisade grass or guinea grass must be intercropped with sorghum with topdressing fertilization to achieve the highest sorghum grain yield, but this significantly reduces the forage production. Intercropping sorghum with guinea grass sown simultaneously yielded the highest revenue per ha (€ 1074.4), which was 2.4 times greater than the revenue achieved by sowing sorghum only. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Cover crop termination timing on rice crop production in a no-till system

Measuring shikimic acid accumulation in response to glyphosate applications can be a rapid and accurate way to quantify and predict glyphosate-induced damage to sensitive plants. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of cover crop termination timing by glyphosate application on rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield in a no-till system. A factorial experiment, arranged in a split-plot design, was conducted for 2 yr. Treatments consisted of cover crops (main plots) and timed herbicide applications (subplots) to these cover crops (30, 20, 10, and 0 d before rice planting). There was a decrease in rice yield from 2866 kg ha-1 to 2322 kg ha-1 when the herbicide was applied closer to the rice planting day. Glyphosate application on cover crops increased shikimate concentrations in rice seedlings cultivated under palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha), signal grass (B. ruziziensis), guinea grass (Panicum maximum), and weedy fallow (spontaneous vegetation) but not under millet (Pennisetum glaucum), which behaved similarly to the control (clean fallow, no glyphosate application). Glyphosate applications in the timing intervals used were associated with stress in the rice plants, and this association increased if cover crops took longer to completely dry and if higher amounts of biomass were produced. Millet, as a cover crop, allowed the highest seedling dry matter for upland rice and the highest rice yield. Our results suggest that using millet as a cover crop, with glyphosate application far from upland rice planting day (10 d or more), was the best option for upland rice under a no-tillage system. © Crop Science Society of America.

Intervalos de chuva na eficiência de herbicidas aplicados em pós-emergência

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Eficácia do herbicida mesotrione aplicado no sistema de cana crua

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Adubação nitrogenada e inoculação com rizóbio no feijoeiro em sucessão ao milho consorciado com braquiárias no sistema plantio direto

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Aplicação de escória de aciaria e calcário no solo e desenvolvimento do primeiro ciclo da grama bermuda

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Características da anatomia foliar e da deposição de gotas de pulverização em plantas daninhas aquáticas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Tolerância de Digitaria ciliaris, Digitaria horizontalis e Digitaria nuda à herbicidas usados em cana-de-açúcar

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeitos de óleos nas características físicas e químicas da calda de aplicação e na ação da atrazina

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)