Número e peso de perfilhos no pasto de capim-braquiária sob lotação contínua

The experiment was conducted to study the relationship between the number and weight of tiller categories in Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk pasture managed under continuous stocking with cattle. The pasture was managed with an average height of about 25 cm. Plants of four different heights (10, 20, 30 and 40 cm) were evaluated by means of the randomized block design with two replications. The number of vegetative tillers, both live and total, reduced linearly according to the plant height. The number of reproductive tillers increased linearly according to pasture plant height (from 8 to 84 tillers m-2 when comparing plants 10 to 40 cm high). Vegetative and reproductive tiller weight increased linearly according to pasture plant height. Vegetative tiller weight (0.316 g average) was lower than the reproductive tiller weight (0.401 g average). A linear and negative relationship was found between the number and weight of the vegetative tillers, whereas a linear and positive one was found for the reproductive tillers. There are fewer vegetative tillers, and a greater number of reproductive and dead tillers in places with tall plants. At the places with high B. decumbens plants, tillers are heavier.

Ruminal degradability of neutral detergent fiber of Cynodon spp. grasses at four regrowth ages

The aim of this work was to determine ruminal degradation of neutral detergent fiber of grasses of the genus Cynodon, harvested at four cutting ages. It was used a randomized block design, with five treatments arranged in a split plot, the five evaluated genotypes: Tifton 85, Jiggs, Russel, Tifton 68 and Vaquero; were the plots and ages of cutting were the subplots: 28, 48, 63 and 79 days. By adding one day in the cutting age, there was a linear reduction in the effective degradability of neutral detergent fiber of blade and stem of 0.16 and 0.18%, respectively. The increase in the cutting age had a linear and positive influence on the undegradable neutral detergent fiber with daily increments for leaf and stem of 0.12 and 0.18%, respectively. At the 28 regrowth day, all genotypes showed higher content of potentially degradable insoluble fraction, effective degradability and lower undegradable fraction of the neutral detergent fiber of blade and stem in relation to other ages, in this way this interval is recommended for cutting management.

Controle de doenças fúngicas e de danos por frio em pós-colheita de lima ácida Tahiti

The Tahiti lime appears very susceptible to attack by post-harvest diseases, primarily by the fungi Penicillium and Phomopsis, and also because of its high sensitivity to storage at low temperatures. In order to reduce such damage, the present study aimed to verify the efficiency of heat treatment and disinfection of pathogens in the prevention of post-harvest chilling injury of this cultivar and to compare this treatment with other products using the conventional fungicides. The heat treatments were studied with hot-water temperatures ranging between 48 and 56° C. Water at room temperature was used as a control treatment. After treatment, the fruits were kept under cold temperature at 10° C and RH 90% for about 45 days. For comparison, three other treatments were carried out simultaneously, one using imazalil, one with baking soda, and a third with sodium carbonate, these three products being applied by baths in cold water. Two groups of fruit were evaluated, one treated by immersion considering pathogens coming from the field and another by inoculation with spores of the previously isolated pathogens. For the evaluation of physical and chemical parameters of fruits, determinations were made of the skin color, texture, weight loss, size, juice yield, soluble solids, total acidity and vitamin C content. The determination of the sensitivity of the fruit to cold was made by their exposure at temperatures inducing cold damage. The design was a randomized block design with nine treatments, analyzed by the Statgraphics statistical package. Heat treatments, especially at 52° C, were shown to be more promising in the control of pathogenic fungi and cold damage, surpassing the conventional fungicides. No changes were found in the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters in relation to the application of the different treatments.

Antibiose e não preferência para oviposição de Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biótipo B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) em genótipos de feijoeiro comum

O feijoeiro comum, Phaseolus vulgaris L., constitui importante fonte de proteína e renda para muitos países, entre eles, o Brasil. Diferentes fatores contribuem para a redução da produção, como os insetos pragas, destacando-se Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biótipo B. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo identificar genótipos de feijoeiro comum resistentes à B. tabaci biótipo B e os tipos de resistência envolvidos. Para isso, foram realizados dois experimentos desenvolvidos em laboratório e em casa-de-vegetação, avaliando-se 11 genótipos de feijoeiro comum. Para o teste com chance de escolha, o delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, e para os testes sem chance de escolha e antibiose, a escolha foi pelo inteiramente casualizado, totalizando seis repetições para cada teste. As variáveis avaliadas foram: período de incubação dos ovos; período ninfal; período de ovo a adulto; viabilidade de ovo a adulto e longevidade de adultos. O genótipo IAC-Harmonia prolongou os períodos ninfal e de ovo a adulto de B. tabaci biótipo B. Os genótipos testados foram igualmente ovipositados pela mosca-branca, em testes com e sem chance de escolha.

Peanut mechanized digging regarding to plant population and soil water level

The largest losses in mechanical harvesting of peanuts occur during the stage of digging, and its assessment is still incipient in Brazil. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the quantitative losses and the performance of the tractor-digger-inverter, according to soil water content and plant populations. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with a factorial scheme 2 x 3, in which the treatments consisted of two soil, water content (19.3 and 24.8%) and three populations of plants (86,111, 127,603 and 141,144 plants ha-1), with four replications. The quantitative digging losses and the set mechanized performance were evaluated. The largest amount of visible and total losses was found in the population of 141.144 plants ha-1 for the 19.3% soil water content. The harvested material flow and the tractor-digger-inverter performance were not influenced by soil water content and plant population. The water content in the pods was higher in 24.8% soil water content only for the population of 86,111 plants ha-1; the yield was higher in the populations of 141.144 and 127.603 plants ha-1, in the 19.3 e 24.8% soil water content, respectively.

Otimização da aplicação de Fluazifop-P-Butil em pós-emergência na cultura de soja (Glycine max)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility of reducing spray concentration and volume of Fluazifop-p-butyl applications on postemergence soybeans, while maintaining weed control and growth selectivity. The study was conducted in the experimental area of the Teaching and Research Farm of FCAV/Unesp - Jaboticabal Campus, during the agricultural season of 1998/99, carried out on a crop of soybean cultivar FT 2009. The experimental setup utilized was a randomized block design with 24 treatments, 20 following a factorial scheme 2 x 2 x 5 and 4 control treatments. The factors examined were: spray volume (100 and 200 L ha-1); reduced spray concentration - 75.2 and 112.8 g of fluazifop-p-butyl/ha (40 and 60% of the recommended concentration, respectively); and application schedule (5 A.M., 9 A.M., 1 P.M., 5 P.M. and 9 P.M.). The controls were applications at the recommended concentration (188.0 g fluazifop-p-butyl/ha), using volumes of 100 and 200 L ha-1, and treatments without weed control and weeds controlled with manual hoeing. The main species of weeds that emerged in the experimental area were: Cenchrus echinatus, comprising 60% of the infested sections; Digitaria horizontalis, 10%, and Eleusine indica, 30%. All fluazifop-p-butyl applications made up to 9 A.M. and from 5 P.M. effectively controlled the three species of weeds and provided a selective growth of soybeans. Therefore, the use of fluazifop-p-butyl can be optimized by reducing both the concentration and the volume of the spray for applications times providing favorable conditions for crop dusting.

Respostas fisiológicas de genótipos de Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla à disponibilidade hídrica e adubação potássica

Conduziu-se este trabalho, com o objetivo de estudar as respostas fisiológicas de cinco genótipos de eucalipto à disponibilidade hídrica e adubação potássica. As mudas foram plantadas em vasos preenchidos com sete litros de um Neossolo Quartzarênico, com baixo teor natural de potássio (0,2 mmol c.dm-3 K), e submetidas a dois regimes de irrigação (RI1 - diário e RI2 - irrigação suspensa até o aparecimento de sintomas iniciais de murcha), sem (K0) e com suprimento de potássio (K1 - 200 mg.dm-3 K2O), em casa de vegetação. Avaliou-se a taxa fotossintética (A), condutância estomática (gs), transpiração (E), índice de conteúdo de clorofila (ICC), conteúdo relativo de água (CRA), eficiência fotoquímica (Fv/Fm), eficiência intrínseca (EUAintr) e instantânea no uso da água (EUAinst) e potencial hídrico foliar (Ψf). O experimento foi estabelecido no delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 5 x 2 x 2 (5 genótipos, 2 regimes de irrigação e 2 níveis de adubação potássica), com cinco repetições. À exceção da eficiência fotoquímica, as demais características apresentaram alterações significativas no regime RI2, com redução nos valores de A, gs e E e aumento em ICC e EUAinst. O suprimento de potássio nas plantas do RI2 proporcionou maiores valores de A, gs, E e CRA. Dos genótipos avaliados, o G1 é o mais resistente e o G2 o mais sensível à deficiência hídrica. Conclui-se que a adubação potássica pode amenizar os efeitos negativos da deficiência hídrica nos estádios iniciais de crescimento de eucalipto.

Harvest managements and cultural practices in sugarcane

The presence of trash from the mechanical harvest of green cane on sugarcane plantations promotes changes in the agricultural management, for example, in the mechanical cultural practices of ratoon cane in-between the rows and nitrogen (N) fertilization. The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of sugarcane in different harvest systems, associated to the mechanical cultural practices in interrows and N rates. The study was carried out on a sugarcane plantation in Sales Oliveira, São Paulo, Brazil, with the sugarcane variety SP81-3250, on soil classified as Acrudox, in a randomized block design with split-split plots and four replications. The main treatments consisted of harvest systems (harvesting green cane or burnt cane), the secondary treatment consisted of the mechanical cultural practices in the interrows and the tertiary treatments were N rates (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 160 kg ha-1), using ammonium nitrate (33 % N) as N source. The harvest systems did not differ in sugarcane yield (tons of cane per hectare - TCH), but in burnt cane, the pol percent and total sugar recovery (TSR) were higher. This could be explained by the higher quantity of plant impurities in the harvested raw material in the system without burning, which reduces the processing quality. Mechanical cultural practices in the interrows after harvest had no effect on cane yield and sugar quality, indicating that this operation can be omitted in areas with mechanical harvesting. The application of N fertilizer at rates of 88 and 144 kg ha-1 N, respectively, increased stalk height and TCH quadratically to the highest values for these variables. For the sugar yield per hectare (in pol %), N fertilization induced a linear increase.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities and soil aggregation as affected by cultivation of various crops during the sugarcane fallow period

Management systems involving crop rotation, ground cover species and reduced soil tillage can improve the soil physical and biological properties and reduce degradation. The primary purpose of this study was to assess the effect of various crops grown during the sugarcane fallow period on the production of glomalin and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in two Latosols, as well as their influence on soil aggregation. The experiment was conducted on an eutroferric Red Latosol with high-clay texture (680 g clay kg-1) and an acric Red Latosol with clayey texture (440 g kg-1 clay) in Jaboticabal (São Paulo State, Brazil). A randomized block design involving five blocks and four crops [soybean (S), soybean/fallow/soybean (SFS), soybean/millet/soybean (SMS) and soybean/sunn hemp/soybean (SHS)] was used to this end. Soil samples for analysis were collected in June 2011. No significant differences in total glomalin production were detected between the soils after the different crops. However, total external mycelium length was greater in the soils under SMS and SHS. Also, there were differences in easily extractable glomalin, total glomalin and aggregate stability, which were all greater in the eutroferric Red Latosol than in the acric Red Latosol. None of the cover crops planted in the fallow period of sugarcane improved aggregate stability in either Latosol.

Soil uses during the sugarcane fallow period: influence on soil chemical and physical properties and on sugarcane productivity

The planting of diversified crops during the sugarcane fallow period can improve the chemical and physical properties and increase the production potential of the soil for the next sugarcane cycle. The primary purpose of this study was to assess the influence of various soil uses during the sugarcane fallow period on soil chemical and physical properties and productivity after the first sugarcane harvest. The experiment was conducted in two areas located in Jaboticabal, São Paulo State, Brazil (21º 14' 05'' S, 48º 17' 09'' W) with two different soil types, namely: an eutroferric Red Latosol (RLe) with high-clay texture (clay content = 680 g kg-1) and an acric Red Latosol (RLa) with clayey texture (clay content = 440 g kg-1). A randomized block design with five replications and four treatments (crop sequences) was used. The crop sequences during the sugarcane fallow period were soybean/millet/soybean, soybean/sunn hemp/soybean, soybean/fallow/soybean, and soybean. Soil use was found not to affect chemical properties and sugarcane productivity of RLe or RLa. The soybean/millet/soybean sequence improved aggregation in the acric Latosol.

Adubação com fósforo e potássio para produção e qualidade de sementes de soja

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da adubação com fósforo e potássio na produção e na qualidade de sementes de soja. Foram realizados experimentos em dois anos agrícolas, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em arranjo fatorial 5x3, com cinco doses de fósforo (0, 40, 80, 120 e 160 kg ha‑1 de P2O5 como superfosfato triplo), três de potássio (0, 50 e 100 kg ha‑1 de K2O como cloreto de potássio) e quatro repetições. Foram avaliados: produtividade, número de sementes por planta, número de vagens por planta, peso de mil sementes, germinação, vigor (envelhecimento acelerado, condutividade elétrica e lixiviação de potássio), e teores de P e K na folha e na semente. A produtividade, o peso de mil sementes e a produção de vagens e de grãos por planta aumentaram linearmente com a adubação fosfatada. O aumento na produtividade foi de 17,6%, no primeiro ano, e de 39,7% no segundo. As doses de P, no entanto, não interferiram na germinação e no vigor das sementes. A adubação potássica não altera a produtividade nem a concentração de K nas sementes, mas pode melhorar a germinação, sem interferir no vigor.

Nutrient intake, productive performance and body measurements of dairy heifers fed with different sources of protein

This study evaluated the effect of different protein sources (soybean meal, cottonseed meal, peanut meal and sunflower meal) on dry matter and nutrient intake, productive performance and body measurements of dairy heifers, Holstein x Zebu, recreated in confinement. The experiment consisted in a randomized complete block design made up by 6 replications and 4 treatments. The mean values of ingestion of ether extract (EEI, kg day-1) were statistically different (p < 0.05). The neutral detergent fiber intake (NDFI, %BW) also presented differences (p < 0.05), with higher values in the diet containing sunflower meal (1.01% BW) in relation to the diet with soybean meal (0.84% BW). The average daily weight gain using the diet with soybean meal was superior (0.95 kg day-1) to the diet with sunflower meal (0.82 kg day-1), and considering the final body weight, the diet with soybean meal was superior to the other treatments (p < 0.05). The heart girth presented greater association with body weight (0.93). The soybean meal promoted the best productive performance of crossbred Holstein x Zebu heifers fed diets based on sugarcane. However, cottonseed meal, peanut meal and sunflower meal can be possible alternatives to soybean meal.

Extração e exportação de nutrientes pelo feijoeiro adubado com nitrogênio, em diferentes tempos de implantação do sistema plantio direto

Common bean grown in no-tillage (NT) systems has increased markedly in Brazil. Thus, to optimize the fertilizer recommendations, it is important to know the nutritional requirements of this crop when grown under new and established NT systems, which can change the nutrient availability and crop response to nitrogen (N) fertilization. The objective was to evaluate the extraction and exportation of nutrients by common bean as function of N fertilization on soil under new and established NT systems. The experiment was carried out in two agricultural years, on a Red Nitosol (Alfisol) in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. A randomized complete block design was used in a split-plot scheme with four replications. The plots consisted of areas under NT systems after different periods of adoption and the subplots of four forms of N application to common bean (T0: control, without nitrogen; T1: 60 kg ha-1 before sowing; T2: 60 kg ha-1 sidedressed at V4 stage; and T3: 60 kg ha-1 before sowing + 60 kg ha-1 sidedressed). The following properties were evaluated: shoot dry matter, nutrient concentration and accumulation in the shoot, grain yield, and nutrient concentration and exportation in the grains. The NT age did not affect common bean yield, nutrition and response to N management. Nitrogen application, especially before sowing, led to higher dry matter and nutrient accumulation by common bean. The nutrient concentration in grains was little influenced by N fertilization. Grain yield and nutrient exportation were highest after double N application (before sowing and sidedressed) or only sidedressed at V4.

Cycling of nutrients and silicon in pigeonpea and pearl millet monoculture and intercropping

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

Desempenho agronômico de feijão‑caupi e milho semeados em faixas na safrinha

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho agronômico de cultivares de feijão‑caupi e de milho, em monocultivo e em cultivo consorciado em faixas, na safrinha. Foram realizados experimentos, em Dourados, MS (2009 e 2010), e em Botucatu, SP (2010). Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subdivididas e quatro repetições. As parcelas com feijão‑caupi foram constituídas por três sistemas de cultivo (em faixas com variedade ou híbrido de milho, além do cultivo solteiro) e as subparcelas, por três cultivares de feijão‑caupi (BRS Guariba, BRS Novaera e BRS Xiquexique). As parcelas com milho foram constituídas por duas cultivares de milho (variedade BR 473 e híbrido BRS 1030 ou BRS 1010), e as subparcelas, por quatro sistemas de cultivo (em faixas com as três cultivares de feijão‑caupi e solteiro). O sistema de consórcio em faixas consistiu de quatro fileiras de feijão‑caupi com quatro fileiras de milho. O consórcio proporcionou um uso mais eficiente da terra. As cultivares de feijão‑caupi apresentaram desempenho produtivo semelhante entre si, quando cultivadas em faixas com o milho. O híbrido de milho é mais produtivo que a variedade, tanto no cultivo solteiro quanto no consorciado.