Using simulation models to investigate the cumulative effects of sowing rate, sowing date and cultivar choice on weed competition

With the increasing pressure on crop production from the evolution of herbicide resistance, farmers are increasingly adopting Integrated Weed Management (IWM) strategies to augment their weed control. These include measures to increase the competitiveness of the crop canopy such as increased sowing rate and the use of more competitive cultivars. While there are data on the relative impact of these non-chemical weed control methods assessed in isolation, there is uncertainty about their combined contribution, which may be hindering their adoption. In this article, the INTERCOM simulation model of crop / weed competition was used to examine the combined impact of crop density, sowing date and cultivar choice on the outcomes of competition between wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Alopecurus myosuroides. Alopecurus myosuroides is a problematic weed of cereal crops in North-Western Europe and the primary target for IWM in the UK because it has evolved resistance to a range of herbicides. The model was parameterised for two cultivars with contrasting competitive ability, and simulations run across 10 years at different crop densities and two sowing dates. The results suggest that sowing date, sowing density and cultivar choice largely work in a complementary fashion, allowing enhanced competitive ability against weeds when used in combination. However, the relative benefit of choosing a more competitive cultivar decreases at later sowing dates and higher crop densities. Modelling approaches could be further employed to examine the effectiveness of IWM, reducing the need for more expensive and cumbersome long-term in situ experimentation.

Mycoflora and fumonisin contamination in Brazilian sorghum from sowing to harvest

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to characterise the mycoflora and the presence of fumonisin in sorghum grains, correlating the results with the environment and abiotic factors. RESULTS: Fifty samples (five collections of ten samples each) of sorghum were analysed. All samples were found to be contaminated with fungi, with higher frequencies of Cladosporium spp. (61.8%) and Helminthosporium spp. (33.4%). Fusarium verticillioides was isolated from 15.1% of the samples, with 38% of them being contaminated with fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) at levels ranging from 50 to 368.78 ng g(-1). Regarding abiotic factors, temperature, water activity and rainfall showed a positive correlation with the frequency of F. verticillioides and FB(1) production. There was a significant positive correlation between relative air humidity and FB(1) production. The results obtained from sexual crosses between standard F mating tester strains and the isolated strains confirmed that the strains isolated were F. verticillioides. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the decrease in F. verticillioides and fumonisin contamination occurred owing to atypical climatic factors during the period of sorghum cultivation, when there was any occurrence of rain and the level of water activity of grains did not reach 0.58. (C) 2010 Society of Chemical Industry

Influence of management on plankton community of fishponds during the dry and rainy seasons

Aim: The present investigation aims at evaluating attention to the occurrence and abundance of planktonic communities in fishponds and their relationships to the management employed; Methods: Seven fishponds (V1-V7) fertilized with different treatments were analyzed by monthly sampling, taken between July and December/07, during both dry and rainy seasons; Results: Euglenophyceae and Chlorophyceae were most representative during the studied period. In the fishpond with organic fertilizer Cyanobacteria was more than 65 and 90% of total phytoplankton abundance in September and August, mainly represented by Microcystis sp. (14,595 and 22,500 ind.L-1, respectively). An inverse relationship occurred between Copepoda and Cladocera, and Copepoda and Rotifera were present in all fishponds during the both seasons. Diversity (H') and species richness was low and equitability indices generally showed the highest values for zooplankton. The lowest values were observed for phytoplankton during the rainy season; Conclusions: The use of organic fertilizer and the random emptying of the fishponds affected directly and species diversity and richness, with dominance of Cyanobacteria emphasizing the need to adopt a management technique to increase fishponds productivity and consequently, fish production.

Emergência de sida rhombifolia l. em diferentes épocas e profundidades de semeadura

The major problems in pasture areas are weed management. Sida rhombifolia L. is a major weed of these areas, causing serious problems for the farmers. This research aimed to understand the importance of Sida rhombifolia L. seed depth in the soil profile to increase the germination rate and seedling emergence potential. During the month of September 2008 (spring) and January 2009 (summer), two assays were carried out under greenhouse conditions and the seeds were sown at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 cm from the soil surface. The experiment was conducted in pots, 5 L, with 5 replicates containing 50 seeds per pot. In both seasons, the emergence percentage and germination speed were increasing until the 17th day after sowing, and the depths of one, two and three centimeters were those which obtained higher emergencies and germination speed. In one cm depth, the germination was 28% and 32% in spring and summer, respectively, statistically different from the other depths. however, five depths centimeters; the germination was only 8% and 13% respectively.

Physical, chemical and microbiological aspects during the dry and rainy seasons in a pond covered by macrophyte used in aquaculture water supply

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

Effect of sowing time on phytomass production during early growth of two varieties of Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Sw.

The objective of this research was to determine the effect of two sowing times on phytomass production of two varieties of Slylosanthes guianensis (var. pauciflora and var. vulgaris). Two experimental periods were studied (1: January - May/1998 and 2: November/1998 - March/1999) using a completely randomized factorial design 2 x 2 x 14 (two periods, two varieties and fourteen ages of evaluation), with four replications. The results showed a difference between the periods concerning the growth and development of Stylosanthes, and that period 2 was the most favourable to this forage plant. There was, also, different adaptability between the two varieties concerning the sowing times. The var. pauciflora was more adapted in period 1, and the var. vulgaris, in period 2. The data showed the possibility of selecting Stylosanthes cultivars adapted to different seasonal conditions.

Desempenho de quatro genótipos de soja-hortaliça em dois anos agrícolas

Com o objetivo de avaliar o desempenho de quatro genótipos de soja-hortaliça, em dois anos agrícolas, foi instalado um ensaio, em área da UNESPFCAV, Campus de Jaboticabal-SP. O delineamento experimental adotado foi de blocos casualizados, com quatro genótipos e cinco repetições, para cada ano agrícola. Cada parcela experimental foi constituída por quatro linhas de plantio, com 3 m de comprimento, dispostas no espaçamento de 0,10 m entre plantas e 0,60 m nas entrelinhas, sendo consideradas para avaliação 20 plantas por parcela, das duas linhas centrais. As sementes foram semeadas em bandejas de poliestireno expandido de 128 células, contendo substrato Plantmax Hortaliças®. O transplante ocorreu dez dias após a semeadura, sendo que o solo já estava devidamente preparado, conforme recomendações para a cultura. A colheita foi realizada quando as vagens estavam em estádio reprodutivo R6. Avaliaram-se os genótipos: JLM003; JLM010; JLM018 e CNPSoI quanto às características: altura de inserção da primeira vagem, número médio de vagens por planta, número médio de sementes por vagem, produção de vagens por planta, massa fresca de 100 sementes e produtividade estimada de grãos imaturos. de acordo com os resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que, dentre os genótipos avaliados, JLM003, JLM010 e CNPSoI foram os mais produtivos, e quando semeados em dezembro apresentam produtividades maiores do que quando semeados em setembro.

Economic analysis of the intercropping of lettuce and tomato in different seasons under protected cultivation

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Performance of supplemented heifers on Marandu grass pastures in the wet-to-dry transition and dry seasons

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the characteristics of the sward canopy of Marandu grass during the rainy season, the wet-to-dry transition and the dry seasons, between March and September 2004, under intermittent grazing, and to correlate those characteristics with the performance of crossbred heifers receiving mineral supplements ad libitum or protein supplements. The experiment consisted of a randomized block design with three blocks (set of 13 paddocks), each containing five crossbred heifers per experimental unit, totaling 15 replicates. The heifers were given protein supplements daily in individual stalls and received an average 4 g/kg/day of the supplement during the rainy season and 5 g/kg/day during the dry season. Their weight gain was assessed monthly. The pasture structure was assessed through destructive sampling, and the bromatological composition of esophageal extrusa samples was also assessed. Analysis of variance was used to assess performance, and regression analysis was used to evaluate the sward canopy characteristics in relation to the months of the year. A cluster procedure was used to determine the similarity between the months of the year under assessment. Two different groups were formed for pasture evaluation: one group including the months of March to July and another group including the months of August and September. The first group exhibited a better canopy structure than the second group. This fact was corroborated by the animal performance, which was lower during the months of the second group. Low-intake protein supplementation was effective in increasing the performance of the grazing heifers. Pasture structure is critical for animal performance in a grazing environment, regardless of the type of supplementation.

Nitrogen and carbohydrate fractions on Tifton-85 pastures overseeded with annual winter and summer forage species in different seasons

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

Narrow row spacing and high plant population to short height castor genotypes in two cropping seasons

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

Produtividade e acúmulo de potássio na soja em função da antecipação da adubação potássica no sistema plantio direto

A aplicação antecipada de fertilizante potássico no cultivo de espécies de cobertura no sistema plantio direto (SPD) pode ser vantajosa para a lavoura comercial. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade de grãos e a acumulação de K na soja em função da aplicação antecipada de fertilizante potássico na instalação do milheto em relação com o K aplicado na semeadura da soja subseqüente no SPD. O experimento foi realizado na FCA-Unesp em Botucatu-SP, nas safras 2000/2001, 2001/2002 e 2002/2003. Utilizou-se um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico de textura média, que estava sendo cultivado com soja e aveia-preta no SPD, por dois anos antes da instalação do experimento. O milheto (Pennisetum glaucum) foi semeado em setembro sobre a palhada de aveia-preta (Avena strigosa), e a soja (Glycine max) na primeira quinzena de dezembro, nos três anos agrícolas. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso no esquema fatorial 4 x 4, com quatro repetições, com 0, 30, 60 e 90 kg ha-1 de K2O no milheto, combinados com 0, 30, 60 e 90 kg ha-1 de K2O na soja. Coletaram-se plantas de soja aos 25, 50, 75 e 100 dias após a emergência, e os grãos no final do ciclo, para a determinação do acúmulo de K e da produtividade. A antecipação de 60 a 90 kg ha-1 de K2O na semeadura do milheto não comprometeu o acúmulo de K na lavoura de soja. As máximas produtividades de soja foram alcançadas no primeiro e segundo ano com doses de 85 a 90 kg ha-1 de K2O, que poderiam ser antecipadas totalmente na semeadura da gramínea de cobertura. A aplicação antecipada de KCl na semeadura do milheto minimizou a exportação de K pela colheita de grãos de soja.

The nitrogen sufficiency index underlying estimates of nitrogen fertilization requirements of common bean

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

Avaliação de cultivares de pepino tipo caipira sob ambiente protegido em duas épocas de semeadura

Avaliaram-se sob cultivo protegido na Fazenda Experimental São Manuel (FCA/UNESP, Câmpus de Botucatu) quatro variedades (Branco Colonião, Caipira Hortec, Prêmio e Rubi) e três híbridos (Caipira AG-221, Guarani AG-370 e Safira) de pepino tipo caipira em duas épocas: verão e inverno. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e cinco plantas por parcela. O híbrido Safira foi o mais produtivo na semeadura de verão (41,3 frutos por planta), enquanto no inverno `Prêmio' produziu menor número de frutos comercias (6,7 frutos por planta) que todos os demais. Iniciaram-se as colheitas, em média, 51 e 87 dias após a semeadura no verão e no inverno respectivamente. Os híbridos foram mais precoces que as variedades na semeadura de verão. Os frutos passavam do ponto mais rapidamente no cultivo de verão, apresentando maior massa média. Concluiu-se que o híbrido Safira foi o melhor para o cultivo no verão, enquanto no inverno a produtividade de todas as cultivares foi muito prejudicada.

Produtividade de grãos e exportação de nutrientes de cultivares de arroz irrigadas por aspersão em conseqüência da época de semeadura

No sistema irrigado por aspersão, o uso de cultivares e épocas adequadas de semeadura podem possibilitar a obtenção de altos níveis de produtividade do arroz de terras altas. No entanto, são escassas as informações sobre a exportação de nutrientes pelos grãos dessa cultura nesse sistema de produção. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o efeito da época de semeadura na produtividade e exportação de nutrientes pelos grãos de cultivares de arroz de terras altas (IAC 201, IAC 202, Carajás, CNA 7800 e CNA 7801), irrigados por aspersão. Os experimentos foram desenvolvidos nos anos agrícolas de 1995/1996 e 1996/1997, em Latossolo Vermelho distrófico, em Selvíria (MS). As semeaduras foram realizadas no início da segunda quinzena de setembro, outubro, novembro, dezembro, janeiro e fevereiro, de cada ano. Foi utilizado o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em esquema de parcela subdividida, com quatro repetições. A época de semeadura influenciou a produtividade de grãos e exportação de nutrientes pelos grãos. A semeadura realizada em novembro proporcionou maior exportação de nutrientes por promover produtividades mais elevadas. em épocas de semeadura antecipada (setembro), com a cultivar Carajás, a produtividade e a exportação de nutrientes foram superiores às demais; já nas semeaduras de outubro a dezembro, a cultivar CNA 7801 se destacou. No sistema irrigado por aspersão, é possível semeadura em fevereiro com produtividade acima 3.900 kg ha-1 utilizando as cultivares IAC 201 e Carajás.