LEAF TOTAL NITROGEN CONCENTRATION AS AN INDICATOR OF NITROGEN STATUS FOR PLANTLETS AND YOUNG PLANTS OF EUCALYPTUS CLONES

The use of leaf total nitrogen concentration as an indicator for nutritional diagnosis has some limitations. The objective of this study was to determine the reliability of total N concentration as an indicator of N status for eucalyptus clones, and to compare it with alternative indicators. A greenhouse experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design in a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement with plantlets of two eucalyptus clones (140 days old) and six levels of N in the nutrient solution. In addition, a field experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, consisting of two seasons, two regions, two young clones (approximately two years old), and three positions of crown leaf sampling. The field areas (regions) had contrasting soil physical and chemical properties, and their soil contents for total N, NH+4-N, and NO−3-N were determined in five soil layers, up to a depth of 1.0 m. We evaluated the following indicators of plant N status in roots and leaves: contents of total N, NH+4-N, NO−3-N, and chlorophyll; N/P ratio; and chlorophyll meter readings on the leaves. Ammonium (root) and NO−3-N (root and leaf) efficiently predicted N requirements for eucalyptus plantlets in the greenhouse. Similarly, leaf N/P, chlorophyll values, and chlorophyll meter readings provided good results in the greenhouse. However, leaf N/P did not reflect the soil N status, and the use of the chlorophyll meter could not be generalized for different genotypes. Leaf total N concentration is not an ideal indicator, but it and the chlorophyll levels best represent the soil N status for young eucalyptus clones under field conditions.

Simplifying data acquisition in plant canopies- Measurements of leaf angles with a cell phone

1. Canopies are complex multilayered structures comprising individual plant crowns exposing a multifaceted surface area to sunlight. Foliage arrangement and properties are the main mediators of canopy functions. The leaves act as light traps whose exposure to sunlight varies with time of the day, date and latitude in a trade-off between photosynthetic light harvesting and excessive or photoinhibitory light avoidance. To date, ecological research based upon leaf sampling has been limited by the available echnology, with which data acquisition becomes labour intensive and time-consuming, given the verwhelming number of leaves involved. 2. In the present study, our goal involved developing a tool capable of easuring a sufficient number of leaves to enable analysis of leaf populations, tree crowns and canopies.We specifically tested whether a cell phone working as a 3Dpointer could yield reliable, repeatable and valid leaf anglemeasurements with a simple gesture. We evaluated the accuracy of this method under controlled conditions, using a 3D digitizer, and we compared performance in the field with the methods commonly used. We presented an equation to estimate the potential proportion of the leaf exposed to direct sunlight (SAL) at any given time and compared the results with those obtained bymeans of a graphicalmethod. 3. We found a strong and highly significant correlation between the graphical methods and the equation presented. The calibration process showed a strong correlation between the results derived from the two methods with amean relative difference below 10%. Themean relative difference in calculation of instantaneous exposure was below 5%. Our device performed equally well in diverse locations, in which we characterized over 700 leaves in a single day. 4. The newmethod, involving the use of a cell phone, ismuchmore effective than the traditionalmethods or digitizers when the goal is to scale up from leaf position to performance of leaf populations, tree crowns or canopies. Our methodology constitutes an affordable and valuable tool within which to frame a wide range of ecological hypotheses and to support canopy modelling approaches.

DRIS norms for 'Valencia' sweet orange on three rootstocks

Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) applies nutrient ratios instead of the isolated concentration values of each nutrient in interpretation of tissue analysis. The objectives of this research were to establish adequate DRIS norms for 'Valencia' sweet orange irrigated commercial groves budded on three rootstocks and correlate indexes of nutrition balance with yield. Experiments were conducted in São Paulo State, Brazil. Rootstocks Rangpur lime, Caipira sweet orange, and Poncirus trifoliata, with more than six years old and yield above 40 ton ha-1 were utilized. Data referred to yield, tree spacing, rootstock and foliar concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and B in non fruiting terminals for each grove were processed for the years 1994 through 1998. DRIS indexes were calculated by Nick criterion for choosing the ratio order of the nutrients and Jones calculation method of the ratio functions. Indexes of nutritional balance calculated from DRIS norms presented high correlation with yield for the three scion/rootstock combinations. DRIS norms defined in this research are valid, since leaf sampling is done on non fruiting terminals and the grove is irrigated.

Variação sazonal de micronutrientes em folhas de aceroleira (Malpighia emarginata DC.)

Os teores de micronutrientes nas folhas necessários para obter boa produtividade e qualidade de frutos de aceroleira (Malpighia emarginata DC.) e sua variação sazonal são pouco conhecidas. Para melhor entendimento da dinâmica de absorção de nutrientes e o desenvolvimento dessa frutífera avaliaram-se teores foliares de Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn, em seis progênies de aceroleira no período de dezembro de 1999 a outubro de 2000. O estudo foi conduzido na Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) Agroindústria Tropical, em Pacajus, e envolveu 6 progênies (P52, P66, P78, P91, P93 e P97) e 6 épocas de amostragem das folhas (dezembro, fevereiro, abril, junho, agosto e outubro de 2000). A variação sazonal foi confirmada para os teores de Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn nas folhas, enquanto o Zn não sofreu alteração significativa nas progênies consideradas pela pesquisa. Os teores de Cu foram superiores em fevereiro, e os de Fe e Mn em agosto. As progênies apresentaram habilidade diferenciada na manutenção das concentrações de Cu, Mn e Zn nas folhas. A melhor época para amostragem de folhas e diagnóstico do estado nutricional foi em outubro, início do florescimento das aceroleiras, quando os teores de Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn devem ser superiores a 3, 125, 80 e 15 mg/kg.

Amostragem para diagnose do estado nutricional e avaliação da fertilidade do solo em caramboleiras

Para a realização de uma análise confiável, a etapa mais sensível e que merece extremo cuidado é a amostragem do tecido vegetal e do solo. A amostra mais adequada é aquela que representa o melhor possível a área de estudo, exigindo um mínimo de plantas amostradas para atender a esse objetivo e com o menor número possível de amostras simples coletadas. Assim, o presente trabalho procurou dimensionar o número de plantas a serem amostradas para a diagnose do estado nutricional, bem como o número de amostras simples necessárias para formar a amostra composta, para fins de avaliação da fertilidade do solo cultivado com caramboleiras. O estudo foi realizado em um pomar comercial de caramboleiras, no município de Vista Alegre do Alto (SP), empregando-se amostragem aleatória, coletando-se a sexta folha a partir do ápice do ramo da caramboleira, na altura mediana da frutífera, no florescimento da cultura, em 40 plantas. Foram coletadas, também, 30 amostras simples de solo, em zigue-zague, nas linhas da cultura, com o auxílio de um trado tipo holandês, nas camadas de 0 a 0,2 m e 0,2 a 0,4 m. Considerando-se aceitável um erro amostral de 10%, 21 plantas de carambola seriam suficientes para as determinações químicas foliares de macronutrientes. Já para os micronutrientes, seriam necessárias, no mínimo, 52 plantas amostradas. O aumento do número de amostras simples reduziu o erro porcentual na estimativa da média desejada, permitindo a recomendação de 14 e 17 amostras simples nas camadas de 0 a 0,2 m e 0,2 a 0,4 m (erro = 20%), respectivamente.

Diagnose foliar da gravioleira (Annona muricata L.): efeito da posição de ramos e folhas

A carência de informações na literatura sobre a amostragem de folhas da gravioleira, particularmente, a definição da posição da folha na copa das árvores e das folhas nos ramos ainda é um fator limitante para a diagnose foliar dessa cultura. Objetivando determinar a parte da planta indicada para a amostragem de folhas e a avaliação do estado nutricional da gravioleira conduziu-se um experimento no Campo Experimental da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) Agroindústria Tropical, em Pacajus (CE), no período de março a abril de 2003. Colheram-se folhas de três posições da copa (terço superior, terço médio e terço inferior) e três posições no ramo (folhas da parte apical, mediana e basal) e determinaram-se os teores de P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Cu, Zn e Mn. Os resultados permitem sugerir que os teores de minerais das folhas da parte mediana da copa das árvores e na posição mediana do ramo refletem melhor o estado nutricional da frutífera.

Nutrients foliar content for high productivity cultivars of guava in Brazil

Commonly grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions, guava (Psidium guajava L.) is an important fruit crop of Brazil. It is cultivated on a large scale in São Paulo state, and covers about 6,500 hectares. As a result of the guava selection program developed at FCAV/UNESP, two new cultivars were created: 'Rica' and 'Paluma' with a high productivity, and also with higher nutritional requirement. Leaves analysis has become a powerful tool in mineral-nutrition research with fruit crops, not only to determine response to different nutrients, but also for diagnostic techniques in making fertilizer recommendations and assessing deficiency symptoms. Nutrient composition of the leaves varies depending on the leaf maturity, tree age, variety and nutrient supply. For the interpretation of analytical values, selection of the index tissue is important. The results of experiments conducted in the field during 1989-2000 were studied. The nutritional status was evaluated by annual leaf sampling, carried out at full bloom. Recent fully developed leaves, corresponding to the third pair (with the petiole) were collected, starting at the end of the branch, all around the tree, at a height of 1.5 m from the soil, with a total of 30 leaf pairs per sample. The yield was evaluated by weighing all the fruits in the useful area of each lot. Foliar chemical analysis showed excellent correlation with the fruit production. Through the results it was verified that the maximum yield was associated to the following levels: N = 22-26; P = 1.5-1.9; K = 17-20; Ca = 11-15; Mg = 2.5-3.5; S = 3.0-3.5 g kg -1; B = 20-25; Cu = 10-40; Fe = 50-150; Mn = 180-250; Zn = 25-35 mg kg-1 DW in the leaves of the 'Rica' guava and to N = 20-23; P = 1.4-1.8; K = 14-17; Ca = 7-11; Mg = 3.4-4.0; S = 2.5-3.5 g kg-1; B = 20-25; Cu = 20-40; Fe = 60-90; Mn = 40-80; Zn = 25-35 mg kg-1 DW in the leaves of the 'Paluma' guava.

Acidez do solo e produtividade da soja em função de calagem e rotação de culturas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Amostragem de folhas em cafeeiro para fins de diagnose do estado nutricional

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Estudos sobre a nutrição de progênies de aceroleira: épocas de amostragens de folhas e exportação de nutrientes

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Tamanho da amostra foliar para avaliação do estado nutricional e índice SPAD de capim-elefante irrigado para corte

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

AVALIAÇÃO COMPARATIVA DO ESTADO NUTRICIONAL DE MUDAS DE BARU ( Dipteryx alata )

Para o sucesso de um processo de revegetação, além de melhorar as condições edáficas da área, deve-se dispor de mudas de boa qualidade, o que pode ser avaliado pelo estado nutricional. Neste trabalho, avaliaramse os teores foliares de N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn de mudas de Dipteryx alata produzidas a pleno sol ou em cultivo protegido (30% de sombreamento), utilizando como substrato solo degradado, condicionado ou não com resíduo orgânico (32 t ha-1 macrófitas) e com diferentes doses de fósforo (0, 100, 200 e 300 mg dm-3 P2O5), comparativamente à mudas e parte aérea de plantas adultas, coletadas em campo. A cada coleta de folhas em campo, o solo foi coletado e analisado para P, MO, pH, K, Ca, Mg, H+Al, SB e CTC. A mesma análise foi realizada nas unidades experimentais, ao final do experimento. Os resultados mostram que o Dipteryx alata é pouco exigente em P, que os teores foliares, nas mudas de campo, são superiores às plantas adultas em N, P, K e S e inferiores para Ca e que o estádio de desenvolvimento da planta não influenciou os teores foliares de Mg, B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn. O resíduo orgânico não foi suficiente para fornecer o N necessário às mudas produzidas. O cultivo a pleno sol propiciou maiores teores foliares de N, P, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, Fe e Mn. Teores foliares de N, P, K, Ca, B, Fe e Zn foram superiores na presença de resíduo orgânico.

Within-stand and seasonal variations of specific leaf area in a clonal Eucalyptus plantation in the Republic of Congo

Specific leaf area (SLA; m(leaf)(2) kg(leaf)(-1)) is a key ecophysiological parameter influencing leaf physiology, photosynthesis, and whole plant carbon gain. Both individual tree-based models and other forest process-based models are generally highly sensitive to this parameter, but information on its temporal or within-stand variability is still scarce. In a 2-4-year-old Eucalyptus plantation in Congo, prone to seasonal drought, the within-stand and seasonal variability in SLA were investigated by means of destructive sampling carried out at 2-month intervals, over a 2-year period. Within-crown vertical gradients of SLA were small. Highly significant relationships were found between tree-average SLA (SLA(t)) and tree size (tree height, H(t), or diameter at breast height, DBH): SLA(t) ranged from about 9 m(2) kg(-1) for dominant trees to about 14-15 m(2) kg(-1) for the smallest trees. The decrease in SLA(t) with increasing tree size was accurately predicted from DBH using power functions. Stand-average SLA varied by about 20% during the year, with lowest values at the end of the 5-month dry season, and highest values about 2-3 months after the onset of the wet season. Variability in leaf water status according to tree size and season is discussed as a possible determinant of both the within-stand and seasonal variations in SM. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Local dispersion of the Eucalyptus leaf beetle Chrysophtharta bimaculata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), and implications for forest protection

1. Chrysophtharta bimaculata is a native chrysomelid species that can cause chronic defoliation of plantation and regrowth Eucalyptus forests in Tasmania, Australia. Knowledge of the dispersion pattern of C. bimaculata was needed in order to assess the efficiency of an integrated pest management (IPM) programme currently used for its control. 2. Using data from yellow flight traps, local populations of C. bimaculata adults were monitored over a season at spatial scales relevant to commercial forestry: within a 50-ha operational management unit (a forestry 'coupe') and between coupes. In addition, oviposition was monitored over a season at a subset of the between-coupe sites. 3. Dispersion indices (Taylor's Power Law and Iwao's Mean Crowding regression method) demonstrated that C. bimaculata adults were spatially aggregated within and between coupes, although the number of egg-batches laid at the between-coupe scale was uniform. Spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that trap-catches at the within-coupe level were similar (positively autocorrelated) to a radius distance of approximately 110 m, and then dissimilar (negatively autocorrelated) at approximately 250 m. At the between-coupe scale, no repeatable spatial autocorrelation patterns were observed. 4. For any individual site, rapid changes in beetle density were observed to be associated with loosely aggregated flights of beetles into and out of that site. Peak adult catches (> the weekly mean plus standard deviation trap-catch) for a site occurred for a period of 2.0 +/- 0.22 weeks at a time (n = 37), with normally only one or two peaks per site per season. Peak oviposition events for a site occurred on average 1.4 +/- 0.11 times per season and lasted 1.5 +/- 0.12 weeks. 5. Analysis of an extensive data set (n = 417) demonstrated that adult abundance at a site was positively correlated with egg density, but negatively correlated with tree damage (caused by conspecifics) and the presence of conspecific larvae. There was no relationship between adult abundance and a visual estimate of the amount of young foliage on trees. 6. Adults of C. bimaculata are show n to occur in relatively small, mobile aggregations. This means that pest surveys must be both regular (less than 2 weeks apart) and intensive (with sampling points no more than 150 m apart) if beetle populations are to be monitored with confidence. Further refinement of the current IPM strategy must recognize the problems posed by this temporal and spatial patchiness, particularly with regard to the use of biological insecticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, for which only a very short operational window exists.

Marker concentration patterns of labelled leaf and stem particles in the rumen of cattle grazing bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) analysed by reference to a raft model

Large (>1600 mum), ingestively masticated particles of bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) leaf and stem labelled with Yb-169 and Ce-144 respectively were inserted into the rumen digesta raft of heifers grazing bermuda grass. The concentration of markers in digesta sampled from the raft and ventral rumen were monitored at regular intervals over approximately 144 h. The data from the two sampling sites were simultaneously fitted to two pool (raft and ventral rumen-reticulum) models with either reversible or sequential flow between the two pools. The sequential flow model fitted the data equally as well as the reversible flow model but the reversible flow model was used because of its greater application. The reversible flow model, hereafter called the raft model, had the following features: a relatively slow age-dependent transfer rate from the raft (means for a gamma 2 distributed rate parameter for leaf 0.0740 v. stem 0.0478 h(-1)), a very slow first order reversible flow from the ventral rumen to the raft (mean for leaf and stem 0.010 h(-1)) and a very rapid first order exit from the ventral rumen (mean of leaf and stem 0.44 h(-1)). The raft was calculated to occupy approximately 0.82 total rumen DM of the raft and ventral rumen pools. Fitting a sequential two pool model or a single exponential model individually to values from each of the two sampling sites yielded similar parameter values for both sites and faster rate parameters for leaf as compared with stem, in agreement with the raft model. These results were interpreted as indicating that the raft forms a large relatively inert pool within the rumen. Particles generated within the raft have difficulty escaping but once into the ventral rumen pool they escape quickly with a low probability of return to the raft. It was concluded that the raft model gave a good interpretation of the data and emphasized escape from and movement within the raft as important components of the residence time of leaf and stem particles within the rumen digesta of cattle.