Potassium fertilization for pineapple: effects on plant growth and fruit yield

A field experiment with pineapple (Smooth Cayenne) was carried out on an Ultisol located in the city of Agudos (22º30'S; 49º03'W), in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, with the objective of investigating the effects of rates and sources of potassium fertilizer on plant growth and fruit yield. The experiment was a complete factorial design (4x3) with four rates (0, 175, 350, and 700 kg ha-1 of K2O) and three combinations of K sources (100% KCl, 100% K2SO4, and 40% K2SO4 + 60% KCl). Plant growth and fruit yield were evaluated. Biomass accumulation of pineapple plants was impaired by chlorine added with potassium chloride. Fruit yield increased with potassium fertilization. At high rates of K application, fertilization with K2SO4 showed better results than with KCl. Detrimental effects of KCl were associated with excess of chlorine.

Potassium fertilization for pineapple: effects on soil chemical properties and plant nutrition

A field experiment was carried out on an Ultisol located at the city of Agudos (22º30'S; 49º03'W), in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in order to determine the effects of rates and sources of potassium fertilizer on nutritional status of 'Smooth Cayenne' pineapple and on some soil chemical properties. The experiment was a complete factorial design with four rates (0, 175, 350, and 700 kg ha-1 of K2O) and three combinations of K sources (100% KCl, 100% K2SO4 and 40% K2SO4 + 60% KCl). Soil samples were taken from the depths 0-20 cm, 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm at planting and 14 months after. Nutritional status of pineapple plants was assessed by means of tissue analysis. Soil K availability increased with application of K fertilizer, regardless of K sources. Soil chlorine and Cl concentration in pineapple leaves increased with application of KCl or K2SO4+KCl. Plant uptake of potassium was shaped by soil K availability and by the application rates of K fertilizer, independently of K sources.

Ultrasonic Study Of The Elastic Properties And Phase Transitions In Selected Mixed Sulphate Crystals

The thesis investigated the elastic properties and phase transitions in selected mixed sulphate crystals – Lithium Hydrazinium Sulphate [LiN2H2SO4], Lithium Ammonium Sulphate [LiNH4SO4] and Lithium Potassium Sulphate [LiKSO4] – using ultrasonic technique. The pulse echo overlap technique has been used for measuring ultrasonic velocity and its dependence on temperature along different directions with waves of longitudinal and transverse polarizations. Two major numerical techniques and the corresponding computer programs developed as part of present work are presented in this thesis. All the 9 elastic constants of LHS are determined accurately from ultrasonic measurements and applying misorientation correction refines the constants. Ultrasonic measurements are performed in LAS to determine the elastic constants and to study the low temperature phase transitions. Temperature variation studies of elastic constant of LAS are performed for 6 different modes of propagation for heating and cooling at low temperatures. All the 5 independent elastic constants of LPS is determined using ultrasonic measurements. It is concluded that LPS crystal does not undergo a phase transition near this temperature. A comparison of the three crystals studied shows that LPS has maximum number of phase transitions and LHS has the least number. It is interesting to note that LPS has the simplest formula unit among the three. There is considerable scope for the future work on these crystals and others belonging to the sulphate family.

Lyotropic mixture made of potassium laurate/1-undecanol/K2SO4/water presenting high birefringences and large biaxial nematic phase domain: a laser conoscopy study

The lyotropic liquid crystalline quaternary mixture made of potassium laurate (KL), potassium sulphate, 1-undecanol and water was investigated by experimental optical methods (optical microscopy and laser conoscopy). In a particular temperature and relative concentrations range, the three nematic phases (two uniaxial and one biaxial) were identified. The biaxial domain in the temperature/KL concentration surface is larger when compared to other lyotropic mixtures. Moreover, this new mixture gives nematic phases with higher birefringence than similar systems. The behavior of the symmetric tensor order parameter invariants sigma(3) and sigma(2) calculated from the measured optical birefringences supports that the uniaxial-to-biaxial transitions are of second order, described by a mean-field theory.

Effect of alkyl chain length of alcohols on nematic uniaxial-to-biaxial phase transitions in a potassium laurate/alcohol/K2SO4/water lyotropic mixture

Lyotropic liquid crystalline quaternary mixtures of potassium laurate (KL), potassium sulphate (K2SO4)/alcohol (n-OH)/water, with the alcohols having different numbers of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain (n), from 1-octanol to 1-hexadecanol, were investigated by optical techniques (optical microscopy and laser conoscopy). The biaxial nematic phase domain is present in a window of values of n = n(KL) +/- 2, where n(KL) = 11 is the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain of KL. The biaxial phase domain became smaller and the uniaxial-to-biaxial phase transition temperatures shifted to relatively higher temperatures upon going from 1-nonanol to 1-tridecanol. Moreover, compared with other lyotropic mixtures these new mixtures present high birefringence values, which we expect to be related to the micellar shape anisotropy. Our results are interpreted assuming that alcohol molecules tend to segregate in the micelles in a way that depends on the relative value of n with respect to nKL. The larger the value of n, the more alcohol molecules tend to be located in the curved parts of the micelle, favoring the uniaxial nematic calamitic phase with respect to the biaxial and uniaxial discotic nematic phases.

Label-free human chorionic gonadotropin detection at picogram levels using oriented antibodies bound to graphene screen-printed electrodes

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a key diagnostic marker of pregnancy and an important biomarker for cancers in the prostate, ovaries and bladder and therefore of great importance in diagnosis. For this purpose, a new immunosensor of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) is presented here. The device was fabricated by introducing a polyaniline (PANI) conductive layer, via in situ electropolymerization of aniline, onto a screen-printed graphene support. The PANI-coated graphene acts as the working electrode of a three terminal electrochemical sensor. The working electrode is functionalised with anti-hCG, by means of a simple process that enabled oriented antibody binding to the PANI layer. The antibody was attached to PANI following activation of the –COOH group at the Fc terminal. Functionalisation of the electrode was analysed and optimized using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). Chemical modification of the surface was characterised using Fourier transform infrared, and Raman spectroscopy with confocal microscopy. The graphene–SPE–PANI devices displayed linear responses to hCG in EIS assays from 0.001 to 50 ng mL−1 in real urine, with a detection limit of 0.286 pg mL−1. High selectivity was observed with respect to the presence of the constituent components of urine (urea, creatinine, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, ammonium chloride, potassium sulphate and sodium chloride) at their normal levels, with a negligible sensor response to these chemicals. Successful detection of hCG was also achieved in spiked samples of real urine from a pregnant woman. The immunosensor developed is a promising tool for point-of-care detection of hCG, due to its excellent detection capability, simplicity of fabrication, low-cost, high sensitivity and selectivity.

Influência do cloro, sôbre a composição do caldo da cana de açúcar Co 290, aplicado no solo, na forma de cloreto de sódio

Considering the economic importance of the sugar industry among ourselves, the authors carried out a field experiment (Latin square) with Co 290 sugar cane, on a white sandy soil of Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil, applying NaCl in increasing rates (from 6.8 to 54.5 grams per plant), in order to study the effects of chlorides, on productivity and on the composition of juice. No toxic or stimulating effect was found, and there was no change in yield, in degree of purity of the juice, in general aspect of plants or in colour of leaves and culms. No difference was observed between potassium sulphate or chloride, as source of potash for sugar cane culture. Data collected and the literature cited suggest: (a) that the use of the variety Co 290 is indicated for soils rich in chlorine, such as the saline soils of the North-east and Atlantic Coast of Brazil; (b) that it is necessary to extend studies in Research Institutes and Agricultural Experiment Stations of the country to verify the behaviour of other varieties of sugar cane in the types of soils mentioned, especially with respect their yielding capacity. The authors are already planning such investigations.

Effects of foliar fertilization of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) during the seed-filling stage

An experiment was carried out with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) in a Red Yellow Latossol, sandy phase, in order to study the influence of foliar spraying of the Hanway nutrient solution (NPKS) at grain filling stage on: 1) grain yield; 2) the uptake of fertilizer and soil nitrogen by this crop through the root system and 3) the efficiency of utilization of the nitrogen in the foliar spray solution by the grain. The results of this experiment showed that the foliar application of the Hanway solution with ammonium nitrate at the pod filling period caused severe leaf burn and grain yield was inferior to that of the plants which received a soil application of this fertilizer at the same stage. These facts can be attributed to the presence of ammonium nitrate in the concentration used. The composition of final spray was: 114,28 Kg NH4NO3 + 43,11 Kg potassium poliphosphate + 12,44 Kg potassium sulphate per 500 litres. The uptake of nitrogen fertilizer through the root system and the efficiency of its utilization was greater than that through the leaves.

Elastic constant measurements of super ionic LiKSO4:Na single crystals

Elastic properties of sodium doped Lithium potassium sulphate, LiK0.9Na0.1SO4, crystal has been studied by ultrasonic Pulse Echo Overlap [PEO] technique and are reported for the first time. The controversy regarding the type of crystal found while growth is performed at 35 °C with equimolar fraction of Li2SO4H2O, K2SO4 and Na2SO4 has been resolved by studying the elastic properties. The importance of this crystal is that it exhibits pyroelectric, ferroelectric and electro optic properties. It is simultaneously ferroelastic and superionic. The elastic properties of LiK0.9Na0.1SO4 crystal are well studied by measuring ultrasonic velocity in the crystal in certain specified crystallographic directions and evaluating the elastic stiffness constants, compliance constants and Poisson’s ratios. The anisotropy in the elastic properties of the crystal are well explained by the pictorial representation of the surface plots of phase velocity, slowness and linear compressibility in a-b and a-c planes.

Fontes e períodos de contato de fertilizantes e germinação de sementes de Brachiaria brizantha

A mistura de sementes forrageiras com fertilizantes pode viabilizar o cultivo consorciado, por diminuir a competição com a cultura produtora de grãos. No entanto, se realizada muito antes da semeadura, pode prejudicar a emergência e o estabelecimento das forrageiras. Realizou-se trabalho em condições de laboratório e casa de vegetação, em Botucatu (SP), com o objetivo de avaliar a germinação de sementes de Brachiaria brizantha em razão do tempo de mistura com fertilizantes químicos. O delineamento experimental empregado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos constaram de um fatorial 6 x 8, constituído de diferentes períodos de contato das sementes de Brachiaria brizantha cultivar Marandu (0, 6, 12, 24, 48 e 96 h) com os fertilizantes uréia, sulfato de amônio, cloreto de potássio, sulfato de potássio, superfosfato simples, superfosfato triplo e formulado N-P-K (8-28-16) nas formas de mistura de grânulos e farelado. Não houve relação entre os testes de germinação em laboratório e a emergência a campo. No solo, a emergência das plântulas de Brachiaria brizantha não é afetada se realizada a mistura com fertilizantes minerais fosfatados, cloreto de potássio e formulado farelado até 96 h antes da semeadura.

Residual and annual potassic fertilization for soybeans

There is a lack of long-term research on potassium fertilization for soybean in the tropical and subtropical soils of Brazil and the residual effect of the fertilizer has generally not been considered. An experiment was conducted in plots that had been fertilized with 0, 40, 80, 160 and 240 kg ha(-1) of K2O for 3 years on a Dark Red Latosol, loamy sand (Acrortox). The effects of annual or residual fertilization with those rates of K were studied for three additional years. Potassium was supplied as potassium chloride or potassium sulphate. Soil and leaf samples were taken annually. There was a residual effect of the nutrient, which provided for high yields up to the 3rd year with the highest rate of K. In order to maintain the K contents of the soil in the medium range and obtain at least 90% of the maximum grain yield, an annual application of 80 kg ha(-1) of K2O was necessary, irrespectively of the source. The highest soybean yields were always associated with K levels above 15 mg kg(-1) in the leaves and 1.2 mmol(c) dm(-3) in the soil.

Hidroquímica do rio Solimões na região entre Manacapuru e Alvarães: Amazonas - Brasil

Este trabalho discute as características físico-químicas das águas dos rios Solimões, Purus e seus afluentes, coletadas em novembro de 2004 no Estado do Amazonas, entre as cidades de Manacapuru-Alvarães e Anamã-Pirarauara. Foram realizadas análises físico-químicas (temperatura, pH, condutividade elétrica, turbidez, Ca2+, Na+, K+, Mg2+, HCO3-, SO42-, Cl-), de elementos-traço (Li, B, Al, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, Pb, La, Ce e U) e isótopos de estrôncio. Os parâmetros analisados e a composição química mostram que as águas dos rios e igarapés da região central da Amazônia são quimicamente distintas entre si. As águas brancas do Solimões são cálcicas-bicarbonatadas e as do Purus bicarbonatadas, os respectivos afluentes são sódico-potássico-bicarbonatados e sódico-potássico-sulfatados. Isso acarreta águas brancas fracamente ácidas a neutras e mais condutivas, enquanto as pretas são menos mineralizadas, mais ácidas, especialmente as do Purus. O Ba, Sr, Cu, V e As mais elevados diferenciam as águas brancas do Solimões das do Purus, bem como os afluentes do primeiro em relação ao segundo. Esse conjunto de características indicam que tanto o Solimões, como o Purus e os respectivos afluentes, estão submetidos a condições geológicas/ambientais distintas. A influência do aporte de sedimentos dos Andes é diluída ao longo da bacia do Solimões e se reflete na formação das várzeas dos Solimões e Purus. Por outro lado as rochas crustais, representadas pelos escudos das Guianas e Brasileiro também contribuem, mas em menor proporção.

El empobrecimiento de los suelos mendocinos cultivados con manzanos

En el presente trabajo se han estudiado las pérdidas edafológicas de nitrógeno, fósforo, y potasio del suelo mendocino cultivado con manzano (Malus sylvestris MILL.). Los autores llegan a la conclusión de que durante el trienio 1945 / 1948 se han perdido: 357,65 toneladas de N₂, 96,50 toneladas de P₂ O₅ y 525,88 toneladas de K₂ O. Asimismo consignan que para restituir dichas pérdidas se debería devolver a los suelos, en forma de fertilizantes: 1778 toneladas de sulfato de amonio 536 toneladas de superfosfato de calcio 1052 toneladas de sulfato de potasio

Adubação do café conilon irrigado por gotejamento: fertirrigação x fertilizantes de eficiência aprimorada

O uso da irrigação em cafeeiro é uma tecnologia que vem se consolidando e mostrando-se economicamente viável ao longo dos tempos, trazendo junto com ela a técnica da fertirrigação. Desta forma, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a influência de formas de aplicação e fontes de fertilizantes sobre a condutividade elétrica e pH da solução do solo, bem como no desenvolvimento e produção do café conilon irrigado por gotejamento. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em São Gabriel da Palha, Espírito Santo, utilizando o clone 12V da variedade INCAPER 8142. O experimento foi delineado em blocos ao acaso (DBC) com seis tratamentos e quatro blocos. Os tratamentos adotados foram: T1 - Controle - adubação nitrogenada e potássica aplicada via solo nas fontes ureia e cloreto de potássio; T2 - Adubação nitrogenada e potássica aplicada via solo nas fontes ureia e cloreto de potássio de liberação controlada; T3 - Adubação nitrogenada e potássica aplicada via fertirrigação nas fontes ureia e cloreto de potássio; T4 - Adubação nitrogenada e potássica aplicada via fertirrigação nas fontes nitrato de amônio e sulfato de potássio; T5 - Adubação nitrogenada e potássica aplicada via fertirrigação nas fontes nitrato de amônio e nitrato de potássio; T6 - Adubação nitrogenada e potássica aplicada via solo nas fontes ureia e cloreto de potássio de liberação controlada no período de outubro a março (período chuvoso) e adubação nitrogenada e potássica aplicada via fertirrigação, nas fontes nitrato de amônio e sulfato de potássio no período de abril a setembro (período seco). Foi monitorado o pH e condutividade elétrica da solução do solo, avaliações biométricas das plantas tais como altura, comprimento do primeiro ramo plagiotrópico e número de nós no primeiro ramo plagiotrópico, além da produção por planta e estimativa de produtividade. Os tratamentos T1 e T3 que utilizaram ureia e cloreto de potássio e o T4 - nitrato de amônio e sulfato de potássio disponibilizaram maiores quantidade de nitrogênio na forma amoniacal, causando maior acidificação do bulbo. Em contrapartida os tratamentos T2, T5 e T6 apresentaram menor acidificação, com diferença estatística significativa na variação do pH nas duas profundidades analisadas a partir de 18 meses da aplicação dos tratamentos. Nos tratamentos T2 e T6 observou-se menor salinidade inicial na avaliação aos 90 dias após o plantio através da leitura da condutividade elétrica da solução do solo. Para as avaliações biométricas, os tratamentos T2, T4, T5 e T6 diferiram estatisticamente dos tratamentos T1 e T3, influenciando positivamente à altura de plantas, comprimento e número de nós no primeiro ramo plagiotrópico.

A study of the drying of single droplets in free-flight

The literature relating to evaporation from single droplets of pure liquids and the drying of solution and slurry droplets, and of droplet sprays has been reviewed. The heat and mass transfer rates for individual droplets suspended in free-flight, were investigated using a specially-designed vertical wind tunnel, to simulate conditions in a spray drier. The technique represented a unique alternative method for investigating evaporation from unrestrained single droplets with variable residence times. The experiments covered droplets of pure liquid allowbreak (water, isopropanol) allowbreak and of significantly different solutions (sucrose, potassium sulphate) over a range of temperatures of 37oC to 97oC, initial concentrations of 5 to 40wt/wt% , and initial drop sizes of 2.8 to 4.6mm. Drop behaviour was recorded photographically and dried particles were examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Correlations were developed for mass transfer coefficients for pure water droplets in free-flight; (i) experiencing oscillations, rotation and deformation, Sh = -105 + 3.9 [Ta - Td/Tamb]0.18Re0.5Sc033 for Re approx. > 1380 (ii) when these movements had ceased or diminished, Sh = 2.0 + 0.71 [Ta - Td/Tamb]0.18Re0.5Sc033 for Re approx. < 1060. Data for isopropanol drops were correlated resonably well by these equations. The heat transfer data showed a similar transition range. The drying rate curves for drops of sucrose and potassium sulphate solution exhibited three distinct stages; an initial increase in the drying rate as drop temperature reduced to the wet-bulb temperature, a short constant-rate period and a falling-rate period characterised by formation of a crust which controlled the mass transfer rate. Due to drop perturbation the rates in the high Re number region were up to 5 times greater than predicted from theory for spherical droplets. In the case of sucrose solution a `skin' formed over the drop surface prior to crust formation. This provided an additional resistance to mass transfer and resulted in extended drying times and a smooth crust of low porosity. The relevance of the results to practical spray drying operations is discussed.