Eutrophication of coastal waters often leads to excessive growth of microalgal epiphytes attached to seagrass leaves; however, the effect of increased nutrient levels on sediment microalgae has not been studied within seagrass communities. A slow-release NPK Osmocote fertilizer was added to sedimen...

The response of yam to inoculation with two species of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM), Glomus mosseae and Glomus etunicatum and applications of fertilizer, and manure was investigated. Field experiment was conducted at the research farm of Botany and Microbiology Department, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The treatments were arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design. There were four levels of VAM inoculation. The yam plants were either inoculated with a VAM fungus or not. Manure and NPK fertilizer were also applied as treatments. Each of the VAM was either combined with manure or NPK fertilizer. Chlorophyll synthesis, relative water content (RWC) and dry matter accumulation were investigated. The results showed that there was enhanced chlorophyll content in yam inocu...

Abstract in portuguese Dimorphandra wilsonii Rizz. é uma espécie arbórea criticamente ameaçada de extinção. Foi descrita para áreas de maior fertilidade no Domínio do cerrado; entretanto, atualmente ocorre em áreas isoladas e de baixa fertilidade natural. Com o objetivo de avaliar a adaptação desta espécie a condições de oligotrofia, plantas foram cultivadas em casa de vegetação em solo destas áreas oligotróficas, mas com diferentes níveis de fertilidade. A partir da análise (more) de fertilidade do solo foram definidas as doses de macronutrientes (NPK) e a dose de calcário a serem utilizadas nos tratamentos que se constituíram de dois níveis de calagem e três níveis de adubação. Após 220 dias do plantio, os tratamentos que aumentaram significativamente o crescimento foram aqueles que receberam adubação com a dose indicada de NPK em solo não corrigido pela calagem e aquele que teve o solo calado e adubado com duas vezes a dose indicada de NPK. A calagem por si só não promoveu maior crescimento, mas propiciou respostas crescentes de crescimento a níveis crescentes de disponibilidade de nutrientes. Foram encontrados nódulos radiculares em todos os tratamentos, e os resultados permitiram concluir que a espécie apresenta requerimento nutricional coerente com sua área de origem no Domínio do Cerrado. Também foi possível ressaltar a fixação biológica de nitrogênio, incomum em Caesalpinioideae, como estratégia adaptativa para crescimento em áreas com baixa oferta de nutrientes. Abstract in english Dimorphandra wilsonii Rizz. is a critically endangered tree species. It has been described for sites of higher soil fertility in the Cerrado Domain. However, it occurs nowadays in isolated areas of low natural fertility. To study species adaptation to oligotrophic conditions, plants were grown in a greenhouse in soils from oligotrophic sites but with different levels of fertility. After soil fertility analysis, the macronutrients (NPK) and lime doses to be used in each tr (more) eatment were defined, resulting in a combination of two liming levels and three fertilization levels. After 220 days, the treatments that significantly increased seedling growth were the one whose substrate was limed and fertilized with twice the prescribed NPK dosage, and the one with the indicated dosage of NPK but no liming. Liming itself did not promote growth enhancement, but favored increased growth response to increasing levels of nutrient availability. Root nodules were found in all the treatments, and the results led to the conclusion that D. wilsonii nutritional requirements are consistent with its original distribution sites in the Cerrado Domain. It was also possible to highlight nitrogen biological fixation, an unusual feature in Caesalpinioideae, as an adaptive strategy for survival in areas of low nutrient availability.

Abstract in portuguese Experiências fatoriais de amendoim com três níveis de espaçamento, três de adubação com NPK e três de pulverização com inseticida foram conduzidas em 1960-61 no Estado de São Paulo. Em média de seis experiências, a adubação proporcionou o maior aumento de produção. A redução do espaçamento também teve efeito satisfatório, ao passo que a pulverização com inseticida pouco aumentou a produção média, pois só apareceram insetos nocivos em duas das e (more) xperiências. Observações em três experiências mostraram a inconveniência de aplicar o fósforo e o potássio segundo o método tradicional - nos sulcos de plantio. Abstract in english A series of factorial experiments was performed in 1960-61 in State of São Paulo to compare the effects of three levels of spacing, three of NPK fertilizer and three of insecticide treatment in the production of peanuts (Arachis hypogaeaL). As an average of six experiments, the best yield increase was obtained with NPK fertilizers. Increasing plant population also induced satisfactory increase, whereas the average response to the insecticide treatment was small. A reduct (more) ion in the stand of three experiments was observed and was associated to application of fertilizers in contact with the peanut seed.

Abstract in spanish Se establecieron cuatro dosis de fertilización con N-P-K y cuatro distancias de siembra en un diseño de parcelas divididas con subunidades en cuadrado latino, para estudiar su efecto sobre el tamaño y el rendimiento del bulbo de cebolla Texas Grano 438. El diámetro del bulbo se comportó como una característica dependiente de la fertilización y la distancia de siembra. Con las dosis menor (150-44-166 kg/ha de N-P-K, respectivamente) el máximo diámetro se logró en (more) la distancia 12 x 20 cm mientras que con las dosis mayores lo fue en la distancia 10 x 20 cm. Al variar la distancia desde 6 x 20 cm hasta 12 x 20 cm se modificó significativamente la altura y el peso fresco del bulbo, lográndose los valores máximos en la distancia 10 x 20 cm. No se detectaron diferencias entre las dosis del fertilizante. El rendimiento por unidad de área presentó respuestas inversamente proporcionales a las distancias de siembra. Abstract in english The effect of four doses of N-P-K and four plant spacing on size and yield of Texas Grano 438 onion bulb was studied in a latin square design. Bulb diameter was dependent on fertilization and plant spacing. At the 12 x 20 cm spacing, maximum diameters were obtained with the lowest level of fertilization (150-44-166 kg/ha N-P-K, respectively) while with higher dose the maximum diameter was found at the 10 x 20 cm plant spacing. When spacing was changed from 6 x 20 cm to 12 (more) x 20 cm, the bulb's height and fresh weight were significantly modified, obtaining maximum values at the 10 x 20 cm. No differences were found for fertilizer dose. Yield per area unit showed results in indirect proportion to plant spacing.

Fertilizers are mineral associations intended to bring to the plants nutritive complements necessary to their growth. Modern fertilizers (NPK) combine the three basic elements which are the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). In this study, we investigated in tunnel apparatus the influence of aqueous solutions containing low, moderate and high concentrations of NPK on the oviposition of Aedes aegypti. The results showed that the solutions containing moderate concentrations (NK = 17-33 mg/l and P = 23-47 mg/l) attracted significantly more gravid females than distilled water (P 0.05). These findings suggest that NPK fertilizers may influence the egg-laying behaviour of Ae. aegypti in field situations. PMID:18416252

A field experiment investigating amendments of organic material including farmyard manure, paper factory sludge and crop residues combined with fly ash, lime and chemical fertilizer in a rice-peanut cropping system was conducted during 1997-98 and 1998-99 at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India. The soil was an acid lateritic (Halustaf) sandy loam. For rice, an N:P:K level of 90:26.2:33.3 kg ha-1 was supplied through the organic materials and chemical fertilizer to all the treatments except control and fly ash alone. The required quantities of organic materials were added to supply 30 kg N ha-1 and the balance amount of N, P and K was supplied through chemical fertilizer. Amendment materials as per fertilization treatments were incorporated to individual plots 15 days befor...

Conservation agriculture (CA) is rapidly developing in Madagascar but little is known about its effects on local soil functioning. To assess some of those effects, we investigated the effects of three CA systems and two levels of fertilization on soil functioning using nematofauna as indicator. The systems consisted in (i) soybean (Glycine max L.)-maize (Zea mays L.) rotation with mulch of residues, CA-R; (ii) bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)-soybean rotation with living mulch of Pennisetum clandestinum, CA-K; (iii) continuous maize with living mulch of Desmodium uncinatum, CA-D and were compared with soybean-maize under conventional tillage (CT) and natural fallow (NF). The fertilization levels consisted in (i) farmyard manure, FYM; and (ii) farmyard manure+mineral fertilizers, FYM+NPK. Locat...

Abstract in english Degradation of the insecticide chlorpynfos (160 a.i mg kg-1) using a biomix of a biobed system biostimulated with inorganic fertilizer (NPK) was investigated. Three concentrations of the fertilizer (0.1%, 0.5% and 1.0% ww-1) were evaluated on chlorpynfos degradation, TCP (3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyrinidol) accumulation and biological activity of the biomix. The chlorpynfos was dissipated efficiently (>75%) after 40 days of incubation and no additional dissipation was obtained (more) with increasing concentration of NPK after 20 days of incubation. TCP accumulation occuned in all evaluated NPK concentrations and its concentration increased with the increment of NPK addition raising the probability of leaching of this compound. Biological activity (FDA and ligninolytic enzyme activity) in the biomix increased by the NPK presence in all evaluated concentrations. The DGGE analyses showed that combined treatments with lower amounts of NPK (0% and 0.1%) and chlorpynfos showed no significant modifications in the microbial community in the biomix. However, combined overdoses of NPK (0.5 and 1.0%) and chlorpynfos caused significant modifications in the bacterial communities that could be associated with TCP degradation reduction in the biomix. In conclusion, the obtained results demonstrated that the biomix prepared with Andisol and biostimulated with NPK nutrient can be recommended in biobeds as a viable alternative of chlorpyrifos dissipation avoiding soil and water contamination probability.

A field experiment was conducted on a Vertisol for three consecutive years (1998-2000) to study the effects of combined use of inorganic fertilizer (NPK) and organic manure (farmyard manure) on soil physical properties, water-use efficiency, root growth and yield of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in a soybean-mustard cropping system. Application of 10 Mg farmyard manure and recommended NPK (NPK+FYM) to soybean for three consecutive years improved the organic carbon content of the surface (0-15 cm) soil from an initial value of 4.4 g kg(-1) to 6.2 g kg(-1) and also increased seed yield and water-use efficiency by 103% and 76%, respectively, over the control. The surface (0-15 cm) soil of the plots receiving both farmyard manure and recommended NPK had larger mean weight diameter (0.50 mm) and a higher percentage of water stable aggregates (55%) than both the inorganically fertilized (NPK) (0.44 mm and 49%) and unfertilized control plots (0.41 mm and 45.4%). The saturated hydraulic conductivity (13.32 x 10(-6) m s(-1)) of the NPK+FYM treatment of the 0-7.5 cm depth was also significantly greater than that of the NPK (10.53 x 10(-6) m s(-1)) and control (8.61 x 10(-6) m s(-1)) treatments. The lowest bulk density (1.18 Mg m(-3)) in the 0-7.5 cm layer was recorded in NPK+FYM whereas it was highest in the control plots (1.30 Mg m(-3)). However, at sub-surface (22.5-30 cm) layer, fertilizer and manure application had little effect on bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Root length density (RLD) up to the 30 cm depth was highest in the NPK+FYM plots and it was 31.9% and 70.5% more than NPK and control plots. The RLD showed a significant and negative correlation (r=-0.88( * *)) with the penetration resistance. PMID:16289791

Changes in soil fertility status were evaluated for 10 years, from 1996 to 2006 to examine the impact of drip fertigation in a laterite soil and to determine the nutrient uptake pattern of arecanut (Areca catechu L.). Four fertigation levels (25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of recommended fertilizer dose, 100:18:117gN:P:Kpalm-1year-1), three frequencies of fertigation (10, 20 and 30 days) and two controls (control 1: drip irrigation without fertilizer application and control 2: drip irrigation with 100% NPK soil application) were studied. The soil pH increased to 6.0 at the end of experiment in 2006 compared to the pre-experimental soil pH of 5.6 in 1996. In 0-25-cm depth interval, the soil organic carbon (SOC) increased significantly from 1.06% in 1999 to 1.84% in 2006, and in 25-50-cm depth inter...

Evaluation of fertility sources for certified organic greenhouse vegetable production is necessary for further industry growth. Two experiments tested the effects of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) and water extract tea made from it on potted greenhouse tomatoes. The first used MSWC alone (two levels) and soil tea drench alone (three application frequencies). The second used MSWC and tea in factorial combination at three levels (0, 1×, and 2×). The greatest yield and leaf tissue potassium (K) were obtained using the greatest level combinations of compost and foliar tea spray, and this was significantly greater than conventional nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilizer yield. Tissue magnesium (Mg) was affected by compost because of the antagonism from compost K. Tea inc...

The sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) rotation is an intensive and new cropping system in Central China. Nutrient management practices in this rotation system may influence soil fertility, the important aspects of which are soil biological properties and quality. As sensitive soil biological properties and quality indicators, soil microbial community activity, microbial biomass, enzyme activities, soil organic matter (SOM) and total N resulting from different fertilization regimes in this rotation system were studied through a four-year field experiment from April 2005 to May 2009. Treatments included control (CK), fertilizer phosphorus and potassium (PK), fertilizer nitrogen and potassium (NK), fertilizer nitrogen and phosphorus (NP) and a fertilizer nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium combination (NPK). Soil microbial community activities in the NK, NP and NPK treatments were significantly lower than those in the CK and PK treatments after the sudangrass and ryegrass trial. The highest microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N, SOM, total N, sucrase and urease activities were found in the NPK treatment, and these soil quality indicators were significantly higher in the NK, NP and NPK treatments than in the PK and CK treatments. Soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities were positively associated with SOM in the sudangrass and ryegrass rotation system, indicating that fertilization regimes, especially N application, reduced microbial community activity in the soil. Proper fertilization regimes will increase microbial biomass, enzyme activity and SOM and improve soil fertility. PMID:21706419

Abstract in portuguese Três experiências foram conduzidas no Estado de São Paulo, para estudar o efeito dos elementos fertilizantes essenciais sobre a produção de amendoim em solos Podzolizados de Lins e Marília. O fósforo aumentou apreciàvelmente a produção nas três experiências; o nitrogênio, somente em uma; o potássio, em nenhuma. Abstract in english Three factorial experiments were designed to compare the effects of N-P-K fertilizers on peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) pod production on a Podzolized (Lins and Marilia) soil in the State of São Paulo. Besides the untreated controls nitrogen, phophorus and potassium were tried at the levels: 30, 45 and 30 kg/ha and 60, 90 and 60 kg/ha of N, P2O5 and K2O respectively. An increase in the yield of peanut pods was associated with phosphorus in all experiments and with nitrogen in one out of three. Yield was depressed by potassium fertilizer in all experiments.

Abstract in portuguese Neste trabalho são apresentados os resultados obtidos era três experimentos para verificar possíveis deficiências de micronutrientes e de magnésio em solos tipos terra-roxa-misturada e massapê-salmourão, cultivados há mais de quinze anos com cana. Foram feitas aplicações de sulfato ferroso, tetraborato de sódio, sulfato de magnésio, sulfato de manganês, sulfato de cobre, sulfato de zinco e molibdato de amônio, nos sulcos de plantio, na presença de NPK. Nos (more) solos massapê-salmourão, os micronutrientes boro, molibdênio, ferro e cobre determinaram aumentos na produção de cana. Abstract in english In this paper are presented the results obtained with three experiments on the application of minor elements and magnesium to sugar cane, on soils known as "terra-roxa-misturada" and "massapê-salmourão" which for many years had been cultivated with this graminea. The treatments with four replications, in randomized blocks, were as follows: 1) NPK (control), 2) NPK + Fe, 3) NPK + B, 4) NPK + Cu, 5) NPK + Mn, 6) NPK + Zn, 7) NPK + Mo, 8) NPK + Mg and 9) NPK + (Fe + B + Cu (more) + Zn + Mg + Mn + Mo). The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were applied as ammonium sulfate, superfosfate and potassium chloride at the rates of 150 kg/N, 100 kg/P2O5 and 150 kgK2O per hectare. The elements were applied in the furrows in addition to the basic fertilization: iron, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc, as sulfates; boron, as borax and molybdenum as ammonium molybdate. The results indicated that boron, iron, copper and molybdenum gave a yield increase in the soil massapê salmourão, whereas ou "terra-roxa-mistura da", effects were not significant.

In order to investigate the effect of long-term located fertilization on soil fulvic acid (FA), in this study, four soil samples were taken from black soil with long-term located fertilization (about 30 year) in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. The fertilization treatments included control (CK), N, P and K fertilization (NPK), horse manure (OM), combination of organic manure and chemical fertilizations (MNPK). Soil FA was extracted from the samples and purified. The excitation, emission, synchronous, and three-dimensional-excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (3DEEM) characteristics of the FA were determined. The excitation, emission and synchronous scan spectra all indicated that the main peaks of FA in the NPK treatment exhibited a significantly blue shift compared with CK, while those of MNPK, OM treatment caused a red shift to some extent. 3DEEM spectra of FA in all treatments exhibited four peaks (peak a, peak b, peak c, and peak d), compared with FA in CK, the wavelengths shift tendency of peak a, peak b, and peak c of FA 3DEEM in NPK, MNPK and OM treatments were similar to that of traditional spectra in FA. In order to provide quantitative information of FA humification degree in different treatments, we investigated the fluorescence index f450/500 (FI), area integration (A370-600 nm, A1 370-412 nm, A4 538-600 nm). Compared with CK, the f450/500, ratio of A1/A in NPK and A4/A in MNPK treatment increased by 4.62%, 6.12%, 7.22%, respectively. However, the f450/500, the ratio of A1/A in MNPK and A4/A in NPK treatment decreased by 3.86%, 15.31%, and 7.22% respectively. This indicated that NPK application gave a lower degree of FA humification, and combination of organic manure and chemical fertilizations would lead to a greater degree of FA aromatization in black soil with long-term located fertilization than CK. PMID:22250551

To examine the effect of NPK application on the growth, yield and nutrient uptake by sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) and to elucidate the limiting factors of cultivation on sandy soils in the tropics, a field experiment was carried out in 2005 on a sandy soil in Khon Kaen, Northeast Thailand. Six treatments were applied: NPK (300 kg ha-1 each), PK, NK, NP, control and NPK+manure (300 kg ha-1 each + 30 t ha-1) treatments. Plants were harvested and the dry weight, yield and NPK contents determined. Root distribution in the soil profile was also examined. Aboveground biomass values in the PK, NP, NPK and NK treatments were 26, 37, 85 and 87% higher than in the control (31.4 t ha-1), respectively, indicating that N was the dominant limiting factor, followed by K, with little effect of P. Aboveground biomass value in the NPK + Manure treatment was not significantly different from that of the NPK treatment, suggesting that the advantage of organic matter application was limited in the present study. More than 80% of the roots were distributed within the surface 30cm. Nutrient removal in the control treatment amounted to 39 kgN ha-1, 12 kgP ha-1 and 39 kgK ha-1, which corresponded to 83, 5 and 15% of the soil available nutrients. In conclusion, adequate N and K fertilization in combination with effective erosion control to conserve surface soil would be essential for sustainable production of sugarcane on sandy soils in the tropics.   

Abstract in portuguese O presente trabalho teve como objetivo determinar o efeito da adubação sobre a comunidade infestante e sobre o período anterior à interferência (PAI) das plantas daninhas na cultura do amendoim, cv. IAC Runner 886, em sistema convencional. Os períodos de convivência estudados foram: 0, 7, 15, 20, 30, 45, 55 e 126 dias após a emergência (DAE), totalizando oito tratamentos, dispostos em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições, em dois níveis de adubação: 0 (more) e 150 kg ha-1 da formulação 00-20-20 (N-P-K). A adubação não alterou a composição da comunidade infestante, destacando-se Cyperus rotundus, Eleusine indica, Indigofera hirsuta, Portulaca oleraceae e Sida rhombifolia como as espécies de maior importância relativa. Contudo, a densidade de plantas daninhas foi maior na área não adubada, mas sem afetar de modo diferenciado a massa seca acumulada por elas. O cultivar de amendoim IAC Runner 886 pode conviver com essa comunidade com e sem adubação por até 15 e 17 DAE (PAI), respectivamente, sem sofrer perdas significativas na produção. A interferência das plantas daninhas reduziu entre 31 e 34% a produtividade do amendoim para as áreas sem adubação e com adubação, respectivamente. Abstract in english This experiment was carried out to study the effect of fertilization on weed community and on the period before weed interference (PBI) in peanut culture, IAC Runner 886, under a conventional till system. The weed control periods studied were: 0, 7, 15, 20, 30, 45, 55, and 126 days after emergence (DAE), totaling eight treatments, arranged in a randomized block design, with four replications and two levels of fertilization (0 and 150 kg ha-1 of formulation 00-20-20 (N-P-K (more) )). Fertilization did not affect the weed community, with the species Cyperus rotundus, Eleusine indica, Indigofera hirsuta, Portulaca oleracea and Sida rhombifolia being the most prominent at all levels of fertilization. However, weed density was higher in the non- fertilized area, but without particularly affecting the dry mass accumulated by these species. Peanut can grow along with the weed community, with and without fertilization, up to 15 and 17 DAE, without significant yield losses. Weed interference reduced peanut productivity between 31 and 34% for both the fertilized area and the area without fertilization, respectively.

Soil is the largest terrestrial pool for organic carbon in the biosphere. Therefore, sequestration of C in soils is often seen as a 'win-win' proposition. The long-term combined application of manure with chemical fertilizers had increased the accumulation of organic carbon in soil (SOC); and the results from the application of chemical fertilizers on the stock of SOC in soil were inconsistent. Furthermore, less studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of different fertilization, especially the application of N fertilizer, on the stabilization of SOC in the different fertilized soils. In this study, we hypothesized that the long-term different fertilization not only affect organic C storage, but also its stabilization in soil. Therefore, we conducted an incubation experiment with the soils from a long-term fertilization trials. Soil samples were collected from the three fertilized plots, ((1) no fertilizer, NF soil, (2) inorganic NPK fertilizers, NPK soil; and (3) Manure + NPK fertilizers, MNPK soil) of a long-term fertilization experiment initiated in 1990 in Shaanxi, China. The soils were incubated at 28o C for 30 days with the different treatments, i.e., (1) control with no addition (CK), (2) added 200 mg N kg-1 soil (+ NH4-N), (3) added 1000 mg C kg-1 soil (+ glucose), and (4) added 200 mg N kg-1 soil + 1000 mg C kg-1 soil (+glucose + NH4-N). The evolved CO2 was determined by titration of the excess NaOH with 0.1 M HCl. Decomposition of SOC in the different soils was evaluate with the accumulation of released CO2-C based on dry soil (in mg C kg-1 soil), and the decomposition rate of SOC during the incubation (in % of total organic C in soil). Long-term different fertilization treatments (NPK, and MNPK soil) significantly increased the organic C storage in 0-100 cm soil profile. SOC storage in MNPK soil (83.0 t ha-1) was significantly higher than NPK soil (80.8 t ha-1), and both were significantly higher than the no fertilizer soil. The decomposition rates of SOC in MNPK soil was 3.3%, which was significantly lower than NF and NPK soils (4.6% and 4.2%). The half-life of SOC in NF, NPK, and MNPK soils were 557, 764, and 834 days, respectively. This indicated that long-tern combined application of manure and NPK stabilized soil organic C. Addition of NH4+-N significantly increased the accumulated CO2-C released from the different soils. The decomposition rate of SOC in NF, NPK, and MNPK soils with addition of N fertilizer was 6.8%, 5.5%, and 3.9%, and was significantly higher than the corresponding control without addition of N fertilizer by 54%, 33%, and 21%, respectively. We concluded that the long-term combined application manure and NPK fertilizers not only increase soil organic C storage, but also improve its stabilization soil. It is an useful way to couple C and N cycles in soil to manage crop production and maintain environmental quality.

A field experiment was conducted on a deep Vertisol of Bhopal, India to compare root and shoot biomass, chlorophyll content, enzyme activity and nodulation in three cropping systems at three combinations of organic manure and inorganic-fertilizer: 75%NPK + 5 t farmyard manure (FYM), 75%NPK + 1.5 t poultry manure (PM), and 75%NPK + 5 t phosphocompost (PC) vis-a-vis 0%, 75% and 100% of fertilizer-NPK. In general, nodule number and its mass were lower in intercrop soybean than sole soybean. Also there was decrease in the nodule number with higher NPK dose. The FYM treated plots recorded 22.0% and 7.6% higher nodule mass than poultry manure and phosphocompost plots, respectively. Also, the total chlorophyll content was higher in organically treated plots than that in 100% NPK particularly at 30 days after sowing (DAS, pre-flowering). In sorghum the peak nitrate reductase (NR) activity was recorded at 60 DAS while in soybean it was at 30 DAS. The NR activity was higher in intercrop sorghum than that in sole sorghum. Maximum NR activity was observed in 100% NPK. Soybean/sorghum intercropping system recorded significantly higher root and shoot biomass than sole soybean and sorghum. The crop growth rates were relatively rapid during 30-60 DAS and followed the order; intercropping > sole sorghum > sole soybean. With the increase in NPK dose from 0% to 100% there was significant improvement in the dry matter (DM) production in sole sorghum and soybean/sorghum intercropping system. Soybean as preceding crop recorded the highest DM, chlorophyll content, NR activity in wheat while these values were the lowest in sorghum-wheat system. PMID:15207300

The present study was undertaken to assess the benefit and compare the functioning of AM fungi on wheat grown conventionally and on beds. Ten treatment combinations were used, treatments 1 and 2: no fertilizers with and without arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (In vitro produced Glomus intraradices); 3:100% of recommended NPK: (120?kg?ha?1 N; 60?kg?ha?1 P; 50?kg?ha?1 K), and 4 and 5: 75% of recommended NPK dose with and without AM inoculation in a 5??2 split-plot design on wheat using conventional/flat system and elevated/raised bed system. The maximum grain yield (3.84?t?ha?1) was obtained in AM fungi inoculated plots of raised bed system applied with 75% NPK and was found higher (although non- significant) than the conventional (3.73?t?ha?1) system. The AM inoculation at 75% fertilizer...

Abstract in spanish Con el fin de evaluar la respuesta de la fertilización en papa DIACOL Capiro se evaluaron diferentes niveles de Ca (0, 3, 5 y 9 cmolc kg-1), Mg (0, 0,7; 1,4 y 3 cmolc kg-1), B (0, 0,5, 1,0 y 2,0 mg kg-1) y S (0, 10, 20 y 40 mg kg-1), con tres niveles de NPK, (relación 1:2:2) en dosis de 500, 1.500 y 3.000 kg ha-1. Para ello se utilizó un diseño central compuesto modificado sobre 80 parcelas experimentales de 1 m2. Para determinar las concentraciones de estos elementos (more) en el suelo, se realizaron incubaciones de suelo y se obtuvieron eficiencias de 0,17; 0,83; 0,79; 0,90; 0,10 y 0,53 para P, K, Ca, Mg, B y S, respectivamente. Hubo una respuesta positiva a las dosis crecientes de NPK, cuyos promedios de producción total fueron 7,54; 9,34 y 11,39 kg m-2. Sin embargo, la relación costo/beneficio, indica que las dosis adecuadas para la fertilización química de la papa Diacol Capiro en este suelo, están alrededor de 1.500 kg ha-1 y no justifica la aplicación de las dosis más altas de fertilizante, dado que al duplicarlas solo se logra un incremento del 22% en la producción total y no se observaron diferencias significativas en la producción de tubérculos de mayor valor comercial. Las aplicaciones de Ca y Mg no siempre presentaron efectos positivos sobre la producción en los diferentes niveles de fertilización evaluados. Las adiciones de B y S mostraron reducción en la producción con diferencias significativas, por posible desbalance en la solución nutritiva del suelo, dado que la materia orgánica adicionada, suple las deficiencias de microelementos y el S. Abstract in english This research was carried out for evaluate the response to fertilization in andic soils of the potato variety DIACOL Capiro. Different levels of Ca (0, 3, 5 y 9 cmolc kg-1), Mg (0, 0.7, 1.4 and 3 cmolc kg-1), B (0, 0,5, 1,0 and 2,0 mg kg-1) and S (0, 10, 20 y 40 mg kg-1) with three levels of NPK, (grade 1:2:2) in 500, 1.500 and 3.000 kg ha-1 dose where evaluated. A modified central composite design was used and 80 experimental plots of 1 m2 were established. In order to d (more) eterminate the concentrations of these elements in the soil solution, there were made incubations with different dose of these elements and the application efficiency were P: 0.17, K: 0.83, Ca: 0.79, Mg: 0.90, S: 0.53 and B: 0.10. The yield was partitioned in four categories by size tuber. The levels of NPK showed a positive response for total yield with averages 7.54, 9.34 and 11.39 kg m-2 for 500, 1.500 and 3.000 kg ha-1 of NPK, respectively.. Differences among the tuber size categories, more of 6 cm, 2-4 cm and less of 2 cm , were significant, but in the 4-6 cm category it did not have significant differences. The Ca and Mg applications showed unpredictable effects over the production in the different fertilization levels evaluated. The use of B and S did show significant differences in the production for the studied soil.

Phenotypic plasticity enables many damaged plants to increase nectar secretion rates from extrafloral nectaries (EFNs), or in the case of broad bean, Vicia faba L. to produce additional EFNs, to attract natural enemies of herbivores. While plants benefit greatly from these defensive mutualisms, the costs of producing EFNs are largely unknown. We hypothesized that if EFN production is costly, then damaged plants with high resource levels would be able to produce more EFNs than plants that are resource-limited. Here, we show that this indirect inducible defence does follow this general pattern. Vicia faba enriched with 6 or 12 g of 14:14:14 NPK fertilizer increased EFN numbers after leaf damage by 46 and 60%, respectively, compared with nutrient-poor plants. Thus, EFN production is both damage- and resource-dependent. Analogous to direct defences, production of EFNs may limit the overall loss of leaf tissue when risk of herbivory increases. PMID:17148294

Abstract in portuguese Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o rendimento forrageiro, os teores de proteína bruta (PB) e a digestibilidade in vitro de matéria seca (DIVMS) de cinco híbridos de sorgo forrageiro (AG-2002, AG-2005E, AG-X202, AG-X213 e AG-X215), cultivados sob quatro níveis de adubação NPK. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados, em um esquema fatorial 5 x 4 com quatro repetições. Os híbridos avaliados apresentaram altas produções médias de MS/ ha e resposta (more) linear positiva, em função da adubação, ressalvando a alta produtividade (15,47 t/ha) nas parcelas sem adubação, em função da fertilidade do solo e das condições climáticas. Os híbridos apresentaram respostas diferenciadas quanto aos teores de PB, em função da adubação, predominando respostas quadráticas, determinando o comportamento quadrático da produção de proteína bruta. A DIVMS e a produção de matéria seca digestiva apresentaram respostas lineares positivas em função da adubação, sendo a produção de matéria seca digestível fortemente correlacionada (0,91**) com o aumento da produção de MS/ha. Abstract in english The objective of this research was to evaluate the forage yield, crude protein (CP) contents and dry matter (DM) in vitro digestibility of five forage sorghum hybrids (AG-2002, AG-2005E, AG-X202, AG-X213 e AG-X215), cultivated under four NPK fertilization levels. A randomized blocks design, in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme, with four replicates, was used. The evaluated hybrids showed high average DM/ha yield and positive linear answer in function of fertilization, except for t (more) he high productivity (15.47 t/ha) in the plots without fertilization, in function of soil fertilization and climatic conditions. The hybrids showed different answers for the CP contents, according to the fertilization, in a quadratic way, determining the quadratic behavior for the crude protein yield. IVDMD and digestive dry matter yield showed positive linear answers in function of fertilization, and the digestible dry matter yield was highly correlated (0.91**) with the increase of DM/ha yield.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) assimilation by autotrophic bacteria is an important process in the soil carbon cycle with major environmental implications. The long-term impact of fertilizer on CO2 assimilation in the bacterial community of paddy soils remains poorly understood. To narrow this knowledge gap, the composition and abundance of CO2-assimilating bacteria were investigated using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and quantitative PCR of the cbbL gene [that encodes ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO)] in paddy soils. Soils from three stations in subtropical China were used. Each station is part of a long-term fertilization experiment with three treatments: no fertilizer (CK), chemical fertilizers (NPK), and NPK combined with rice straw (NPKM). At all of ...

Summary The decrease of NMR visibility of the C signal in soil samples due to the association between organic carbon (OC) and the topsoil mineral surface was investigated. CPMAS 13C-NMR spectra were obtained for soil particle-size fractions ( 20 mm) and bulk soils from an agricultural topsoil (Chernozem) that had received three different amendments (no fertilization, mineral fertilization (NPK), mineral (NPK) and organic (cattle manure) fertilizations) at Bad Lauchstadt, Germany. The soil organic carbon content of the three soils depended on the degree of soil fertilization. There was no constant relationship between the total NMR signal intensity and the total amount of organic carbon (TOC) for all size fractions. Indeed, a key role played in the C signal intensity by the paramagnetic fer...

Historically, the most common agricultural practice in Northern Guárico, one of Venezuelan largest cereal production regions, has been mono cropping, with extensive tillage operations that usually causes rapid soil degradation and nitrogen losses. Alternative production systems, such as non-tillage agricultural practices, have been extensively implemented during the last few years. However, studies of the nitrogen losses associated with these alternative practices are not widely available. This study was conducted at "Fundo Tierra Nueva", Guárico State (9°23'33" N, 66° 38'30" W) in a corn field under the non-tillage agricultural practice, during the growing season June-August 2005. The soils are Vertisols (Typic Haplusterts). The area has two well defined precipitation seasons: wet (May-October) and dry (November-April). The mean annual precipitation of the area is 622±97.3 mm (last 5 years). Because the irrigation of the crop depends on precipitation, the planting is scheduled during the months of highest precipitation in June-July. We measured nitrogenous gas emissions (N2O and NO), concentrations of total nitrogen (NT), NH4+ and NO3- in soil (0-100 cm) after fertilization to estimate the nitrogen losses. We also measured CO2 emissions to evaluate the relationship of microbial respiration to the emissions of nitrogenous trace gases. Soils were fertilized with 54 kgN/ha (NPK 12:24:12, nitrogen as NH4Cl) and planted simultaneously by a planting machine provided with a furrow opener where the fertilizer and seeds are incorporated between 0-10 cm depth. Thirty days later, soils were fertilized by broadcast addition of 18 kgN/ha (as ammonium nitrate). Nitrous oxide emissions were highly dependant on the water content. Prior to fertilization N2O emissions were very low. Right after fertilization the emissions increased by a factor of 5 compared to pre-fertilization levels and increased to 100 times larger after the first heavy rain. NO emissions did not increase as much as N2O emissions after the first fertilization. Right after the second fertilization both gases increased their emissions and concentrations in soil profile dramatically. These results suggest that broadcast fertilizer addition with ammonium nitrate stimulates the nitrogenous gas emissions due to enhanced nitrification and denitrification at the soil surface. Estimates of percentage of nitrogen losses and fertilizer-induced emission factors (FEI) for both gases are provided.

Abstract in portuguese O comportamento de quatro variedades de girassol, na ausência e na presença de adubação com NPK, foi estudado em diversas localidades do Estado de São Paulo. A variedade Uruguai destacou-se consideravelmente das outras na produção. O efeito médio de NPK foi pequeno, mas houve grandes diferenças nas respostas das variedades e pelo uso anterior dos solos. Nas áreas não adubadas no ano anterior, a adubação aumentou substancialmente a produção, sobretudo das va (more) riedades Uruguai e Aguapeí. Embora ocupasse o segundo lugar na produção, a variedade Riscada foi das menos eficientes no aproveitamento da adubação. Abstract in english Experiments were conducted in several localities of the State of São Paulo to study the production of four sunflower varieties in the presence and absence of a NPK fertilizer. The seed yields decreased from the variety Uruguai to Riscada, Aguapeí and Preta. While Uruguai produced remarkably more than the other varieties, the differences among the latter were smaller. The overall yield increase due to NPK was small, but the responses changed appreciably according to the (more) variety and the previous treatment of the soils used for the experiments. In the areas which received no fertilizer in the previous year, the experimental fertilizer increased substantially the yields, principally of the varieties Uruguai and Aguapeí. Riscada was less responsive to the pertilizer application.

The conjunctive use of a compost tea (CT) and an inorganic fertiliser (NPK) on the growth, yield and terpenoid content of Centella asiatica (L.) urban was evaluated. CT and NPK applied at half the recommended concentration resulted in the significant enhancement of vegetative growth, yield and antioxidant content. The synergistic effect of CT50 and NPK50 was highly pronounced on the bioactive components Asiatic acid, madecassoside and asiaticoside. The distribution of the total antioxidants was highest in roots (80%), followed by leaves (66%) and petioles (54%). There was a strong positive correlation (r=0.990) between fertility and total antioxidant content, suggesting an enhanced synthesis of bioactive components resulting from the treatment. This response by C. asiatica to the integrate...

Abstract in portuguese Dentre as condições ideais para germinação, o tipo de solo é muito importante, pois, interfere não apenas na germinação das sementes mas, também, no desenvolvimento pós-seminal. Além da adubação, outro fator importante na emergência e crescimento das mudas é a luminosidade devido sua influência em processos como a fotossíntese. Neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a influência da adubação com esterco bovino, torta de filtro e vinhaça, bem como da lumi (more) nosidade na germinação e vigor de sementes de cenoura, em solo de mineração de calcário. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, em 2005, em Alegre-ES. Utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 13 x 3 (adubações x luminosidades) e 4 repetições. Os tratamentos constaram de solo de mineração de calcário enriquecido ou não com adubação e 3 níveis de luminosidade. A adubação teve influência direta nas plântulas, pois, as menores intensidades (13.8 µmol fótons m-2s-1) aumentaram a germinação e altura destas, enquanto as maiores intensidades (1192.8 µmol fótons m-2s-1) aumentaram a velocidade de germinação e o acúmulo de matéria seca. A adubação com os 3 materiais orgânicos e NPK proporcionou maior altura e matéria seca às plantas. Abstract in english The ideal conditions for germination such as the soil type are very important in agriculture. Besides interfering into germination of the seeds they also affect their development after germination. Another important factor in emergency and growth of the seedlings is the brightness, due to its influence on the photosynthesis processes. This study was carried out to evaluate the influence of the fertilization with cattle manure, sugarcane powder and vinase, as well as from (more) the brightness on both germination and vigor of carrot seeds in limestone mining soil. The experiment was conducted during the year 2005, under greenhouse conditions, in Alegre county-ES. The entirely randomized design with a factorial scheme 13 x 3 (fertilizations x brightness) and four replicates was used. The treatments consisted of limestone mining soil either enriched or unenriched with fertilization and subjected to three brightness levels. The brightness directly affected the germination and the development of the carrot plantlets, whereas the lower bright intensities (13.8 µmol photons m-2s-1) increased either germination and plantlet heights and the higher ones (1192.8 µmol photons m-2s-1) increased the germination speed and the dry matter accumulation. The fertilization with those organic materials and NPK provided better results for height and dry matter of the plantlets.

Abstract in portuguese Com o objetivo de se determinar a absorção de micronutrientes em função da idade da planta de girassol, conduziu-se um experimento no Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Soja/EMBRAPA, em Londrina (PR). No solo Latossolo Roxo eutrófico foram aplicadas seis doses de adubo: 0-0-0; 1-1-1; 2-1-1; 1-2-1 e 2-0-0 (NPK) , correspondendo a 0 = zero; 1 =45 e 2 = 90 kg/ha. Destas doses foram escolhidas a melhor e a pior quanto à produção de grãos, para se estudar a concentração (more) dos micronutrientes. Conclui-se: a. as concentrações mínimas ocorreram próximo ao período de máximo acúmulo de matéria seca (88 dias); b. para fins de diagnose foliar pode-se usar os seguintes valores, no início da floração: Cu = 27 ppm; Mn = 200 ppm; Zn = 31 ppm; B = 125 ppm e Fe = 227 ppm. Abstract in english In order to find out the absorption of the micronutrients during the growth of sunflower plants, a field experiment was carried out at the Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Soja/EMBRAPA, Londrina, PR, Brazil. The soil used is classified as Latossolo Roxo (Eutrustox). The following doses of fertilizers were use: 0-0-0; 1-1-1; 2-1-1: 2-2-1; 2-0-0 (NPK). The population of plants were calculated in 62,500 per hectare, with a spacing of 0.80 m between the lines. The authors concl (more) uded: The lowest concentration of the nutrients occured near the period of maximum dry matter production (88 days) . For leaves diagnosis the following levels may be use - Cu = 27 ppm; Mn = 200 ppm; Zn = 31 ppm; B = 125 ppm and Fe = 227 ppm.

The purpose of the present experiment was to describe the influence of various mineral fertilizers on the development of Larix decidua Mill. seedlings (larch) subject to the influence of simulated acid rain of pH 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5. The seedlings were fertilized every month in order to counteract acid rain. The composition of the fertilizers was diversified in order to select an optimum variant. Fertilizer with NK applied to the needles and NPK applied to the soil as well as dolomite lime applied to the soil. One row per set was left without fertilization as a control for each pH step of acid rain treatment. The analysis of biometric characteristics showed that a two-year period of investigations was too short to estimate effects on Larix decidua Mill. seedlings. However, high correlations were found between particular growth parameters i.e. diameter of root neck, root mass, total mass of: seedlings, needles, main shoot, lateral shoots, ligneous parts, total overground parts. No strong correlations were observed between the above mentioned parameters and the total height of the seedlings. The best development was achieved at pH 4.0, whereas the weakest development was observed at pH 2.5. The analysis showed a decrease in biometrical features along with an increase in acidity of acid rain solution. The first year of the experiment had the greatest influence upon the growth of Larix decidua Mill. seedlings. Significant improvement in growth, in relation to control plots, was achieved by using NK-fertilizers onto needles - the best results, and NPK onto soil. The best increment of the height of seedling was noticed at pH 3.5. In the second year of the experiment the effects of pH of acid rain and fertilization decreased. Applying NPK fertilizer onto soil showed a positive effect in relation to dolomite treatment. The best increment was noticed at pH 4.0. 44 refs., 4 figs., 5 tabs.

Abstract in spanish El trabajo se desarrolló en una unidad de producción cooperativa (UBPC) perteneciente a la Empresa Agropecuaria ?Camilo Cienfuegos?, municipio Santa Cruz del Norte, provincia La Habana, durante el 2005, que está ubicada geográficamente a 83° 10' N, 23° 10' W y 103 m snm, con el objetivo de estudiar la influencia sobre el rendimiento y otras variables del cultivo de boniato, utilizando el fitoestimulante FitoMas-E de producción nacional combinado con el biofertili (more) zante EcoMic® y la fertilización mineral. En el experimento se estudiaron seis tratamientos y se empleó el clon INIVIT B 98-2. Los resultados mostraron diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos para las distintas combinaciones en estudio, corroborándose la respuesta de este cultivo a la aplicación conjunta del fitoestimulante, los biofertilizantes y la fertilización mineral, lográndose incrementos del rendimiento de un 50 % en comparación con el testigo. Con este trabajo se demostró, de forma general, que la aplicación conjunta del fitoestimulante FitoMas-E combinado con una cepa eficiente de HMA y el 50 % de la fertilización mineral con NPK, incrementan el desarrollo y los rendimientos de este cultivo en condiciones de producción. Abstract in english This work was developed in a cooperative production unit (UBPC) from «Camilo Cienfuegos» Agricultural Enterprise, Santa Cruz del Norte town, Havana province, during 2005, which is geographically situated at 83° 10' N, 23° 10' W and 103 m over sea level, with the objective of studying the influence of the national phytostimulant FitoMas-E combined with the biofertilizer EcoMic® and mineral fertilization on sweet potato yield and other variables. Six treatments were st (more) udied in the experiment employing the clone INIVIT B 98-2. Results showed significant differences among treatments for those combinations studied, so proving crop answer to the combined application of phytostimulant, biofertilizers and mineral fertilization, besides obtaining yield increments of 50 % compared to the control. In general, this work showed that the combined application of phytostimulant FitoMas-E with an efficient AMF and 50 % mineral fertilization with NPK improves crop development and yields under production conditions.

The reasons for the greater incidence of Rumex obtusifolius in grasslands compared with R. crispus have never been investigated. In a small-plot field experiment in which seedlings of R. obtusifolius and R. crispus were transplanted into a sward dominated by Dactylis glomerata, the growth and survival of seedlings were monitored over three years under control and P, N, NP and NPK fertilizer treatments. The highest plants of R. obtusifolius and R. crispus were generally recorded in the N, NP and NPK treatments and the lowest in the control and P treatment. The maximum recorded heights of R. obtusifolius were 100?cm and of R. crispus 80?cm. The number of leaves per plant, weight of individual plants, cover and fertility were generally higher for R. obtusifolius than for R. crispus. 30% to 80...

This field study was undertaken to investigate the optimum recycling rate of the above ground biomass of Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L. hereafter, vetch) to improve rice productivity and decrease seasonal methane (CH4) flux in mono-rice cultivation system. The above ground part of vetch was applied in paddy field at rates 0, 10, 20 and 40Mgha^-^1 on fresh weight basis to investigate its effect on rice (Oryza sativa) productivity and CH4 emission flux and was compared with the typical standard NPK chemical fertilization (N-P2O5-K2O=90-45-58kgha^-^1). Rice productivity increased significantly with increasing vetch application, and more interestingly, similar grain yield was obtained between vetch application at 10Mgha^-^1 as green manure and NPK fertilization. Methane emission rat...

The aim of this article was to assess short-term (11 months) changes in vegetative biomass allocation and in reproductive output in response to increased nutrient availability and to different intra-specific competition scenarios in adult C. ladanifer plants. We performed a factorial field experiment with four treatments: (1) no fertilization and no neighbour removal, (2) fertilization (400 kg ha-1 of controlled release NPK fertilizer) and no neighbour removal, (3) no fertilization and neighbour removal (all vegetation growing within a 2 m radius around the target plant were cut) and (4) fertilization and neighbour removal. We found a significant interaction between fertilization and neighbour removal affecting patterns of biomass allocation; plants without neighbours allocated r...

A field study on phytoremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soil was designed to assess the effects of organic manures (poultry droppings and cassava peels) and NPK fertilization on the potentials of cowpea (Vigina unguiculata) and maize (Zea mays) to stimulate hydrocarbon degradation in soil. Cowpea and maize crops were established on the hydrocarbon contaminated soil amended with three rates (0, 4, and 8 ton/ha) of the soil amendments, and arranged in 3 x 3 x 3 factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design. Hydrocarbon was significantly (P Cassava Peels (CP) + 4 t/ha NPK fertilizer was optimal for hydrocarbon degradation in the cowpea plots, 4 t/ha PD + 8 t/ha CP + 8 t/ha NPK fertilizer was the most preferred in the maize plot. Cowpea showed greater potential for hydrocarbon degradation at the first year. The mean values of hydrocarbon concentrations at the cowpea and maize plots indicated no significant difference at the second year. Grain yield of cowpea increased by 87% at the second year, while maize was unable to grow to maturity in the first year. PMID:22567717

This study examined the efficiency of different organic waste materials as NPK fertilizer, in addition to the risk for leaching losses related to shower precipitation in the first part of the growing season. The experiment was tested in a pot trial on a sandy soil in a greenhouse. Six organic fertilizers were evaluated: liquid anaerobic digestate (LAD) sourced from separated household waste, nitrified liquid anaerobic digestate (NLAD) of the same origin as LAD, meat and bone meal (MBM), hydrolysed salmon protein (HSP), reactor-composted catering waste (CW) and cattle manure (CM). An unfertilized control, calcium nitrate (CN) and Fullgjødsel® 21-4-10 were used as reference fertilizers. At equal amounts of mineral nitrogen both LAD and Fullgjødsel® gave equal yield of barley in addition to equal uptake of N, P, and K in barley grain. NLAD gave significantly lower barley yield than the original LAD due to leaching of nitrate-N after a simulated surplus of precipitation (28?mm) at Zadoks 14. There was significantly increased leaching of nitrate N from the treatments receiving 160?kg?N?ha(-1) of CN and NLAD in comparison with all the other organic fertilizers. In this study LAD performed to the same degree as Fullgjødsel® NPK fertilizer and it was concluded that LAD can be recommended as fertilizer for cereals. Nitrification of the ammonium N in the digestate caused significantly increased nitrate leaching, and cannot be recommended. PMID:21746761

Abstract in portuguese Instalou-se um experimento, na região de Garça, SP, em um solo Latossolo Vermelho escuro, A moderado, textura arenosa, com o objetivo de se avaliar a influência da adubação NPK sobre a produtividade de borracha seca da seringueira (Hevea brasiliensis) clone "PB 235", com 13 anos de idade. O experimento foi instalado em blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial fracionário (1/4)43, totalizando 16 tratamentos e 4 repetições, onde se utilizaram 4 níveis de N (0, 80, 160, (more) 320 kg ha-1), 4 de K2O (0, 80, 160, 320 kg ha-1) e 4 de P2O5 (0, 40, 80, 160 kg ha-1). A produção foi avaliada entre os mêses de outubro de 1995 a junho de 1996. Conclui-se que a adubação potássica aumentou a produtividade de borracha seca, o mesmo não ocorrendo com a adubação nitrogenada e fosfatada. Abstract in english An experiment was carried out to study the effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizations on dry rubber yield of Hevea brasiliensis Muell Arg., clone PB 235 growing on a Dark Red-Yellow Latosol, in Garça-SP, Brazil. The experiment consisted of a (1/4)43 fractional factorial of randomized block design, with 16 treatments and 4 replicates, utilizing 4 levels of N (0, 80, 160 and 320 kg ha-1), 4 of P2O5 (0, 40, 80 and 160 kg ha-1) and 4 of K (0, 80, 160 and 32 (more) 0 kg ha-1). The rubber yield was evaluated monthly from October 1995 to June 1996. Results showed that potassium fertilization increased dry rubber yield, which was not affected by nitrogen and phosphate fertilizations.

Abstract in portuguese Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do esterco bovino em presença e ausência de NPK na produção de palmito em pupunheira, foi conduzido um experimento em NEOSSOLO REGOLÍTICO de textura areia-franca, de abril/2000 a maio/2002 na Universidade Federal da Paraíba, em Areia. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados, com os tratamentos distribuídos em esquema fatorial 4 x 2 com os fatores doses de esterco bovino (0; 10; 20; e 30 t ha-1) e presença e ausênc (more) ia de NPK, em quatro repetições, com parcelas de 20 plantas espaçadas 2 x 1 m. Os rendimentos máximos estimados de palmito de primeira (0,84 t ha-1) e de segunda (1,1 t ha-1) foram obtidos com 15,4 e 14 t ha-1 de esterco bovino, respectivamente, ambos na presença de NPK. Na ausência de NPK, as doses de 15,8 e 16 t ha-1 de esterco bovino foram responsáveis pelos rendimentos máximos de palmito de primeira (0,76 t ha-1) e de segunda (1,0 t ha-1), respectivamente. O rendimento total de palmito, na presença de NPK, atingiu valor máximo estimado de 1,94 t ha-1 com 15 t ha-1 de esterco bovino. Na ausência de NPK a dose de 16,6 t ha-1 de esterco bovino foi responsável pelo rendimento máximo de 1,85 t ha-1 de palmito. Abstract in english The combination effect of cattle manure and mineral fertilization on palm heart yield in peach palm plants was evaluated. The experiment was conducted from April 2000 to May 2002 in Quartz Psamment at the Universidade Federal da Paraíba, in Areia, Brazil. The experiment design was a randomized block with treatments arranged in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme with four cattle manure rates (0; 10; 20 and 30 t ha-1) in the presence or absence of NPK fertilizer in four replications (more) . Each plot consisted of 20 plants spaced 2 x 1 m. Estimates of maximum yield for first class (0.84 t ha-1) and second class (1.10 t ha-1) palm heart were obtained when using cattle manure at the rates of 15.4 and 14.0 t ha-1 in combination with mineral fertilization. In the absence of mineral fertilization the maximum yield of first class (0.76 t ha-1) and second class (1.0 t ha-1) palm heart was attained with cattle manure rates of 15.8 and 16.0 t ha-1. First class palm heart presented the maximum yield estimated at 1.94 t ha-1 with cattle manure applied at the rate of 15.0 t ha-1. In the absence of N-P-K fertilization the maximum yield of 1.85 t ha-1 was due to the application of 16.6 t ha-1 of cattle manure.

Abstract in portuguese O feijão-fava (Phaseolus lunatus L.) é uma alternativa de renda e alimento para a população do Nordeste do Brasil, que consome seus grãos maduros ou verdes. No entanto, níveis baixos de produtividade têm sido constatados, dificuldade que pode ser vencida pela utilização de fertilização orgânica e mineral. Com o objetivo de avaliar a produtividade do feijão-fava, cultivar Raio-de-Sol, em função de doses de esterco bovino, na presença e ausência de NPK, est (more) e trabalho foi realizado. O experimento foi conduzido na UFPB, em Areia, de setembro de 2004 a maio de 2005. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi blocos casualizados, em fatorial 6 x 2, com os fatores doses de esterco bovino (0; 10; 20; 30; 40 e 50 t ha-1) e presença e ausência de NPK, quatro repetições e parcelas de 40 plantas, espaçadas de 1,00 x 0,50 m. Foram avaliadas as produtividades de vagens e de grãos verdes e secos e o retorno econômico de vagens e grãos secos. Para cálculo da eficiência econômica, foram utilizados a própria vagem e o grão seco como relação de troca. As doses 21,4 e 23 t ha-1 de esterco bovino proporcionaram produtividade máxima de vagens (12,6 e 11,2 t ha-1) na presença e ausência de NPK, respectivamente, enquanto as doses 21,3 e 22,9 t ha-1 de esterco bovino proporcionaram produtividades máximas de grãos verdes (11,1 e 9,9 t ha-1) na presença e ausência de NPK, respectivamente. A dose 26,6 t ha-1 de esterco bovino foi responsável pela produtividade máxima (3,5 t ha-1) de grãos secos, na presença de NPK. Na ausência de NPK, obteve-se a produtividade média de 2,0 t ha-1, em função das doses de esterco bovino. As doses de 17,0 e 18,6 t ha-1 de esterco bovino proporcionaram máximas eficiências econômicas para a produtividade de vagens, com receitas previstas de 2,88 e 3,36 t ha-1, respectivamente, na presença e na ausência de NPK. Para a produtividade de grãos secos na presença de NPK, a máxima eficiência econômica foi obtida com 23 t ha-1 de esterco bovino, que gerou uma receita de 2,12 t ha-1. Abstract in english Lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus L.) are alternative food and income sources for the population of Northeastern Brazil. In this region, lima beans are consumed either as green or dry grains. However, low yields have been observed, a challenge that could be overcome by adequate organic and mineral fertilization. This work intended to assess lima beans yield, cultivar Raio de Sol, as affected by doses of cattle manure in the presence and absence of mineral NPK fertilization. T (more) he experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Paraíba, Brazil, from September, 2004 to May, 2005. The experimental design was of randomized blocks, with four replications, 40-plant plots, spaces of 1.00 x 0.50 between and within rows, respectively. Treatments were displayed in a 6 x 2 factorial, corresponding to manure doses (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 t ha-1) and presence and absence of NPK. Green and dry grain, and pod yields were analysed, as well as the economic revenue for pods and dry grains. To measure the economic efficiency, pods and dry grains were employed as the exchange units. Maximum pod yields (12.6 and 11.2 t ha-1) were achieved with 21.4 and 23 t ha-1 of manure, with and without NPK, respectively. Highest green grain yields (11.1 and 9.9 t ha-1) were obtained with 21.3 and 22.9 t ha-1 of manure, with and without NPK, respectively. The highest yield of dry grains (3.5 t ha-1) was obtained with 26.6 t ha-1 of manure combined with NPK. In the absence of NPK, the use of cattle manure resulted in an average dry grain yield of 2.0 t ha-1. The maximum economic efficiency for pod production was reached with 17 and 18.6 t ha-1 of manure, with predicted net incomes of 2.88 and 3.36 t ha-1 of pods, in the presence and absence of NPK, respectively. For dry grains, the maximum economic efficiency was achieved with 23 t ha-1 of manure, in the presence of NPK, which produced a net revenue of 2.12 t ha-1 of dry grains.

In aquatic environments, viruses play an important role in the microbial food web through microbial mortality from viral lysis. Bacteriophages (phages) compose the majority of viral communities in the floodwater of paddy fields. The present study evaluated bacterial mortality from phage lysis in the floodwater of a Japanese paddy field based on the frequency of phage-infected bacterial cells by transmission electron microscopy. Floodwater was sampled five times during the rice cultivation period from two plots of NPK plus lime (no-compost plot) and NPK plus lime and compost (compost plot) under a long-term and ongoing fertilizer trial that began in 1925. The frequency of visibly infected cells in the compost plot was larger, ranging from 2.4 to 3.6% (average 3.0%), than that in the no-comp...

Background This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different amounts of fertilizers on the polysaccharides of Aloe vera plant. There were four different treatments, viz. T1?=?150%?N, T2?=?150% P, T3?=?150%?K, and T4?=?150% NPK (50%?N?+?50% P?+?50%?K) soil. Crude water-soluble polysaccharides were isolated from the gel juice, skin juice, and flowers of A. vera planted in these soils. Results Result indicates that skin juice contained 2.4 times the level of polysaccharides in gel juice from one plant, suggesting the potential industrial application of A. vera skin rather than discarding it. After anion-exchange chromatography, neutral polysaccharides accounted for 58.1% and 78.5% of the total recovered neutral and acidic polysaccharide preparations from the gel juice and skin juice, respectively, whereas the crude flower polysaccharides were largely composed of weakly acidic polysaccharides (84.2%). Sugar analysis of the polysaccharides after gel permeation chromatography revealed that glucose and galactose were the most abundant monosaccharide in the neutral polysaccharides from the gel juice and skin juice, respectively. The acidic polysaccharides from the two juices consisted of glucuronic acid, galactose, glucose, mannose, and xylose with variable proportions. Conclusions Except glucuronic acid (15.4%) in flower acidic polysaccharide, the flower neutral and acidic polysaccharides contained galactose, glucose, and mannose as the main sugar components. Glucuronic acid was the major uronic acid in all acidic polysaccharides from different tissues. PMID:8323205

The sources of SO4 along a ~550km stretch of the Rio Grande in New Mexico and western Texas were investigated using stable S isotopes. During 2007 and 2008, the d^3^4S of dissolved SO4 in the Rio Grande surface water varied over a narrow range from -1.6 to +0.9%%, which was consistent with the d^3^4S of local fertilizers (-2.1 to +1.6%%) and was not consistent with Paleozoic evaporite sources of SO4 in regional bedrock (+7.6 to +12.9%%). This is likely due the fact that SO4 is the major component of N-P-K fertilizers used in the Rio Grande Valley, constituting about half of the total fertilizers by mass. The SO4/Cl ratios of the groundwater system are relatively low (0.06 to 3) compared to the fertilizer source, suggesting that more Cl is added to the Rio Grande from geological sources as ...

The effect of wood ash, sawdust, ground cocoa husk, spent grain and rice bran upon root development, ash content, pod yield and nutrient status and soil fertility for okra (Abelmoschus esculentum L NHAe 47 variety) was studied. The five organic fertilizer treatments were compared to chemical fertilizer (400kg/ha/crop NPK 15-15-15) and unfertilized controls in four field experiments replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. The results showed that the application of 6tha-1 of plant residues increased (PR2 value of 0.83 for the soil nutrients to the pod yield of okra; soil N accounted for 50% of the soil fertility improvement and yield of okra. Spent grain, wood ash and cocoa husk were the most effective in improving okra pod weight, pod nutrients, ash content, root length...

Nitrous oxide emission characteristics and potential mitigation options of croplands in China are discussed. Direct nitrous oxide emissions from croplands have been estimated from field measurements and the IPCC Phase Two methodology. Estimates for the year 1995 were 398 and 336 Gg N, respectively. Estimates for synthetic fertilizer N, animal excreta N, crop residue N, biological N fixation, and cultivated organic soil to direct nitrous oxide emissions for a number of years have been calculated using the IPCC Phase Two methodology. Results confirmed that the rapid increase in synthetic fertilizer N application is the main reason for the increase in nitrous oxide emissions from cropland in China. Twenty per cent of the emissions were from paddy fields. It was suggested that options to control nitrous oxide emissions from croplands in China should emphasize a modified N:P:K fertilization ratio, narrowing the inter-regional differences in fertilizer N application rate. 40 refs., 5 tabs., 3 figs.

A field trial was carried out in 1995 to study the effect of fertilization at planting on the survival, growth, and nutrition of tree seedlings planted on Andisol soils at two sites in South Iceland. Nine fertilizer treatments were tested on three tree species Betula pubescens Ehrh., Larix sibirica Ledeb. and Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. After six growing seasons, seedlings provided with controlled-release-fertilizer (Osmocote®: 25 g per seedling) or smaller amounts of easily soluble nitrogen–phosphorus fertilizer (e.g. 1.2 g N per seedling and 1.4 g P per seedling) showed significantly improved survival and growth. Larger amounts of N increased mortality during the first year. Fertilized trees were less subject to frost heaving than untreated trees. In the year following application of NPK fertilizer the effect was insignificant on the foliar concentration of macronutrients of the fertilized seedlings, compared to control seedlings. It is concluded that fertilization during afforestation in Iceland and other areas in the world with similar climatic and soil properties could make the difference between plantation success or failure. Growth; Survival; Foliar nutrient concentration; Frost heaving; Betula pubescens Ehrh.; Larix sibirica Ledeb.; Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.; Fertilizer; Containerized seedlings

Widely well know that the potato is an important vegetable crop at Brazíl. Plant grown on about 173.000 ha, with total yield of 2.6 million tons year-1. The average yield is about 15 t ha-1. This level is very low because degeneration of crop is rapid under high temperature and high viruses pressure. Therefore seed potato propagation and production is principal on consumption potato production. This is why we found it necessary to develop it. The latossolo vermelho soil-farmyard manure- burnt rice straw-fertilizer 4N:14P:8K greenhouse pot trial was set up at the National Vegetable Crops Research Center, Brasília-DF, Brazíl in 1990. The methods of the experiments were soil x farmyard manure x burnt rice straw, soil x 4N:14P:8K fertilizer and soil x farmyard manure x burnt rice straw x 4N:14P:8K fertilizer on randomized block design in total 29 combination of treatments in 5, 5 and 3 repetitions with in a total parcel of 116. According to chemical analysis of the a., soil, b., farmyard manure and c., burnt rice straw the agrochemistry parameters were as follows: a., latossolo vermelho soil: CaCO3 0.3-0.7%, humo 0.9-1.0%, pH (H2O) 5.3, pH (KCl) 4.5, AL- P2O5 3.2-3.5 mg kg-1, AL- K2O 180 mg kg-1, Mg (KCl) 70 mg kg-1, EDTA-Zn 0.5-0.8 mg kg-1, EDTA-Cu 0.5-0.6 mg kg-1, b., farmyard manure: N 1.8 g kg-1, P2O5 2.0 g kg-1, K2O 4.0 g kg-1, c., burnt rice straw: N 0.8 g kg-1, P2O5 7.0 g kg-1, K2O 4.5 g kg-1. The experimental datas were estimated by analysis of variance, ANOVA and MANOVA. The main conclusions were as follows: 1. Mixture of 80% latossolo vermelho, 10% burnt rice straw and 10% farmyard manure were shown best performance on seed potato productivity. The piece of tubers with a 0-20 mm (consumption seeds) was increased by 77%. 2. Total seed potato number was reached maximum at 10.8 g pot-1 4N:14P:8K fertilizer regarding to average of treatments with a 33%. 3. Dry biomassa production plant-1 was decreased by high dose of 4N:14P:8K fertilizer (18.0 g pot-1) with a hard effect (57%). Our results are shown that it was possible developing of the seed potato production under tropical greenhouse conditions by optimalised soil-organic matter-fertilizer system. This datas should be as indicators to sustainable field potato advisory systems. Keywords: potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), greenhouse, latossolo vermelho soil, farmyard manure, burnt rice straw, 4N:14P:8K fertilizer, sustainability, yield RESUMO A batata é atualmente uma das hortaliças de maior importância no Brasíl. Nos conduzirémos os três experimentos para aumentár-se do produção e produtividade da batata (Solanum tuberosum L.) semente pré- básica no casa de vegetação da Brazília-DF, no Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria- Centro Nacional de Pesquisas de Hortaliças no 1990. Os três experimentos (latossolo vermelho novo x esterco de curral x palha de arroz queimado, latossolo vermelho novo x adubo 4:14:8 NPK, latossolo vermelho novo x esterco de curral x palha de arroz queimado x adubo 4:14:8 NPK) no casa de vegetação foram conduzidos com total 29 combinações, no 5-5-3 repetições com total parcelas de 116. Os resultados foram submetidos a analise de variáncia, ANOVA e MANOVA. Nossos principal resultados estam apresentándo abaixo. 1. A mistura de 80% latossolo vermelho novo, 10% palha de arroz queimado e 10% de esterco de curral, apresentou os maiores valores para numero de tuberculos com 0-20 mm, peso total de tuberculos com 0-20 mm e peso total de tuberculos por vaso. 2. Há um efeito grande crescente das doses de 4N:14P:8K nos caracteres observados. 3. Analise-se do latossolo vermelho novo x esterco de curral x palha de arroz queimado x adubo 4:14:8 NPK experimento os resultados apresentárám-se que entre nas misturas também foi melhor a 80% latossolo vermelho novo, 10% palha de arroz queimado, 10% esterco de curral. Examinando-se 15 fatores, entre 11 casos afirmou-se a mistura como para melhor que a outra mistura. Nossos resultados apresentam- se que possivel aumentar em grande volumens o produção da batata semente pré- básica co

Abstract in portuguese O experimento foi conduzido em vasos, nas condições de casa de vegetação da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, no período de 1975/76. O objetivo foi verificar a influência de pulverizações foliares com NPK na composição de N, P, K nas folhas velhas e folhas novas do algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cv. IAC-13-1. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 2 x 3³, em três repetiçõ (more) es; sendo dois números de pulverizações (4 e 8), três macronutrientes (N, P, K) em três dosagens (0, 1,2). Cada parcela foi constituída por um vaso com duas plantas. Os tratamentos utilizados constam da Tabela 1 . Os níveis com seus valores médios de N, P2O5 e K2O utilizados em 4 pulverizações: N0=0,N1=0,44,N2=0,84; P0=0, P1= 0,05, P2=0,09; K0=0,K1=0,33,K2=0,66, em 8 pulverizações, N0=0,N1=0,91,N2=1,87; P0=0,P1=0,10, P2=0,20; K0=0,K1=0,70, K2=1,40 em kg/ha, sendo fontes de nutrientes o NH4N0(3), NaH2P0(4)H(2)0 e KCl para N, P(2)0(5) e K(2)0 respectivamente. Os parâmetros empregados na avaliação dos tratamentos foram: teores de N, P, K em folhas velhas e novas do algodoeiro. Nas condições dos experimentos pode-se tirar as seguintes conclusões: A aplicação do efeito quadrático nos seus teores encontrados nas folhas novas apenas em 8 pulverizações, provocando aumento dos teores de P nas folhas velhas. Os algodoeiros não tratados com N revelaram maior teor de K na matéria seca das folhas velhas. O P causou diminuição dos teores de N nas folhas velhas e novas; aumentou os teores de P nas folhas velhas, quando em presença de N. O K aumentou o P nas folhas velhas e novas, diminuiu, porém, o seu teor nas folhas velhas. Abstract in english This research was carried out in greenhouse situated in the Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, São Paulo State, Brazil, in 1975/76, to study the influence of NPK spraying on leaves, on the NPK com position in leaves to cotton plant (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cv. IAC-13-1. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Blocks with the treatments combined in a 2 x 3³ factorial with 3 replications. The treatments were: spraying-two (4 and 8), fertilizers three (more) (N,P,K) in three levels (0,1,2). This three levels had the following averages according to the number of spraying, such as: four spraying - N0 = 0, N1 = 0,44, N2 = 0,84; P0 = 0, P1= 0,05, P2 = 0,09; K0 = 0, K1 = 0,33, K2 = 0,66; eight spraying - N0 = 0; N1 = 0,91, N2 = 1,87; P0 = 0, P1 = 0,10, P2 = 0,20; K0 = 0, K1 = 0,70, K2 = 1,40. The levels are expressed in Kg/ha and the source of fertilizers used were; NH4NO3; NaH2PO5H2O and KC1 for N, P(2)0(5) and K(2)0 respectively. The evaluation of the treatments were done based upon: percentage of N, P, K dry matter of young leaves and old leaves. The following conclusions could be drawn from this research: the N caused increase in P level in old leaves. The cotton plants no treated with N increased the percentage of K in old leaves. The P caused reduction in N levels in old and young leaves; increased the P levels in old leaves in N presence. The K increased the P leavel in old and young leaves, descreased the K levels in old leaves.

Laboratory and growth chamber investigations were conducted to study the effects of fertilizers, gypsum, H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, and leonardite (oxidized lignite) on the growth and nutrient relations of a mixed crop of thickspike wheatgrass (Agropyron dasystachyum (Hook.) Scribn.) and yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam.) on a calcareous sodic coal-mine spoil. Application of NPK increased the dry matter yield of the two species by 10 and 37 times, respectively. However, sweetclover required P only but wheatgrass yields almost doubled when N was included with P. Inclusion of Zn with NPK decreased the growth of sweetclover, and reduced Mn uptake in both species. Zinc, Mn, Cu, and Fe concentrations in the plants decreased variously with fertilizer applications. P-fertilization decreased the concentration of K in wheatgrass but not in sweetclover. The two species exhibited differential growth response to leonardite, which was correlated with K/sup +//Na/sup +/ ratios in the plants and their Ca-uptake efficiency. Leonardite increased Na concentration in wheatgrass (Ca-inefficient) and decreased its growth, but caused a reverse effect on sweetclover (Ca-efficient). It also decreased K and Zn in wheatgrass, and Cu and Fe in sweetclover. Gypsum tended to alleviate the effects of leonardite on wheatgrass, and increased Zn and Mn content in NPK-supplied plants. The extractability of applied P was higher from leonardite treated spoil. Sulfuric acid proved more effective than gypsum in releasing Na from the exchange sites in the spoil. Moreover, H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ improved the P status of plants, and increased the yield of wheatgrass to the same extent as did the application of 75 ..mu..g P/g spoil from H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/ source.

This article reports on field experiments with 4 different rotations that are commonly used throughout Haryana in NW India (rice-wheat, cotton-wheat, pearl millet-wheat, cluster bean-wheat), where we assess wheat yield and chapatti quality measures with different crop establishment methods and input of micronutrients. In a series of experiments conducted on farmers' fields in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 winter seasons, the addition of micronutrients and sulphur to wheat crops was used alongside the use of a common farmer practice, the use of farmyard manure (FM) and best practice inputs of N-fertilizer (150kgNha^-^1), P-fertilizer (26kgPha^-^1) and K-fertilizer (33kgKha^-^1). The application of FM with the recommended NPK treatment produced 9-13% more grain yield in the rice-wheat rotation whe...

Abstract in portuguese O lodo de esgoto é uma fonte importante de nutrientes para as culturas; contudo, os teores de metais pesados em sua constituição podem limitar seu uso em solos agrícolas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de doses de lodos de esgoto oriundos das Estações de Tratamento de Esgoto de Barueri (LB) e de Franca (LF), SP, sobre os teores de metais pesados em folhas e grãos de milho. O experimento foi realizado no Campo Experimental da Embrapa Meio Ambiente, em (more) Jaguariúna (SP), no período de 1999 a 2001. Foram realizados três cultivos sucessivos de milho, com os seguintes tratamentos: testemunha absoluta; adubação mineral (NPK) recomendada para a cultura do milho, lodo de esgoto com base no teor de N para fornecer uma, duas, quatro e oito vezes a dose de N da adubação mineral. Avaliaram-se os teores totais (digestão nítrico-perclórica) de Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb e Zn em folhas e grãos de milho. A aplicação sucessiva dos lodos de esgoto acarretou aumento nos teores de Mn e Zn em folhas e grãos de milho. Em relação ao tratamento testemunha, a aplicação da dose mais elevada do LB (8LB) promoveu um incremento de até 270 e 625 % e de 35 e 115 % nos teores de Mn e Zn, respectivamente, nas folhas e grãos de milho. As folhas apresentaram maiores teores de metais pesados do que os grãos, o que envolve maior possibilidade de transferência de metais para a cadeia alimentar, caso essa parte da planta seja consumida. Essa elevação nos teores de metais pesados em folhas e grãos de milho, até à terceira aplicação dos lodos, não foi suficiente para atingir os níveis considerados fitotóxicos para o milho, tampouco para inviabilizar o uso dos grãos para o consumo humano. Abstract in english Sewage sludge is an important source of nutrients for crops, although the heavy metal contents can limit its use in agricultural soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of doses of sewage sludge (from the Treatment Stations of Barueri (LB) and Franca (LF), São Paulo State, Brazil) on heavy metal concentration in corn leaves and grains. The experiment was carried out at the Experimental Area of the Embrapa Environment, in Jaguariúna, state of São (more) Paulo, from 1999 to 2001. The following treatments were applied to three successive corn crops: control (no sewage sludge); mineral fertilization recommended for corn (NPK); application of sewage sludge corresponding to the supply of one, two, four and eight times the N applied in the NPK treatment. The total contents (nitric-perchloric digestion) of Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured in corn leaves and grains. The successive application of sewage sludge caused increases in the Mn and Zn contents in corn leaves and grains. In relation to the control treatment, the application of the highest dose of LB (8LB) promoted an increment of up to 270 and 625 % of Mn, and 35 and 115 % of Zn concentration, respectively, in the corn leaves and grains. The corn leaves presented higher heavy metals contents than the grains, which implicate a greater possibility of metal transfer to the food chain in case this part of the plant is consumed. Until the third sludge application the heavy metal concentration observed in corn leaves were lower than the levels considered phytotoxic, and their concentration in corn grains were not high enough to make them unsuitable for human consumption.

Abstract in portuguese Os sistemas de manejo do solo modificam a dinâmica do fósforo alterando o conteúdo das diferentes formas de P. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de sistemas de cultivo em longo prazo (16 anos de plantio) sobre as diferentes formas de P no solo. Os tratamentos constaram de combinações entre dois sistemas de cultivo: milho exclusivo (M) e milho consorciado com feijão (MF), com duas doses (0 e 40 m³ ha-1 ano-1) de adubo orgânico (AO), e três doses (0, 250 e 500 kg ha-1) (more) de N-P-K, 4-14-8 (AM). Solo sob um fragmento de Floresta Atlântica foi utilizado como referência de um estado em equilíbrio. Os valores de P orgânico total (Pot) variaram de 184,2 a 280,2 e de 147,9 a 282,9 mg kg-1, em amostras de solo das camadas de 0-10 e 10-20 cm, respectivamente, sendo os maiores valores observados para combinação 500 kg ha-1 + adubação orgânica, correspondendo, em média, a 26,4 % do P total no solo. Houve tendência da relação C/Pot manter-se constante, entre os tratamentos, constatando-se aumento dos valores de Pot com o aumento do teor de carbono orgânico total no solo. O adubo mineral promoveu incremento do P na biomassa microbiana (Pbm) apenas no sistema de milho exclusivo. Em média, o aumento do Pbm foi de 262 e 164 % para o sistema que recebeu o composto orgânico no sistema de milho exclusivo e consorciado com feijão, respectivamente. Em média, a fração de P orgânico solúvel em meio ácido correspondeu a 90 % do Pot predominando sobre a fração solúvel em base. Nos tratamentos com 500 kg ha-1 de 4-14-8 e 500 kg ha-1 + composto orgânico, no sistema de consórcio, foram obtidos aumentos nos valores de P total lábil de 53 e 157 %, respectivamente, comparados aos da testemunha. O P orgânico lábil (Pol) correspondeu, em média, a 3,7 % do Pot para os sistemas de cultivo, já para a Floresta Atlântica, esta relação foi de 10,7 %, nas duas profundidades. Os aumentos nos teores das formas mais lábeis de P, proporcionados pela adubação orgânica, evidenciam a importância deste sistema de manejo no favorecimento da ciclagem de P. Abstract in english Soil management systems affect the P dynamics in content and forms. The aim of this work was to measure the effect of several cultivations systems in the long term (16 years) on the different soil P forms. The treatments consisted of combinations of the two cultivation systems: sole corn (C) and corn-bean intercrop (CB), with two levels (0 and 1) of organic fertilizer (OF), at rates of 0 and 40 m³ ha-1 year-1 and three levels (0, 1, 2) of mineral fertilizer (MF) N-P-K, i (more) n the doses 0, 250 and 500 kg ha-1 of the formula 4-14-8. An area under Atlantic Forest was used as reference of a balanced state. The values of total organic P (Pto) changed from 184.2 to 280.2 and from 184.4 to 282.9 mg kg-1 in 0-10 and 10-20 cm deep soil, respectively. The highest values were observed for 500 kg ha-1 of mineral fertilizer + organic fertilizer, corresponding on average to 26.4 % P in the soil. The C/Pto ratio of the treatments tended to be constant. An increase of the Pto values with the increase of the soil organic carbon content was observed. The mineral fertilizer promoted P increment in the microbial biomass (Pmb) in the sole corn crop system. The increase of Pmb was 262 and 164 % of the system that received the organic compost in the sole corn crop and corn-bean intercrop, respectively. On average, the fraction of organic soluble P corresponded to 90 % Pto, prevailing over the basic soluble fraction. The 500 kg ha-1 of mineral fertilizer and 500 kg ha-1 of mineral fertilizer + organic fertilizer treatments in the intercrop system caused increases in the total labile P (Plt) values of 53 and 157 %, respectively, compared to the reference. The labile organic P fraction (Plo) corresponded to 3.7 % of Pto for the cultivation systems; for the Atlantic Forest soil this relationship was 10.7 % at both depths. The increments in the contents of most labile P forms, owing to the organic manure, demonstrate the importance of this management system for an improvement of the P cycle.

Abstract in portuguese São relatados os efeitos produzidos pela aplicação de bórax na cultura da batatinha (Solatium tuberosum L.), em solos de várzea irrigada do Vale do Paraíba. Quatro doses de bórax - 10, 20, 30 e 40 kg/ha - foram aplicadas de três maneiras distintas: no sulco de plantio, em cobertura (vinte dias após a germinação) e parceladamente em 4 pulverizações foliares semanais. As melhores doses de bórax foram as de 10 e 20 kg/ha, aplicadas no sulco de plantio, em mistu (more) ra com os demais adubos. As aplicações em pulverização provocaram sintomas de toxidez nas folhas, notadamente as de maiores doses. Abstract in english The production of potato plants (Solatium tuberosum L.) grown in alluvial soils of the Rio Paraíba Valey in the State of São Paulo, is not always correlated with high N-P-K fertilization. This has been reported to be due to boron deficiency in these soils. The effect of addition of boron at different rates (10, 20, 30 and 40 kg of borax / ha) applied in mixture with common NPK formulation in the furrow at planting time, as side dressing or by spraying, was studied in an (more) area where symptoms of deficiency was observed in Aquila potato variety, in the previous year. An increase in the production of about 20 % was obtained with the addition of 10 or 20 kg of borax / ha in mixtures with NPK fertilizing formulation but not with the two higher doses. The same amount of borax applied by spraying also increased yield but at a lesser extent and the side dressing technique was less effective than the other two methods of application of borax.

Some trace elements are dangerous because they tend to bioaccumulate in food chain. Bioaccumulation means an increase in the concentration of a chemical in a biological organism over time, compared to the chemical's concentration in they environment. Compounds accumulate in living things any time they are taken up and stored faster han they are broken down (metabolize) or extreted. Triticale is the stabilized man-made hybrid of wheat (Triticum eastivum L.) and rye (Secale cereale L.). Wheat-rye hybrids date back to 1875, it was only in 1953 that the first North American triticale breeding programme was initiated at the University Manitoba. Globally, triticale is used primary for livestock feed today. NPKCaMg fertilization effects were estimated on trace element bioavailability by Triticale in a long-term field experiment on a Haplic Luvisol (acidic sandy brown forest soil) at Nyírlugos in East-Hungary in 1998. Soil geochemical parameters were as follow: humus 0.6%, pH (H2O) 5.8, pH (KCl) 4.6, total N 32.8 mg . kg-1, AL (ammonium lactate soluble)- P2O5 43 mg . kg-1, AL-K2O 52 mg . kg-1. The experiments involved 32 NPKCaMg treatments and their combinations in 4 replications giving a total of 128 plots from 1980. N levels were 0, 50, 100, 150 kg . ha-1 . yr-1, P2O5 and K2O 0, 60, 120, 180 kg . ha-1 . yr-1, CaCO3 0, 250, 500, 1000 kg . ha-1 . yr-1 and MgCO3 doses were 0, 140, 280 kg . ha-1 . yr-1. Plot brutto size was 50 m2. The main results were as follows. Main soil chemical parameters depend on NPKCaMg treatments. Soil pH (H2O) and pH (KCl) values ranged from 4.6 to 6.3 and from 3.5 to 5.8 indicating wide range from extremely acidic to slightly acidic. Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn and Al element concentrations shown a large variability too in interaction with fertilization doses and pH values (Ca 36-594 mg . kg-1, Fe 61-90 mg . kg-1, Mg 5-42 mg . kg-1, Mn 16-36 mg . kg-1, Al 79-118 mg . kg-1). The better soil pH (H2O), pH (KCl) and Ca parameters resulted by NPKCaMg combinations [pH (H2O) 6.3, pH (KCl) 5.8, Ca 596 mg . kg-1]. Fe, Zn, B, Pb, Cr and Cd leaf+straw status was not influenced hardly by N treatments, but in case of the leaf+straw Co, concentration was significantly increasing. NP combination effects on Fe, Zn, B, Co, Pb, Cr and Cd were similar to N fertilization. Fe leafe+straw contents decreased strongly by NK effects. NPK and NPKCaMg nutrition growing up Pb accumulation to 1.5 mg . kg-1 [cereal average content (CAC) 0.3-0.6 mg . kg-1]. The experimental Zn, Cr, and Cd leaf+straw values not were on higher level than the CAC. The yield ranged from 0.9 t . ha-1 to 7.9 t . ha-1 on dependence of fertilization treatments. The NPKCaMg combinations yielded more around 9 times than the non fertilized plots. Fe, Zn, B, Co, Al, Sr and Cu grain status was not influenced significantly by N and NK treatments. The NP combination effects on Fe, Zn, B, Co, Al and Cu were similar to N fertilization, but in case of the Sr, concentration was dramatically increasing. Triticale seed Zn values not were on higher level than the CAC. Fe actual transfer index (ATI)(Márton, 2004) values are shown N and NPKCaMg fertilization plus effects on Fe translocation from soils to triticale grain. The Al ATI datas were on low level. These results shown Triticale have ability to Co, Pb and Sr accumulation from soil to crop and food chain to a different degree. Key words: trace element, bioavailability, Haplic Luvisol, triticale Introduction: Triticale is the stabilized man-made hybrid of wheat (Triticum eastivum L.) and rye (Secale cereale L.). Wheat-rye hybrids date back to 1875, it was only in 1953 that the first North American triticale breeding programme was initiated at the University Manitoba. Globally, triticale is used primary for livestock feed (Oelke et al. 1989). In Mexico, which grows the crop triticale is used mostly for whole-grain triticale breads and tortillas. In the US, triticale is harvested mostly for forage but there is a small market for pancake mixes and crackers due to a savory, nutty flavor. Etanol plants will pay a premium for triticale over barley since it has more starch and no hull, making alcohol production more efficient. Germany, France, China, Poland and Hungary account for nearly 90 percent of world triticale production (Donald et al. 2001). Heavy metals are dangerous because they tend to bioaccumulate in food chain. Bioaccumulation means an increase in the concentration of a chemical in a biological organism over time, compared to the chemical`s concentration in they environment. Compounds accumulate in living things any time they are taken up and stored faster han they are broken down (metabolize) or extreted. Crops have ability to heavy metal accumulation from fertilizers such as Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn etc. to a different degree (Lee et al. 2001, Scholz and Ellerbrock 2004). The main purposes of this study was to determine the triticale toxic element upptake by the soil, triticale leaf+straw and grain element concentrations on acid sandy soil in a long-term field fertilization experiment at Nyirlugos, Hungary in 1998. Material and Methods: Field experiments were carried out on an acidic sandy brown forest soil at Nyírlugos in East-Hungary from 1962 to 2005. Soil geochemical parameters were as follow: humus 0.6%, pH (H2O) 5.8, pH (KCl) 4.6, total N 32.8 mg/kg, AL (ammonium lactate soluble)- P2O5 43 mg/kg, AL-K2O 52 mg/kg. The experiments involved 32 NPKCaMg treatments in 4 replications giving a total of 128 plots. N levels were 0, 50, 100, 150 kg/ha/yr, P2O5 and K2O 0, 60, 120, 180 kg/ha/yr, CaCO3 0, 250, 500, 1000 kg/ha/yr and MgCO3 doses were 0, 140, 280 kg/ha/yr. Plot brutto size was 50 m2. Composite soil samples consisting of 25 subsamples collected at before flowering time from the ploughed layer of each plot. The so-called "mobile" fraction was extracted by ammonium-acetate+EDTA (AAc+EDTA, Lakanen and Ervio 1971) and the heavy metal determination by ICP-AES technic. Plant leaf+straw and seed samples taken at before flowering and at harvest time. Total element content measured after microwave digestion using cc. HNO3 + cc. H2O2 by ICP-AES technic. Actual translocation indexes (ATI=plant metal c./soil metal c.) determinated by Márton 2004. Datamatrixes estimated by SPSS biometrichal method. Results: Depend on NPKCaMg treatments soil pH (H2O) and pH (KCl) values ranged from 4.6 to 6.3 and from 3.5 to 5.8 indicating wide range from extremely acidic to slightly acidic. Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn and Al element concentrations shown a large variability too in interaction with fertilization doses and pH values (Ca 36-594 mg/kg, Fe 61-90 mg/kg, Mg 5-42 mg/kg, Mn 16-36 mg/kg, Al 79-118 mg/kg). The better soil pH (H2O), pH (KCl) and Ca parameters resulted by NPKCaMg combinations [pH (H2O) 6.3, pH (KCl) 5.8, Ca 596 mg/kg]. Fe, Zn, B, Co, Pb, Cr, and Cd element contents of triticale leaf+straw before flowering time presented in Table 2. Fe, Zn, B, Pb, Cr and Cd leaf+straw status was not influenced hardly by N treatments, but in case of the leaf+straw Co, concentration was significantly increasing. NP combination effects on Fe, Zn, B, Co, Pb, Cr and Cd were similar to N fertilization. Fe leafe+straw contents decreased strongly by NK effects. NPK and NPKCaMg nutrition growing up Pb accumulation to 1.5 mg/kg [cereal average content (CAC) 0.3-0.6 mg/kg. The experimental Zn, Cr, and Cd leaf+straw values not were on higher level than the CAC. The yield ranged from 0.9 t/ha to 7.9 t/ha on dependence of fertilization treatments. The NPKCaMg combinations yielded more around 9 times than the non fertilized plots. Fe, Zn, B, Co, Al, Sr and Cu grain status was not influenced significantly by N and NK treatments. The NP combination effects on Fe, Zn, B, Co, Al and Cu were similar to N fertilization, but in case of the Sr, concentration was dramatically increasing. Triticale seed Zn values not were on higher level than the CAC. Conclusions: Depend on NPKCaMg treatments soil pH (H2O) and pH (KCl) values ranged from 4.6-6.3 and 3.5-5.8 indicating wide range from extremely acidic to slightly acidic. The leaf+straw Co concentrations increased hardly by N treatment effects. NPK and NPKCaMg nutrition growing up Pb accumulation to 1.5 mg/kg [cereal average content (CAC) 0.3-0.6 mg/kg) in leaf+straw. The NPKCaMg combinations yielded more around 9 times than the non fertilized plots. The NP combination effects in case of the grain Sr concentration was dramatically increasing. These experimental results have demonstrated that triticale has a gerat ability to leaf+straw`s Co, Pb and grain`s Sr bioaccumulation. By this way Co, Pb and Sr can be enter to food chain. Acknowledgements: This study was supported by Applied Geochemistry and Geochemical Engineering School of Civil, Urban and Geosystem Engineering College of Engineering Seoul National University Seoul, Research Institute for Soil Sience and Agricultural Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest and No.: E-2/04 Hungarian & Spanish International Project by Hungarian Technology & Sciences Foundation, Budapest. References Donald, S., Murray, McL., Trevor, S., Patricia, J. 2001. Triticale. Food and Rural Development Lacombe. Alberta Lee, C. G., Chon, H. T., Jung, M. C. 2001. Heavy metal contamination in the vicinity of the Daduk Au-Ag-Pb-Zn mine in Korea. Applied Geochemistry, 16:1377-1386. Márton, L. 2004. Research report for 2004. RISSAC-HAS, Budapest Oelke, E. A., Oplinger, E. S., Brinkman M. A. 1989. Alternative field crops manual. University Minnesota, University Visconsin. St. Paul, Madison Scholz, V., Ellerbrock, R. 2004. Environment friendly and energetically efficient cultivation of energy plants on sandy soil. IAB, ZAL. Potsdam

Abstract in portuguese Pesquisas sôbre fertilidade foram efetuadas em solos da série monotípica Pinhão, da Estação Experimental de Pindamonhangaba, com a finalidade de se estudar o problema dos gradientes existentes, ou seja, desnivel de fertilidade num mesmo tipo de solo, provocado por diferenças na sua composição química. Tal fenômeno se evidencia por desenvolvimento e aspecto vegetativo irregulares da cultura, formando "manchas" ou "reboleiras". Inicialmente os trabalhos foram con (more) duzidos em casa de vegetação, utilizando-se o trigo como planta indicadora e procurando-se comparar o solo normal com os de "manchas''. O experimento de campo foi conduzido com milho. Os resultados mostraram que os gradientes de fertilidade observados são devidos à acidez elevada e à pobreza em elementos químicos. A influência da adubação com NPK foi altamente significativa, tanto nas áreas normais como nas manchas restritas o efeito do calcário e de alguns elementos menores, no aumento da produção, também foi significativo. Abstract in english Fertility studies were carried out on soils belonging to the "Serie Pinhão" - "Monotípica" from the Pindamonhangaba Experiment Station, Paraíba Valley: The purpose of these studies was to investigate the problem of fertility spots shown by crops grown on these soils and which are attributed to differences in chemical composition between the areas where the plants are normal and those where they are stunted. Soil samples were taken from field areas where corn plants wer (more) e normal and from spots where the plants were stunted. The influence of adding NPK fertilizers, lime, and micronutrients to both types of soils was studied comparatively in a greenhouse pot test, using wheat as a test plant. Also, a nearly similar fertilizer field trial was carried out including areas of the two types. The results obtained in the experiments indicated that the stunting shown by corn plants growing in certain areas of the planting was due principally to high soil acidity and low percentage base saturation The use of lime and some micronutrients was effective in increasing the yeld NPK fertilizers induced highly significant responses both normal and in areas where the plants were stunted.

It is widely well known that annual temperatures over Europe warm at a rate of between 0.1 0C decade-1 and 0.4 0C decade-1. And most of Europe gets wetter in the winter season between +1% and +4% decade-1. In summer there is a strong gradient of change between northern Europe (wetting of up to +2% decade-1) and southern Europe (drying of up to 5% decade-1). The droughts and the floods were experienced at Hungary in the early eighties as well as today. So among the natural catastrophes, drought and flooding caused by over-abundant rainfall cause the greatest problems in field potato production. The crop is demanding indicator plant of climate factors (temperature, rainfall) and soil nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium status. This publication gives the results achieved in the period from 1962 to 2001 of a long term small- plot fertilization experiment set up on acidic sandy brown forest soil at Nyírlugos in the Nyírség region in North-Eastern Hungary. Characteristics of the experiment soil were a pH (KCl) 4.5, humus 0.5%, CEC 5-10 mgeq 100g-1 in the ploughed layer. The topsoil was poor in all four macronutrient N, P, K and Mg. The mineral fertilization experiment involved 2 (genotypes: Gülbaba and Aranyalma) x 2 (ploughed depths: 20 and 40 cm) x 16 (fertilizations: N, P, K, Mg) = 64 treatments in 8 replications, giving a total of 512 plots. The gross and net plot sizes were 10x5=50 m2 and 35.5 m2. The experimental designe was split-split-plot. The N levels were 0, 50, 100, 150 kg ha-1 year-1 and the P, K, Mg levels were 48, 150, 30 kg ha-1 year-1 P2O5, K2O, MgO in the form of 25% calcium ammonium nitrate, 18% superphosphate, 40% potassium chloride, and powdered technological magnesium sulphate. The forecrop every second year was rye. The groundwater level was at a depth of 2-3 m. From the 64 treatments, eight replications, altogether 512- experimental plots with 7 treatments and their 16 combinations are summarised of experiment period from 1962 to 1979. The main conclusions were as follows: 1. The experiment years (1962-1963, 1964-1965, 1966-1967, 1968-1969, 1970-1971, 1972-1973, 1974-1975, 1976-1977, 1978-1979) were characterised by frequent extremes of climate. Seven years had an average rainfall, one year had an over rainfall and one year had a very dry by Hungarian traditional and RISSAC-HAS (Márton 2001b) new potato ecological standards. 2. The unfavorable effects of climate anomalies (drought, over-abundance of water in the topsoil) on the yield formation, yield quantity of potato depended decisively on the time of year when they were experienced and the period for which they lasted. 3. Precipitation deficiency (droughts) in the winter could not be counterbalanced by average rainfall during the vegetation period, and its effect on the yield was similar to that of summer drought. 4. Yield was influenced by rainfall to a greater extent than by 0-150 kg ha-1 nitrogen and NP, NK, NPK, NPKMg combinations. 5. Drought and over rainfall negative effects were decreased by increasing N- doses and its combinations of potassium, phosphorous and magnesium from 13 to 32%. 6. It was found the polynomial correlation between rainfall and yield could be observed in the case of N: Y'=380.18-2.95x+0.0056x2, n=72, R2=0.95, NP: Y'=387.19-3.04x+0.0059x2, n=72, R2=0.96, NK: Y'=381.65-2.95x+0.0056x2, n=72, R2=0.95, NPK: Y'=390.87-3.07x+0.0060x2, n=72, R2=0.96 and NPKMg: Y'=390.45-3.06x+0.0059x2, n=72, R2=0.96 nutrition systems. The optimum yields ranges between 17-20 t ha-1 at 280-330 mm of rainfall. Key words: climate change, rainfall, potato, N, NP, NK, NPK, NPKMg, yield Introduction: Climate change was recognized as a serious environmental issue. The build up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the inertia in trends in emissions means that we can expect significant changes for at least the next few decades and probably for the future time. Annual temperatures over Europe warm at a rate of between 0.1 0C decade-1 and 0.4 0C decade-1. And most of Europe gets wetter in the winter season between +1% and +4% decade-1. In

Military range soils are often strongly contaminated with metals. Information on the effectiveness of remediation of these soils is scarce. We tested the effectiveness of compost and mineral treatments for remediation and revegetation of military range soil collected in Aberdeen, MD. The soil was barren due to zinc (Zn) phytotoxicity while lead (Pb) posed a substantial risk to soil biota, wildlife and humans through various pathways. Seven treatments were tested: untreated control, agricultural NPK fertilization, high phosphate fertilization plus agricultural rates of NK, CaCO"3, ''Orgro'' biosolid compost, ''Orgro'' + CaCO"3, ''Orgro'' + CaCO"3 + Mn sulfate. All compost treatments alleviated Zn phytotoxicity to tall fescue; however compost combined with liming reduced plant Zn content up ...

Abstract in portuguese O presente estudo, que teve por objetivo determinar respostas da seringueira [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex. Adr. de Juss.) Muell. Arg.] à adubação NPK durante o período de formação do seringal, relata os resultados de experimento com o clone RRIM 600 em solo podzólico vermelho-amarelo de textura arenosa, no município de Avaí (SP), Brasil. O delineamento foi de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial fracionado 1/2 (4 x 4 x 4), com doses anuais de 0, 40, 80 e 120 kg. (more) ha-1 de N, P2O5 e K2O, aplicados no período entre dois e oito anos de idade das plantas. Avaliou-se o perímetro do caule a 1,20 m acima do calo de enxertia, a cada quatro meses, e calculou-se a porcentagem de plantas aptas para sangria e o tempo de imaturidade do seringal em cada parcela. Efetuaram-se análises de solo aos 27 e 51 meses de idade das plantas e análises de folhas, anualmente, no verão. A partir de 60 meses de idade das plantas, aproximadamente três anos após o início das adubações, observou-se efeito linear da adubação nitrogenada sobre o perímetro do caule. A adubação fosfatada teve efeito linear a partir da idade de 72 meses e a interação NP linear foi consistente depois de 75 meses. Usando como indicador a porcentagem de plantas aptas à sangria, houve efeito linear significativo para as adubações nitrogenada e potássica. O período de imaturidade foi abreviado até em oito meses, comparando-se o tratamento sem adubação com os de melhor desempenho. Adubações desequilibradas, como no tratamento 0-80-120, provocaram retardamento até de 12 meses no período de imaturidade em relação ao tratamento de melhor desempenho (120-120-120). Um ano depois da interrupção da aplicação de fertilizantes, no fim do experimento, não se observou efeito residual dos tratamentos sobre os indicadores de crescimento utilizados. Abstract in english The response of rubber tree [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex. Adr. de Juss.) Muell.Arg.], clone RRIM 600 to NPK fertilization during the immature stage was evaluated on a sand soil at Avaí, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Randomized block, closing with fractionated factorial experiment 1/2(4 x 4 x 4) was used to test 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg.ha-1 of N, P2O5 and K2O, applied from the second to the eighth years after planting. Trunk girth at 1.20 m above the budgrafting union was m (more) easured every four months. The percentage of plants able for tapping and the immaturity period were calculated from girth measurements. Soil analysis were performed at 27 and 51 months after planting and leaf analysis every year. Responses to nitrogen fertilization started to be observed from 60 months, aproximately three years after the beginning of fertilizer applications. Linear effect of phosphorus and NP interaction started at ages of 72 and 75 months respectively. Responses to K fertilization was not detected for trunk girth. Considering the percentage of plants able for tapping, responses were linearly and statistically significant for N and K fertilization. The immaturity period of the crop was reduced eigth months when non fertilized plots were compared to those with the best relations of NPK. Delay of immaturity period up to twelve months was observed considering the best treatments and those with unbalanced relations of NPK. Fertilizer responses disappeared one year after stopping fertilizer applications.

Abstract Soil fertility and precipitation are major factors regulating transitions from grasslands to forests. Biotic regulation may influence the effects of these abiotic drivers. In this study, we examined the effects of extreme rainfall events, anthropogenic nutrient loading and insect herbivory on the ability of Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum) to invade coastal prairie to determine how these factors may influence woody invasion of a grassland. We manipulated soil fertility (NPK addition) and simulated variation in frequency of extreme rainfall events in a three growing season, full factorial field experiment. Adding water to or pumping water out of plots simulated increased and decreased rainfall frequencies. We added Sapium seeds and seedlings to each plot and manipulated insec...

Abstract in spanish Con el objetivo de establecer una metodología adecuada y factible para la inoculación micorrízica de cepas eficientes de HMA en el cultivo de la yuca, se realizaron tres experimentos sobre suelos Pardos mullidos carbonatados utilizando la cepa Glomus intraradices. Se compararon varios métodos y dosis de inoculantes, basados en el recubrimiento total de las semillas con diferentes cantidades de inoculantes (22-174 kg.ha-1), el recubrimiento localizado en las puntas de (more) las semillas (11-14 kg.ha-1) y la aplicación tradicional del inoculante al suelo debajo de estas (617 kg.ha-1), todos realizados en el momento de la plantación. Los tratamientos inoculados siempre recibieron el 25 % de la dosis de fertilizante mineral (NPK) para el cultivo de la yuca y, además, se compararon con varios tratamientos no inoculados que recibieron 0, 25 y 100 %. Se encontró que cualesquiera de las aplicaciones vía recubrimiento, incluso la localizada en las puntas de las semillas, garantizaron una micorrización efectiva similar a la obtenida con la aplicación de altas dosis de inoculantes al suelo debajo de las semillas. Los tratamientos inoculados garantizaron rendimientos altos y similares a los obtenidos con la aplicación de la dosis recomendada de fertilizante mineral para el cultivo de la yuca (100 % NPK) y del orden de 35 t.ha-1, presentando un porcentaje de colonización micorrízica (60 %) muy superior al de los tratamientos no micorrizados ( Abstract in english Three experiments were conducted on carbonated loose Brown soils using Glomus intraradices strain, with the objective of establishing an adequate and feasible methodology for the mycorhizal inoculation of efficient AMF strains in cassava crop. Several methods and inoculant doses were compared, based on the overall seed recovery with different amounts of inoculants (22-174 kg.ha-1), localized seed tip recovery (11-14 kg.ha-1) and the traditional application of inoculants t (more) o the soil beneath the seeds (617 kg.ha-1), all of them performed at planting time. Inoculated treatments always received 25 % of NPK mineral fertilizer rate for cassava crop; they were also compared with other non-inoculated treatments receiving 0, 25 and 100 %. It was found that any application via recovery, even localized on seed tips, guaranteed a similar effective mycorhization to high doses of inoculants applied to the soil beneath the seeds. Inoculated treatments assured high and similar yields to those obtained when applying the recommended dose of mineral fertilizer for cassava crop (100 % NPK) of the order of 35 t.ha-1, it showing quite a superior mycorrhizal colonization percentage (60 %) to non-mycorhized treatments (

Abstract in portuguese A utilização das áreas de várzea na Depressão Central do Rio Grande do Sul limita-se basicamente ao cultivo do arroz irrigado, permanecendo em pousio durante o inverno devido à deficiência de drenagem natural. A melhoria do sistema de drenagem pode ser obtida através do nivelamento da área, da correção do microrelevo, associado ao estabelecimento de drenos superficiais. Assim, foi desenvolvido um trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar a produção animal em área d (more) e terras baixas sistematizada, cultivada com espécies forrageiras de inverno, as quais foram submetidas a diferentes níveis de adubação. O experimento foi conduzido na área experimental do Departamento de Fitotecnia da UFSM, em solo classificado como PLANOSSOLO HIDROMÓRFICO Eutrófico arênico, unidade de mapeamento Vacacaí. A área foi sistematizada em desnível de aproximadamente 0,06%, e as espécies forrageiras foram: azevém (Lolium multiflorum), trevo branco (Trifolium repens) e cornichão (Lotus corniculatus), cultivadas em consorciação. Adotaram-se como tratamentos três níveis de adubação: 50%, 100% e 150% da recomendação oficial, sendo utilizada calagem para corrigir o pH para 5,5. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso com duas repetições, totalizando seis parcelas de 0,5ha cada uma. Utilizaram-se terneiros de 8 a 10 meses de idade, em pastejo contínuo, com carga inicial média de 480kg ha-1 de peso vivo. As variáveis avaliadas foram: ganho médio diário de peso por animal, carga animal, ganho de peso vivo ha-1, digestibilidade in vitro, proteína bruta, composição botânica e taxa média de acúmulo de matéria seca das forrageiras. O resíduo de matéria seca (MS) ha-1 da pastagem manteve-se ao redor de 1000kg, e a taxa média de acúmulo de MS ha-1dia-1 das forrageiras foi de 19,9kg. O ganho médio diário foi de 1016g animal-1 dia-1, com carga média de 738,6kg ha-1 peso vivo e ganho de peso de 469,7 kg ha-1. O número de dias de pastejo foi de 98, 121 e 128 para os tratamentos 50, 100 e 150% da recomendação oficial, respectivamente. Os níveis de adubação NPK, mantendo constante a adubação nitrogenada, não afetaram o ganho médio dos animais, a carga animal e o ganho de peso vivo por hectare. Abstract in english The use of lowland areas in the Central Depression of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil is basically limited to irrigated rice. Those areas stay on fallow during the winter due to lack of a good natural drainage. Improvement in drainage can be obtained througth area leveling and microrelief correction associated to the establishment of superficial drains. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in order to evaluate cattle production on a leveled lowland area with several gra (more) zing winter plant species under different fertilizer rates. The experiment was conducted at the Federal University of Santa Maria in a soil of the Vacacaí mapping unit. The area was leveled with a 0.06% slope gradient and the plant species were ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), white clover (Trifolium repens) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). The fertilizer levels were 50%, 100% and 150% of the official recomended rate and the soil had its pH corrected to 5.5 using limestone. The experiment design was a randomized block with two replications and each experimental unit measured 0.5ha. The beef calves had 8-10 months of age and placed under continuous grazing, with 480 kg ha-1 of live weight for treatment. The parameters evaluated were: individual daily weight gain, animal load, weight gain per area, average dry matter accumulation by the pastures, in vitro digestibility, protein and botanical composition. The dry matter of the pastures was around 1000kg ha-1 and average accumulation for dry matter of the pastures was 19.9kg ha-1 day-1. The average weight gain per animal was 1016g animal-1 day--1, with an average load 738.6kg per hectare and the average weight gain was 469.7 kg ha-1. The total number of grazing days were 98, 121 and 128 for the 50, 100 and 150% recommended fertilizer rates. The NPK fertilizer levels, keeping constant the nitrogen fertilization, didn´t affect the average daily weight gain, animal load and weight gain per area.

Abstract in portuguese O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do "biochar" de Eucalyptus sobre a fertilidade do solo, e sobre a produtividade e o desenvolvimento do arroz de terras altas. O experimento foi conduzido durante dois anos, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, em Plintossolo Háplico franco-arenoso. Foram avaliadas quatro doses do fertilizante mineral NPK 05-25-15 (0, 100, 200 e 300 kg ha-1), distribuídas anualmente em faixas, e quatro doses de "bioch (more) ar" (0, 8, 16 e 32 Mg ha-1), aplicadas uma única vez, no primeiro ano, sozinho ou com o fertilizante. No primeiro ano, o "biochar" afetou positivamente a fertilidade do solo [carbono orgânico total (TOC), Ca, P, Al, H+Al e pH], à profundidade de 0­-10 cm, e foi o único fator com efeito significativo sobre a produtividade. No segundo ano, o efeito do "biochar" diminuiu ou foi superado pelo do fertilizante. O TOC se movimentou no perfil do solo para a profundidade de 10-20 cm, e isto influenciou a disponibilidade de K naquela camada. No segundo ano, houve interação significativa entre "biochar" e fertilizante quanto ao crescimento das plantas e ao acúmulo de massa de matéria seca. Abstract in english The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of biochar made from Eucalyptus on soil fertility, and on the yield and development of upland rice. The experiment was performed during two years in a randomized block design with four replicates, in a sandy loam Dystric Plinthosol. Four doses of NPK 05-25-15, annually distributed in stripes (0, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1), and four doses of biochar (0, 8, 16 and 32 Mg ha-1), applied once in the first year - alone or wit (more) h NPK - were evaluated. In the first year, biochar positively affected soil fertility [total organic carbon (TOC), Ca, P, Al, H+Al, and pH], at 0-10 cm soil depth, and it was the only factor with significant effect on yield. In the second year, the effect of biochar diminished or was overcome by the fertilizer. TOC moved down in the soil profile to the 0-20 cm depth, influencing K availability in this layer. In the second year, there was a significant interaction between biochar and the fertilizer on plant growth and biomass dry matter accumulation.

In a greenhouse experiment designed to evaluate the capacity of residual organic soils from mined peatland sites to support commercially valuable conifers under various fertilization regimes, the six month height growth and dry weight production of Scotch pine, black, white, and Norway spruce was dependent upon the nature and properties of the residual organic soils to be reclaimed, the species selected to revegetate these sites, the type and amount of fertilizer treatments applied, and interactions between these factors. On a highly acid, nutrient poor Fibrist, only Scotch pine seedlings exhibited adequate growth, but their performance appeared to be limited by natural and fertilizer induced soil acidity. On a Ca rich, near neutral Hemist, Scotch pine growth was adequate and unaffected by fertilization. However, spruce growth was vigorous only under a fertilizer treatment containing micronutrients plus a high rate of NPK. Although there is little doubt that residual organic soils from mined peatland sites can be used for forest production, there are important differences between sites requiring that each be considered individually before reclamation procedures are initiated.

Abstract in portuguese Embora apresentando os solos do Vale do Rio Paraíba, com poucas exceções, acidez de média a elevada, muito pouco uso de corretivos de solos tem sido feito. Êste fato se deve principalmente ao pequeno número de jazidas de calcário existente na região, insuficiente para atender à demanda desse material para a agricultura. Visando colaborar na solução do problema, foram estudadas em seis experimentos instalados em solos de várzea, as possibilidades de utilizaçã (more) o de dois tipos de escórias, provenientes da Usina Siderúrgica Nacional de Volta Redonda e da produção de aço em São Caetano e Moji das Cruzes. Nesses ensaios, em culturas de batata e tomate, foram comparados os dois tipos de escórias e um de calcário, em três níveis, tendo como testemunha um tratamento que recebeu apenas a adubação básica, NPK. Os resultados obtidos autorizam a recomendação do emprêgo das escorias. Para sua comercialização, entretanto, necessário se torna alterar o grau de moagem, para que sua granulometria satisfaça às exigências legais. Abstract in english Although the soil in the Paraiba Valley generally presents medium to high acidity, the practice of liming is not yet widespread there. One of the reasons for this is the lack of enough lime sources in its vicinity. As a contribution to the study of the liming problem in the Paraiba Valley, six experiments were carried out on various types of soils in the area, comparing two types of slags with limestone as soil correctives. The slags were obtained from the Usina Siderúrg (more) ica Nacional, Volta Redonda and from the São Caetano Steel Plant, São Caetano. They were conducted with the tomato and potato crops. Three levels of each type of slag or limestone, plus a complete fertilizer, were compared. Control plots received only the fertilizer. The results from these experiments indicated that the two types of slag compared favorably with limestone as a calcium source. Both can be recommended as a corrective for soil acidity in the Paraiba Valley, provided that they can be supplied in the granulation as required by the regulations.

Abstract in spanish Encontrando maneras más eficientes para fertilizar los cultivos se reducirán las pérdidas de N y aumentará la absorción de nutrientes. Un experimento de campo se llevó a cabo en la Granja de Investigación Agronómica de la Universidad de Agricultura, Faisalabad, Pakistán, durante 2006 y 2007. El cultivo fue sembrado en tres modalidades geométricas diferentes: siembra plana (filas separadas 75 cm), siembra en camellones (camellones separados 75 cm), y plantación (more) en hileras (franjas de doble hilera separadas por 120 cm con espacio de 30 cm entre las hileras de una franja) y cuatro combinaciones de NPK (control 0-0-0; dosis baja 200-100-100; dosis media 250-125-125, y dosis alta 300-150-150 kg ha-1). La eficiencia de uso de fertilizantes (FUE), así como la eficiencia del uso del N (NUE) fue significativamente menor con la dosis más alta de fertilizante (300-150-150) que con las dosis baja o media. Eficiencia de absorción de N fue mayor con la dosis fertilizante media y demostró ser un buen indicador del rendimiento de grano. Entre los métodos de siembra, plantación en camellones resultó en una mayor extracción de unidades foliculares, NUE, y la eficiencia de absorción de N. El mayor rendimiento de grano, la utilidad neta y la relación costo-beneficio se registraron en el cultivo sembrado en camellones con dosis media de fertilizante. Métodos de siembra no afectaron significativamente los parámetros de calidad del grano. Contenido de aceite de semillas, proteína y almidón fueron los más bajos con el control. A partir de entonces, el contenido de aceite de semilla continuó disminuyendo, mientras que la proteína y el almidón de semillas aumentaron con cada incremento de fertilizantes NPK. Abstract in english Finding more efficient ways to fertilize crops will reduce N losses and increase nutrient uptake. A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomic Research Farm, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, during 2006 and repeated in 2007. The crop was planted in three different geometrical arrangements, viz. flat sowing (rows spaced 75 cm), ridge sowing (ridges spaced 75 cm), and strip planting (double row strips spaced 120 cm with 30 cm between rows in a strip); N (more) PK was applied in four different combinations (0-0-0 control, 200-100-100 low dose,250-125-125 medium dose, and 300-150-150 high dose kg ha-1). Both fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) and N use efficiency (NUE) were significantly lower with the high fertilizer dose (300-150-150 kg NPK ha-1) than with the low or medium doses. The highest nitrogen uptake efficiency was with the medium fertilizer dose and proved to be a good indicator of grain yield. Among planting methods, ridge plantation resulted in higher FUE, NUE, and N uptake efficiency. The highest grain yield, net income, and benefit cost ratio were recorded when a crop was planted on ridges with the medium fertilizer dose. Sowing methods did not significantly affect grain quality parameters. Seed oil, protein, and starch contents were the lowest in the control. Thereafter, seed oil contents continued to decrease, while seed protein and seed starch increased with each NPK fertilizer increment.

Abstract in portuguese O trabalho objetivou avaliar a produção de arroz e as alterações químicas do solo, em resposta à irrigação com o efluente da carcinicultura de águas interiores e comparar os resultados com aqueles obtidos com a irrigação convencional, utilizando água do Rio Jaguaribe. A produção de grãos obtida com o uso do efluente da carcinicultura foi semelhante àquela obtida com o uso da água de rio, quando foi utilizada na adubação uma dose de N-P-K equivalente a 1 (more) 00% da dose recomendada para a cultura. O uso do efluente na irrigação proporcionou maior produção de grãos em relação à irrigação com a água de rio, quando foi utilizada uma dose de N-P-K equivalente a 75% daquela recomendada para a cultura do arroz. Após o cultivo, o solo irrigado com o efluente apresentou maiores níveis de Na+, CEes e PST em relação ao solo irrigado com a água do Rio Jaguaribe. Abstract in english This study aimed to evaluate rice yield and soil chemical alterations in response to inland shrimp farm effluent use for irrigation, comparing the results to conventional irrigation, using the Jaguaribe River water. Rice yield obtained with the effluent was similar to that obtained with river water irrigation, when the N-P-K dose applied was equivalent to 100% of the crop recommended dose. Effluent irrigation produced higher grain yield as compared to river water irrigati (more) on when the N-P-K dose applied was equivalent to 75% of the rice recommended dose. After the crop was harvested the soil irrigated with the effluent presented higher levels of Na+, EC and ESR, as compared to the soil irrigated with the Jaguaribe River water.

Ochrobactrum anthropi strain AD2 was isolated from the waste water treatment plant of an oil refinery and was identified by analysis of the sequence of the gene encoding 16S rDNA. This bacterium produced exopolysaccharides in glucose nutrient broth media supplemented with various hydrocarbons (n-octane, mineral light and heavy oils and crude oils). The exopolysaccharide AD2 (EPS emulsifier) synthesized showed a wide range of emulsifying activity but none of them had surfactant activity. Yield production varied from 0.47 to 0.94 g of EPS l(-1) depending on the hydrocarbon added. In the same way, chemical composition and emulsification activity of EPS emulsifier varied with the culture conditions. Efficiency of the EPS emulsifier as biostimulating agent was assayed in soil microcosms and experimental biopiles. The AD2 biopolymer was added alone or combined with commercial products frequently used in oil bioremediation such as inorganic NPK fertilizer and oleophilic fertilizer (S200 C). Also, its efficiency was tested in mixture with activated sludge from an oil refinery. In soil microcosms supplemented with S200 C+EPS emulsifier as combined treatment, indigenous microbial populations as well as hydrocarbon degradation was enhanced when compared with microcosms treated with NPK fertilizer or EPS emulsifier alone. In the same way EPS emulsifier stimulated the bioremediation effect of S200 C product, increasing the number of bacteria and decreasing the amount of hydrocarbon remained. Finally, similar effects were obtained in biopile assays amended with EPS emulsifier plus activated sludge. Our results suggest that the bioemulsifier EPS emulsifier has interesting properties for its application in environment polluted with oil hydrocarbon compounds and may be useful for bioremediation purposes. PMID:18784947

Abstract in portuguese São apresentados os resultados de um ensaio com o objetivo de estudar os efeitos do parcelamento do calcário a intervalos variáveis. A dose de calcário foi aplicada de uma vez, em cada um dos três anos de condução da experiência (1959-60 a 1961-62), bem como parceladamente: um têrço por ano, metade no primeiro ano e no segundo, no segundo e no terceiro ou no primeiro e no terceiro. A eficiência dos tratamentos foi avaliada através dos seus eleitos no pH, nos t (more) eores trocáveis de H+ +Al+3, cálcio e magnésio do solo e na produção de milho. A aplicação de calcário atuou notàvelmente sôbre a produção de milho a partir do segundo ano. De modo geral, as diversas formas de aplicação se equivaleram, excluindo-se aquelas correspondentes ao parcelamento iniciado no segundo ano e à dose única empregada no terceiro. As variações de pH e de H+ + AI+3 não assumiram os valores teóricos esperados, situando-se bem aquém da expectativa. As determinações dos teores trocáveis de cálcio e de magnésio indicaram movimentação relativamente rápida e considerável dêsses elementos através do perfil do solo, atingindo a profundidade de 40-70 cm durante o periodo de condução da experiência. Abstract in english The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of parcelled lime applied at variable intervals, as can he seen below, during three years (1959/60, 1960/61 and 1961/62). As described in the present paper, this field experiment was conducted at the Pindamonhangaba Experiment Station using the corn hybrid HMD-6999, and had eight treatments with four replications, as follows: Treatments 1959/60 1960/61 1961/62 1 ................ NPK +lime NPK NPK 2 ................ (more) NPK NPK + lime NPK 3 ................ NPK NPK NPK + lime 4 ................ NPK + ¹/2lime NPK + ¹/2 lime NPK 5 ................ NPK NPK + ¹/2 lime NPK + ¹/2lime 6................ NPK + ¹/2 lime NPK NPK + ¹/2lime 7 ................ NPK + ¹/3lime NPK + ¹/3 lime NPK + ¹/3lime 8 ................ NPK NPK NPK Rate of lime was 4.25 tons to the hectare. The efficiency of the treatments was evaluated through their effects on the pH and H+ + Al+3. and on calcium and magnesium, in the grain yield as well as in the soil. The results indicated that the lime applications increased the yield of corn. The different intervals of time, when parcelled lime was applied, had no influence on the corn yield. The variation of pH and H+ + Al+3 was very small during the development of the experiment. The motion into the soil profile of the calcium and magneisum was considerable and rapid.

Abstract in portuguese Com o objetivo de se estudar o acúmulo de matéria seca, em função da idade da planta e a produção de grãos do girassol, instalou-se um experimento, em condições de campo, no Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Soja/EMBRAPA, em Londrina, PR. O solo utilizado foi o Latossolo Roxo eutrófico e o delineamento estatístico foi o inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. Foram aplicadas seis doses de adubo: 0-0-0; 1-1-1; 2-1-1-; 1-2-1; 2-2-1 e 2-0-0 (NPK), correspon (more) dendo a 0 = zero;1 = 45 kg/ha e 2 = 90 kg/ha (N, P(2)0(5) e K2O. Para o estudo do crescimento da planta foram escolhidas a melhor e pior dose. O espaçamento foi de 0,80 m entre linhas com cinco plantas por metro linear. A colheita de amostras foi efetuada de 14 em 14 dias, da emergência até a colheita. Nas condições em que o experimento foi conduzido pode concluir que: a) a produção de matéria seca não foi afetada por nenhuma dose de adubo; b) a produção de grãos foi maior quando não houve adubação NPK; c) a maior velocidade de crescimento da planta ocorreu, em média, aos 56 dias após a emergência; d) o acúmulo máximo de matéria seca foi aos 88 dias após a emergência. Abstract in english In order to study the dry matter production with age and seed production an experiment was carried out at the Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Soja/EMBRAPA, Londrina, PR, Brazil. The soil used is classified as Latossolo Roxo (Eutrustox). Six fertilizer doses were use: 0-0-0; 1-1-1; 2-1-1; 1-2-1; 2-2-1; 2-0-0; (NPK), being 0 = 0; I= 45kg/ha; 2= 90 kg/ha (N, P(2)0(5), K(2)0) with four replications. The distant was of 0.80m between the lines and five plants per linear meter. S (more) amples of the plants were taken at 14 days of interval from the emergence of the plants to the harvested. The authors concluded: a) the dry matter production was not affected by the fertilizers; b) the seed production was higher in absent of the use of fertilizers; c) the highest rate of growth occurred at 56 days after the emergence; d) the maximum of dry matter production occurred at 85 days after the emergence of the plants.

Abstract in portuguese A possibilidade de restaurar uma cultura decadente de fórmio, plantada sem adubo e assim mantida durante quatorze anos, foi estudada em uma experiência realizada no Estado de São Paulo. A reação aos tratamentos, inicialmente pequena, cresceu progressivamente, e, no terceiro e último corte efetuado, o melhor tratamento (calcário + esterco + NPK) proporcionou aumento de 10,9 t/ha de folhas frescas, correspondente ao dôbro da produção obtida sem calcário e sem adubo. Abstract in english The possibility of restoring an old and decadent Phormium tenax plantation was studied in an experiment conducted in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The responses to the treatments tested were initially small, but they grew progressively, so that in the third and last harvest the yield increase due to the best treatment (lime + manure + NPK fertilizer) reached 10.9 tons of leaves per hectare, corresponding to 196 per cent of the yield obtained in the control plots. The r (more) esults indicate that the restoration is technically possible, but the experiment was not sufficiently prolonged to allow the study of the economical side of the method used.

Abstract in portuguese Em áreas próximas da Estação Experimental de Monte Alegre do Sul, Instituto Agronômico, nos anos de 1969, 1970 e 1971, em solos de baixada tipo massapê, foram realizados três ensaios de adubação N, P, K e S em culturas de trigo (Triticum aestivum L.). Utilizou-se delineamento Central Composto. Os dados obtidos mostraram grandes efeitos devidos ao nitrogênio, e médios, ao fósforo e enxofre. Não se verificou reação à adubação potássica. Foram determinadas (more) as quantidades de nitrogênio e fósforo para a obtenção de maior lucro por área, para as relações de preços N e P = 1,5:1 e 1:1, considerando-se fixa a dose de 30 kg de K(2)0. Abstract in english This paper presents the results of three N, P, K, S mineral fertilizer trials on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), carried out in 1969, 1970 and 1971 at Monte Alegre do Sul, SP, on a massapê type of soil. The responses observed in these trials present a highly significant effect to nitrogen, a little effect to phosphorus, and significant effect to potash. Every 30 kg N/ha increased 215 kg/ha the production. The effect of sulphur increased 10% the production in relation to th (more) e check treatment and 11% in relation to the complete mineral fertilizer. The quantities of N-P-K fertilizer to be applied for massapê type of soil were calculated for several relationships between wheat and fertilizers prices.

Abstract in portuguese O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar respostas da seringueira [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Müell. Arg.] à adubação NPK visando recomendá-la no período de formação dos seringais. Relata os resultados do experimento em solo podzólico vermelho-amarelo eutrófico no município de Matão (SP). O delineamento foi de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial fracionado 1/2 (4 x 4 x 4) com doses anuais de 0, 40, 80 e 120 kg.ha-1 de N, P2O5 e K2O. Até 1 (more) 04 meses de idade das plantas, avaliaram-se o perímetro do caule 1,20 m acima do calo de enxertia, a porcentagem de plantas aptas para sangria e o tempo de imaturidade do seringal, efetuando-se análises de solo e folhas em diversas épocas. Observou-se, a partir de 24 meses de idade, pouco mais de um ano depois do início das aplicações efeito linear da adubação potássica sobre o perímetro do caule e, a partir de de 48 meses, com freqüência, a interação NK linear. Usando como indicador de desenvolvimento a porcentagem de plantas aptas à sangria, houve efeito linear significativo para K e, em algumas poucas épocas, também paraN. O período de imaturidade, apesar de afetado significativamente apenas pela adubação potássica, mostrou-se dependente do equilíbrio dos nutrientes. Adubações desequilibradas podem retardar até em 15 meses o tempo de imaturidade, comparando-se os melhores e os piores tratamentos. Na ausência de adubação potássica, verificou-se um efeito antagônico dos nutrientes N e P. Adubações potássicas foram essenciais para garantir a antecipação do início da fase produtiva. Abstract in english The purpose of this study was to evaluate the response of rubber tree [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Müell. Arg.] to NPK fertilization in order, to improve fertilizer recommendation during the immature phase of this crop. It reports the results obtained from an experiment conducted on a podzolic soil at Matão, State of São Paulo, Brazil. It was a randomized block design in a fractionated factorial experiment 1/2(4 x 4 x 4) using 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg.ha-1 (more) of N, P2O5 e K2O. Fertilizers were applied every year starting eight months after planting. During the experimental period evaluations of trunk girth 1.20 m above the budgrafting union was measured at each four months. The percentage of plants able for tapping and the period of immaturity were calculated from girth measurements. Soil and plant analysis were performed at several ages. Plant responses to potassium fertilizations were observed starting at 24 months of plant age. Linear NK interaction was frequently observed after 48 months of plant age. Considering the percentage of plants able for tapping, responses were linearly and statistically significant for K fertilization, while N responses were observed in some ocasions. The immaturity period of the crop was significantly affected only by K fertilizers. Besides of this observation, the analysis of the response surface showed that the immaturity period was very dependent on equilibrated relations among nutrients. Unbalanced relations of NPK can delay up to 15 months the beginning of tapping, considering differences between the best and worst treatments. In the absence of K fertilization there was an antagonistic effect of N and P. Potassium fertilization was essential to reduce the immaturity period.

Abstract in portuguese Os fumicultores do sul do Brasil seguem pacotes tecnológicos que impõem o uso de altas doses de fertilizantes, sem considerar os atributos do solo e do ambiente, representando grande risco para a degradação dos recursos hídricos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi monitorar as concentrações de nitrato e de amônio na solução do solo da região do sistema radicular e abaixo deste, em Neossolo Litólico cultivado com fumo sob preparo convencional (PC), cultivo mínimo ( (more) CM) e plantio direto (PD). O estudo foi conduzido na microbacia hidrográfica do Arroio Lino, localizada no município de Agudo - RS. A adubação de base foi de 850 kg ha-1 de 10-18-24, e a adubação de cobertura, 400 kg ha-1 de 14-0-14. A coleta da solução do solo foi com lisímetros de tensão durante o ciclo da cultura. A concentração de amônio e de nitrato foi analisada pelo método da destilação e titulação. As concentrações de nitrato, que variaram de 8 a 226 mg L-1, foram maiores após a adubação de base e decresceram ao longo do ciclo. As concentrações médias de nitrato (N -NO3-) na zona radicular foram de 75 no PD, 95 no CM e 49 mg L-1 no PC. Abaixo das raízes, as concentrações médias de nitrato foram de 58 no PD, 108 no CM e 36 mg L-1-no PC. Não houve diferença estatística significativa na concentração de nitrato e amônio nos sistemas de manejo. Entretanto, as concentrações de nitrato encontrados representam um risco potencial para contaminação da água subsuperficial das fontes da mibrobacia em estudo. A concentração de amônio (N-NH4+) decresceu no tempo em todos os sistemas de manejo. Essa redução pode ter decorrido do processo de nitrificação e da absorção de parte do amônio pelas raízes das plantas em crescimento. Abstract in english Tobacco farmers of southern Brazil use high levels of fertilizers, without considering soil and environmental attributes, posing great risk to water resources degradation. The objective of this study was to monitor nitrate and ammonium concentrations in the soil solution of an Entisol in and below the root zone of tobacco under conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and no-tillage (NT). The study was conducted in the small-watershed Arroio Lino, in Agudo, State o (more) f Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A base fertilization of 850 kg ha-1 of 10-18-24 and topdressing of 400 kg ha-1 of 14-0-14 NPK fertilizer were applied. The soil solution was sampled during the crop cycle with a tension lysimeter equipped with a porous ceramic cup. Ammonium and nitrate concentrations were analyzed by the distillation and titration method. Nitrate concentrations, ranging from 8 to 226 mg L-1, were highest after initial fertilization and decreased during the crop cycle. The average nitrate (N-NO3-) concentration in the root zone was 75 in NT, 95 in MT, and 49 mg L-1 in CT. Below the root zone, the average nitrate concentration was 58 under NT, 108 under MT and 36 mg L-1 under CT. The nitrate and ammonium concentrations did not differ significantly in the management systems. However, the nitrate concentrations measured represent a contamination risk to groundwater of the watershed. The ammonium concentration (N-NH4+) decreased over time in all management systems, possibly as a result of the nitrification process and root uptake of part of the ammonium by the growing plants.

Abstract In the present paper we show how P and NPK fertilizers can be prepared from thermochemically treated sewage sludge ashes (SSA) and which chemical reactions occur during these post-treatment steps. The SSA used for this investigation was treated thermochemically at a temperature of 1,000degreeC in a rotary kiln after the addition of calcium chloride hydrate or magnesium chloride hydrate to remove heavy metals and to increase the bioavailability of phosphorus (hereafter the products of thermochemical treatment are referred to as SSA-Ca and SSA-Mg). The major P-bearing mineral phase in SSA-Ca was chlorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3Cl), whereas in SSA-Mg the major P-bearing mineral phases were farringtonite (Mg3(PO4)2) and chlorapatite. Transformations of the mineral phases were observed when the...

The capability of Chromolaena odorata (L) to grow in the presence of different concentrations of three heavy metals in crude oil-contaminated soil and its capability to remediate the contaminated soil was investigated using pot experiments. C. odorata plants were transplanted into contaminated soil containing 50,000?mg?kg?1 crude oil and between 100 and 2,000?mg?kg?1 of cadmium, nickel, and zinc and watered weekly with water containing 5% NPK fertilizer for 180?days. C. odorata did not show any growth inhibition in 50,000?mg?kg?1 crude oil. Plants in experiments containing 2,000?mg?kg?1 Cd showed little adverse effect compared to those in Zn-treated soil. Plants in 1,000 and 2,000?mg?kg?1 Ni experiments showed more adverse effects. After 180?days, reduction in heavy metals were: 100?mg?kg?...

Composting and phytoremediation using elephant grass (Penninsetum purpureum) were compared in experiments aimed at investigating the potential of both techniques in the treatment of petroleum sludge. The compost consisted of poultry manure and sawdust. N-P-K fertilizer was used for biostimulation of indigenous microbes. It also served to enhance the growth of the elephant grass. The sludge was mixed with agricultural soil and both techniques were then utilized for treatment. The total hydrocarbon content (THC) of the sludge-soil mixture before treatment was 64,494 mg/kg. After an 84-day treatment period, the composting treatment recorded 47% reduction in THC, the phytoremediation treatment showed 69% THC reduction, while the combination of composting and phytoremediation had 29% THC reduct...

Abstract in spanish Las estrategias de manejo y las especies seleccionadas en plantaciones forestales pueden tener efectos positivos o negativos sobre la regeneración vegetal en los trópicos. Esta investigación estudió la abundancia y riqueza de plantas leñosas bajo el dosel de un monocultivo de Vochysia guatemalensis de diez años. Se evaluaron 19 parcelas de 80 m²en Tabarcia de Mora, con varios tratamientos de fertilización (0-0; 0-50; 50-0, 50-50 g/ planta de P, y NPK, respectivame (more) nte, este ultimó se aumentó de 150 a 200 g hasta que la plantación alcanzó los seis años), en un diseño factorial totalmente al azar. Se contaron e identificaron todas las especies leñosas con más de 0.5 m de altura, con un total de aproximadamente 10 000 ind/ha en 90 especies, siendo éstas principalmente nativas de la zona (varias maderables, otras importantes para la fauna), la mayoría con bajos índices de importancia (suma de la densidad y frecuencias relativas). Un 16% alcanzaron alturas superiores a 2.5 m. Se considera que varios factores pudieron favorecer dicha regeneración, como un dosel con una apertura inter-media, un manejo forestal de bajo impacto, la cercanía de un fragmento boscoso maduro, y el establecimiento de la plantación en sustitución de un cafetal donde se aplicaban estrategias de conservación de suelos y se fertilizaba anualmente. Finalmente, se determinó una mayor abundancia y riqueza en las parcelas con solo P (?²=15.364, gl=3, p=0.002), probablemente porque los árboles de Vochysia tendieron a ser menos desarrollados en comparación con los otros tratamientos. Abstract in english Natural regeneration of woody species in a Costa Rican plantation of Vochysia guatemalensis (Vochysiaceae) and the effect of P and NPK fertilization. Forest plantation management strategies, including the selection of species, may have positive or negative effects over plant regeneration in the tropics. in this case, understory woody plants density and richness were studied in Tabarcia de Mora, Costa Rica, in a monoculture of Vochysia guatemalensis (ten year old plantatio (more) n). Nineteen 80 m²plots, with several fertilization treatments (0-0; 0-50; 50-0, 50-50 g/plant of P, and NPK, during the first years, P placed once at the hole) in a completely randomized factorial design, were analyzed. Afterwards, the NPK fertilizer was increased from 150 to 200 g/ plant/year until the plantation was six year old. The plots, established after the coffee plantation was eliminated, had a minimum management schedule, basically the elimination of herbaceous vegetation once or twice a year during the first three years, and a tree thinning when the plantation was four year old, to increase spacing from 2x2 to 4x4 m. All woody vegetation taller than 0.5 m was tallied. A total of circa 10 000 ind/ha, distributed in 90 species, were found, mostly native of the region, some identified for forestry use, others important for the fauna. The majority of the species had low relative densities and frequencies. Sixteen percent of the plants reached heights greater than 2.5 m. Several factors seem to explain this regeneration pattern: a canopy with an intermediate openness, a low intensity forestry management, the nearness of the plantation to a mature forest fragment, and that the Vochysia plantation substituted a coffee plantation where soil conservation strategies and an annual fertilization management plan were applied. Finally, plots with only P had significantly higher species richness and abundance (?2=15.364, gl=3, p=0.002) probably because the trees in this treatment were less developed (when compared with the others). Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (Suppl. 1): 111-118. Epub 2009 November 30.

Abstract in portuguese O experimento foi conduzido em vasos, nas condições de casa de vegetação da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" em Piracicaba, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, no ano de 1975/76; para estudar o efeito de pulverização foliares com N, P, K sobre os teores de Ca e Mg em órgãos do algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum L. raça Latifolium) Cv. IAC - 13-1. O delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, segundo esquena fatorial 2x3³ em três repetições. Sen (more) do três os nutrientes (N, P, K) em três dosagens (0, 1, 2) aplicados em quatro (A1) e oito (A2) pulverizações foliares. As doses, com seus valores médios empregados em quatro pulverizações foram: N0=0; N1=0,44; N2=0,88; P0=0; P1=0,05; P2=0,10; K0=0; K1=0,33; K2=0,66; em oito pulverizações foram: N0=0; N1=0,91; N2=1,82; P0=0; P1=0,10; P2=0,20; K0=0; K1=0,70; K2=1,40 em kg/ha. Os produtos empregados foram: NH4NO3, NaH2PO4H2O e o KCl como fonte de N, P2O5 e K2O, respectivamente. A avaliação dos tratamentos foi feita baseando-se nos teores de cálcio e magnésio determinados nas raízes, caules, folhas velhas e folhas novas do algodoeiro. Pode-se concluir que: o nitrogênio aplicado via foliar provocou diminuição nos teores de cálcio e magnésio nas folhas velhas e folhas novas. As pulverizações foliares não afetaram os teores de magnésio dos caules. Quatro pulverizações foliares de nutrientes causaram maiores teores de cálcio nos caules e magnésio nas raízes, do que oito pulverizações. Abstract in english This research was carried out in greenhouse of Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil, in 1975/76; to study the influence of NPK spraying on leaves about composition of Ca and Mg in parts of cotton plant (Gossypium hirsutum L. raça Latifolium) Cv. IAC 13-1. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Blocks with the treatments combined in a 2 x 3³ factorial with 3 replications. The treatments were: spraying-two (4 an (more) d 8) fertilizers-three (N, P, K) in three levels (0, 1, 2). This three levels had the following averages according to the numbers of spraying, sweh as: four spraying: N0 = 0; N1 = 0,44; N2 = 0,88; P0 = 0; P1 = 0,05; P2 = 0,10; K0 = 0; K1 = 0,33; K2 = 0,66; eight spraying: N0 = 0; N1 = 0,91; N2 = 1,82; P0 = 0; P1 = 0,10; P2 = 0,20; K0 = 0; K1 = 0,70, K2 = 1,40. The levels are expressed in kg/ha and the source of fertilizers used were: NH4NO3, NaH2PO4H2O and KCl for N, P2O5 and K2O respectively. The evaluation of the treatments were done based upon the percentage of Ca and Mg in dry matter of roots, stalls, young leaves and old leaves. The following conclusions could be drawn from this research: The N caused reduction of Ca and Mg levels in old and young leaves. The nutrients sprayings did not caused the Mg levels in the stalks. The plants with four spraying treatments had graster Ca levels in stalks and Mg levels in roots than with eight spraying treatments.

Climate warming will induce changes in Arctic ecosystem carbon balance, but besides climate, nitrogen availability is a critical controlling factor of carbon cycling. It is therefore essential to obtain knowledge on the influence of a changing climate on nitrogen fixation, as this process is the main source of new nitrogen to arctic ecosystems. In order to gain information on future nitrogen fixation rates in a changing climate, we studied the effects of two decades of warming with passive greenhouses, shading with sackcloth, and fertilization with NPK fertilizer on nitrogen fixation rates. To expand the knowledge on species-specific responses, we measured nitrogen fixation associated with two moss species: Hylocomium splendens and Aulacomnium turgidum. Our expectations of decreased nitrogen fixation rates in the fertilizer and shading treatments were met. However, contrary to our expectation of increased nitrogen fixation in the warming treatment, we observed either no change (Hylocomium) or a decrease (Aulacomnium) in fixation in the warmed plots. We hypothesize that this could be due to moss-specific responses or to long-term induced effects of the warming. For example, we observed that the soil temperature increase induced by the warming treatment was low and insignificant as vegetation height and total vascular plant cover of the warmed plots increased, and moss cover decreased. Hence, truly long-term studies lasting more than two decades provide insights on changes in key biogeochemical processes, which differ from more transient responses to warming in the Arctic.

Abstract in portuguese Em um esquema fatorial com os níveis 0, 40, 80 kg/ha de N e 0, 60, 120 kg/ha de P2O5 ou K2O, foram conduzidas, no Estado de São Paulo, seis experiências de adubação da batata-doce (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) em áreas que tiveram vegetação de cerrado e haviam sido, ou não, adubadas nos anos anteriores. O nitrogênio só aumentou significativamente a produção em uma experiência. O efeito do fósforo foi muito pequeno nas duas localizadas em áreas já adubadas, mas e (more) m média das outras quatro, conduzidas em solos ainda não adubados, as respostas às doses 1 e 2 atingiram, respectivamente, + 33 e +51%. Em todos os casos, o potássio aumentou significativamente a produção, tendo as respostas médias às doses 1 e 2 correspondido a, respectivamente, + 25 e +30%. Abstract in english Six experiments were conducted in different regions of the State of São Paulo to study the effect of N, P and K on the yield of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatasLam.) grown on poor "cerrado" soils. Two of these experiments were localized on areas cropped for some years and fertilized with NPK in the previous crops; the others, on areas never fertilized. Potassium increased significantly the yields in all of the experiments. The effect of phosphorus was low in the two exper (more) iments conducted on areas previously fertilized but high in the other four localities. Nitrogen increased the yield in only one locality.

We tested whether differences in the herbivory tolerance of plant species is related to their abundance in grassland communities and how herbivory and nutrient availability affect competitive balances among plant species through changes in their tolerance. The experimental approach involved a simulated grazing treatment (clipping) of two competitive grass species (Arrhenatherum elatius and Holcus lanatus) and two subordinate forb species (Prunella vulgaris and Lotus corniculatus) along a gradient of nutrient availability and under conditions of competition. Total standing, aboveground, root, and regrowth biomass were evaluated at the end of the experiment as an estimate of the capacity to compensate for twice removing aboveground biomass at different nutrient levels (NPK). Although clippin...

Abstract in portuguese Dois experimentos em condições de campo foram conduzidos em duas épocas sucessivas - 2005/2006 e 2006/2007 - para determinar se o manejo pode melhorar a competitividade do feijão-fava contra plantas daninhas e contribuir para um maior potencial de produção. Os experimentos incluíram cinco tratamentos, compostos de: fertilizantes orgânicos e minerais, isoladamente ou em mistura em diferentes doses, além do tratamento controle, e seis tratamentos de controle de pla (more) ntas daninhas, incluindo tratamentos usando oxadiargyl, prometryn, manualmente ou misturados com os herbicidas e um tratamento sem plantas daninhas (controle). Os tratamentos com os herbicidas não foram superiores aos dois tratamentos manuais (hand hoeing).O uso de composto favoreceu o crescimento e rendimento da fava mais que os das plantas daninhas. A adição de fertilizantes também aumentou a maioria dos parâmetros de rendimento. A aplicação do composto isoladamente ou em combinação com 50 ou 100% da dose recomendada de NPK aumentou a taxa de assimilação líquida do feijão-fava, sua área foliar específica e a razão folha-peso, como componentes da taxa de crescimento relativo. O aumento do crescimento resultou em aumento do rendimento das sementes, dos componentes de rendimento e da proteína do feijão de fava. O desempenho do rendimento do feijão de fava aumentou sob efeitos interativos de tratamentos com fertilizante e de controle de plantas daninhas à medida que o crescimento aumentou, como resultado da liberação de nutrientes dos fertilizantes e controle dessas plantas. Abstract in english Two field experiments were conducted in two successive seasons, 2005/2006 and 2006/2007, to determine whether management can improve faba bean competitiveness with weeds, thus helping to achieve its yield potential. The experiment included five treatments, composed of organic and mineral fertilizers, alone and mixed at different rates, along with a control and six weed control treatments, including oxadiargyl, prometryn, hand hoeing treatments alone or mixed with the herb (more) icides, and a nonweeded treatment (control).The herbicide treatments were not superior to the two hand-hoeing treatments. Using compost favored growth and yield of faba bean more than of weeds. Adding fertilizer also improved most yield parameters. Application of compost alone or combined with 50 or 100% of the recommended NPK rate improved faba bean growth in terms of net assimilation rate, specific leaf area, and leaf weight ratio as components of relative growth rate. This improvement in growth resulted in increase of seed yield, yield components and protein of faba bean. Faba bean yield performance improved under interactive fertilizer effects and weed control treatments as growth improved, as a result of nutrient release from fertilizers and weed control.

Abstract in portuguese Mudas de sete espécies florestais foram formadas em substrato de viveiro sem e com inoculação da mistura de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (Glomus etunicatum, Gigaspora margarita e Acaulospora scrobiculata) e transplantadas para vasos com um solo Latossolo Vermelho-Escuro com alta e baixa fertilização com NPK e submetidas, ou não, a nova inoculação. Verificou-se, após 90 dias, que tanto a inoculação na formação quanto a inoculação no transplantio garanti (more) u elevada colonização micorrízica (>70%), estimulou o crescimento e aumentou os teores de alguns nutrientes nas plantas. Os efeitos no crescimento variaram entre as espécies e tratamentos, atingindo incrementos de matéria seca de até 800% em Colvillea racemosa. Plantas sem inoculação na formação e no transplantio, apresentaram crescimento reduzido, mesmo no solo com alta fertilidade, enquanto as plantas com inoculação na formação cresceram mais rapidamente, independentemente da reinoculação. A elevação da fertilidade não aumentou a matéria seca da parte aérea de Luehea grandiflora, Senna macranthera e Enterolobium contortisiliquum. Em Cecropia pachystachya aumentou apenas quando as mudas não foram submetidas a inoculação. Em Senna multijuga e em C. racemosa, a matéria seca da parte aérea aumentou quando as mudas foram submetidas a inoculação e em Sesbania virgata, aumentou em todos os tratamentos. Apenas C. racemosa não respondeu à inoculação no transplantio. Abstract in english Seedling of seven forest species were raised in conventional nursery substrate either infested or not with a mixture of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus etunicatum, Gigaspora margarita and Acaulospora scrobiculata) and transplanted into plastic pots with a low-fertility Oxisol amended with low or high NPK-fertilization and with or without re-inoculation. It was found that either inoculation at nursery or at transplanting stage guaranteed high root colonization (>70%), (more) growth response and favorable nutrition after transplant. Growth effects varied with treatments and with plant species. Inoculation benefits for shoot dry matter were as high as 800% for Colvillea racemosa. Reduced growth was observed when seedling non-inoculated at nursery stage were also not inoculated at transplanting, whereas nursery-inoculated ones grew well independently on soil fertility and re-inoculation. Enhanced soil fertility did not increase shoot dry matter yield of Luehea grandiflora, Senna macranthera and Enterolobium contortisiliquum. It increased dry matter of Cecropia pachystachya in the absence of mycorrhiza; of mycorrhizal Senna multijuga and C. racemosa and of Sesbania virgata caused an increase in all treatments. Only C. racemosa did not respond to inoculation at transplanting.

Abstract in portuguese Devido a pouca informação existente sobre adubação para espinheira-santa, e a crescente procura desta espécie, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da calagem, adubação orgânica, mineral e omissão de nutrientes sobre o crescimento de Maytenus ilicifolia. As mudas foram produzidas por sementes e, em agosto de 2006, foram transferidas para vasos com 8 dm³ contendo Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação no delin (more) eamento inteiramente casualizado em arranjo bifatorial, totalizando 12 tratamentos com 4 repetições, cujos tratamentos foram: sem adubação com calagem (T1), sem adubação e sem calagem (T7), adubação orgânica (T2 e T8), adubação mineral NPK (T3 e T9), mineral -N (T4 e T10), mineral -P (T5 e T11) e mineral -K (T6 e T12). Os tratamentos T1 ao T6 receberam calcário na dose equivalente a 7,06 t ha-1 de carbonato de cálcio e os tratamentos T7 ao T12 foram testados na ausência de calagem. Após 314 dias da instalação do experimento, foram analisadas as variáveis: massa seca foliar (MSF), massa seca do caule (MSC) e da raiz (MSR), massa seca da parte aérea (MSPA), área foliar (AF), volume radicular (VR), altura (H), diâmetro (D), relação raiz parte aérea (R/PA) e relação altura diâmetro (H/D). A partir dos resultados conclui-se que a calagem, quando utilizada como prática isolada, não resulta em benefícios significativos ao crescimento das plantas. Na presença de calagem, tanto a adubação mineral quanto a orgânica podem ser utilizadas. Na ausência de calagem, a adubação orgânica mostrou-se mais favorável em estimular o crescimento das plantas. Em condições de adubação mineral, independente da presença ou não da calagem, o fósforo mostrou-se importante à nutrição de espinheira-santa. Abstract in english Since there is scarce information about fertilization for "espinheira-santa" and an increasing search for this species, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of liming, organic and mineral fertilization, and nutrient omission on Maytenus ilicifolia growth. Seedlings were produced from seeds, and in August 2006 they were transferred to 8 dm³ pots containing Dystrophic Red Latosol. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse and the design was completely random (more) ized, in bi-factorial arrangement, totaling 12 treatments and four replicates; treatments were: without fertilization and with liming (T1), without fertilization and without liming (T7), organic fertilization (T2 and T8), mineral fertilization NPK (T3 and T9), mineral -N (T4 and T10), mineral -P (T5 and T11) and mineral -K (T6 and T12). T1 to T6 received lime at the dose equivalent to 7.06 t ha-1 calcium carbonate, and T7 to T12 were tested in the absence of liming. After 314 days of the experiment installation, the following variables were analyzed: leaf dry mass (LDM), stem (STDM) and root dry mass (RDM), shoot dry mass (SDM), leaf area (LA), root volume (RV), height (H), diameter (D), root and shoot ratio (R/S), and height and diameter ratio (H/D). Liming alone does not result in significant benefits to plant growth. In the presence of liming, both mineral and organic fertilization can be employed. In the absence of liming, organic fertilization showed to be more favorable in stimulating plant growth. Under mineral fertilization conditions, irrespective of the presence or absence of liming, phosphorus showed to be important for the nutrition of "espinheira-santa".

Objective To assess the effect of smoking on sperm vitality, sperm DNA integrity, semen reactive oxygen species, and zinc levels in fertile men. Methods One-hundred sixty men were investigated. They were divided into 2 equal groups: healthy fertile nonsmokers and healthy fertile smokers. They were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, and semen analysis. In their semen, sperm hypo-osmotic swelling test, sperm DNA fragmentation test, seminal reactive oxygen species, and zinc were assessed. Results Compared with fertile nonsmokers, fertile smokers were significantly associated with lower hypo-osmotic swelling test and seminal zinc levels and significantly associated with higher sperm DNA fragmentation percent and seminal reactive oxygen species levels. Conclusion Smoking (cigare...

Abstract in portuguese Adubações minerais e orgânicas promovem alterações nas condições físicas e químicas do solo, com conseqüente efeito na produtividade das culturas. Um experimento foi realizado no Município de Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, de fevereiro de 2005 a julho de 2006, para comparar diferentes adubos orgânicos com a adubação mineral do maracujazeiro-amarelo quanto aos efeitos sobre as características químicas e físicas do solo adubado. O delineamento experimental foi (more) em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições e seis tratamentos, correspondentes às seguintes adubações por planta: (AM) adubação mineral = 100 g da fórmula NPK 20-5-20 + cobertura morta (CM); EB = 5 L de esterco bovino + CM; FOC = 500 g de farinha de ossos e carne + CM; RM = 5 L de raspa de mandioca + CM; TF C/CM = 5 L de torta de filtro + CM; TF S/CM = 5 L de torta de filtro - sem CM. A adubação mineral foi feita a cada 30 dias e as adubações orgânicas a cada 60 dias. Foram avaliados os atributos químicos: pH, condutividade elétrica, teores de P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Al, H + Al, e matéria orgânica; e os físicos: granulometria, densidade do solo e das partículas, porosidade total, macro e microporosidade, capacidade de campo, ponto de murcha e água disponível em três diferentes profundidades (0-5, 5-10, 10-15 cm). Os adubos orgânicos aplicados no maracujazeiro promoveram mudanças significativas nas características químicas do solo, em comparação com a adubação mineral tradicional, em que houve aumento do pH e do H + Al em todas as profundidades, e redução dos teores de Al nas camadas mais profundas. Houve, ainda, aumento nos teores de nutrientes no solo e, por conseqüência, na soma de bases, principalmente na camada superior, sendo a torta de filtro o composto orgânico mais eficiente em promover tais melhorias, inclusive aumentando a CTC do solo. Apenas a torta de filtro promoveu alterações nas características físicas do solo, reduzindo as quantidades de areia grossa e aumentando as quantidades de silte, argila e matéria orgânica. As demais características físicas do solo não foram influenciadas pela adição de adubos orgânicos no maracujazeiro, em comparação com a adubação mineral tradicional. Abstract in english The supply of mineral and organic manuring promotes alterations in the physical and chemical conditions of the soil, with consequent effects on crop productivity. An experiment was accomplished in the county of Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, from February 2004 to July 2006, to compare different organic fertilizers with the traditional chemical manuring of the yellow passion fruit plant regarding their effects on chemical and physical characteristics of the fertilized soil. Th (more) e experiment had a randomized complete block design with four replicates, with six treatments of fertilizer levels per plant as follows: (AQ) Chemical manuring = 100 g of the formula 20-5-20 (N-P2O5-K2O) + mulching (CM); EB = 5 L of bovine manure + CM; FOC = 500 g of bone and meat flour + CM; RM = 5 L of cassava abrades + CM; TF + CM = 5 L of sugar cane plant filter pie + CM; TF = 5 L of sugar cane filter pie without CM. Chemical manuring was done every 30 days, while organic manuring every 60 days. The soil chemical characteristics (pH, electric conductivity, levels of P, K, Ca, Mg, Na Al, H + Al, and organic matter) and physical characteristics (granulometry, density of the soil and of the particles, total porosity, macro and microporosity, field capacity, wilting point and water availability) were determined in 0-5, 5-10, 10-15 cm soil layers. The organic fertilizers applied to passion fruit plant modified significantly the soil chemical characteristics, in comparison to the traditional chemical manuring, increasing pH and H + Al in all soil depths, and reducing Al availability in the deepest layers. There was also an increase in the availability of nutrients in the soil and so in the sum of bases, mainly in the surface layer, the filter pie being the most efficient organic manure in promoting such improvements, besides increasing soil CTC. Only the filter pie modified the soil physical characteristics, reducing the amounts of coarse sand and increasing the amounts of silt, clay and organic matter. The other physical characteristics of the soil were not influenced by the addition of organic fertilizers to the passion fruit plant, in comparison with the traditional chemical fertilizers.

Peatlands store about a third of global soil carbon. Our aim was to study whether the vegetation feedbacks of nitrogen (N) deposition lead to stronger carbon sink or source in a nutrient limited peatland ecosystem. We investigated vegetation structure and ecosystem CO2 exchange at Mer Bleue Bog, Canada, that has been fertilized for 7-12 years. We have applied 5 and 20 times ambient annual wet N deposition (0.8 g N m-2) with or without phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Gross photosynthesis, ecosystem respiration and net CO2 exchange (NEE) were measured weekly during the growing season using chamber technique. Under the highest N(PK) treatments, the light saturated photosynthesis (PSmax) was reduced by 20-30% compared to the control treatment, whereas under moderate N and PK additions PSmax slightly increased or was similar to the control. The ecosystem respiration showed similar trends among the treatments, but changes in the rates were less pronounced. High nutrient additions led to up to 65% lower net CO2 uptake than that in the control: In the NPK plots with cumulative N additions of 70, 19, and 0 g N m-2, the daytime NEE in May-July 2011 averaged 0.8 (se. 0.3), 2.0 (se. 0.4), and 2.4 (se. 0.3) ?mol m-2 s-1, respectively. In the N only plots with cumulative N additions of 45, 19, and 0 g N m-2, the daytime NEE in May-July 2011 averaged 0.8 (se. 0.2), 2.6 (se. 0.4), and 1.8 (se. 0.3) ?mol m-2 s-1, respectively. The reduced plant photosynthetic capacity and diminished carbon sink potential in the highest nutrient treatments correlated with the loss of peat mosses and were not compensated for by the increased vascular plant biomass that has mainly been allocated to woody shrub stems.

Abstract in portuguese Em 1961-62 instalou-se, em Campinas, uma experiência de adubação para estudar o efeito de vários tratamentos sôbre a produção do feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) em solo arenoso, com vegetação de cerrado. Grupos de parcelas receberam, ou não, 4 t/ha de calcário e 100 kg/ha de P2O5 como superfosfato simples ou fosforita de Olinda, e nelas foi semeado, ou não, Dolichos lablabe L., para ser usado como adubo verde. Em 1962-63, enquanto metade de cada parcela fico (more) u sem nova adubação (série A), a outra (série B) recebeu 30-100-50 kg/ha de N-P2O5-K2O nas formas de sulfato de amônio, superfosfato e cloreto de potássio. Em 1964-65 a série B só foi adubada com N. Em 1962-63 e 1964-65 semeou-se feijão; em 1963-64 o campo experimental ficou em pousio. O efeito da adubação verde sôbre a produção de feijão foi de apenas + 13%, na presença de NPK. e negativo, na ausência dessa adubação. A resposta média à calagem alcançou +41%, em 1962-63, e +34%, em 1964-65. A presença da adubação mineral favoreceu consideràvelmente a resposta ao corretivo. Em média dos dois anos e dos dois fosfatos, o efeito residual do fósforo, verificado na série A, corresponden a +123%. No primeiro ano, o superfosfato se mostrou superior à fosforita; no último, porém, foi inferior. A calagem beneficiou a atuação do superfosfato, mas prejudicou a da fosforita. Embora as adubações de 1961-62 tenham reduzido apreciàvelmente a necessidade de novas aplicações, o efeito médio das readubações de 1962-63 e 1964-65 atingiu +194% . Enquanto a produção média anual dos canteiros que ficaram sempre sem adubo e sem calcário foi de tão sòmente 174 kg/ha, a dos que receberam conjuntamente todos os fatôres estudados atingiu 910 kg/ha, equiparando-se à que se obtém em boas terras «de cultura». Abstract in english An experiment was conducted at Campinas, State of São Paulo, to study the effect of lime, green manure and mineral fertilizers on the yield of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on a poor soil with «cerrado» vegetation. The response to green manure was positive, but small, in the presence of NPK, and negative in the absence of that fertilizer. Lime and phosphorus were the principal yield increasing factors. In the average of two years, the effect of phosphorus correspon (more) ded to +123%. In the first year, superphosphate was superior to Olinda (rock) phosphate; in the second, however, it was inferior. Liming enhanced the effect of superphosphate but depressed that of Olinda phosphate. While the average annual yield of the «no lime, no fertilizers plots was only 174 kg/ha (kilograms per hectare), that of the plots treated with lime, green manure, phosphorus (in the green manure year), and additionally with NPK in the first and exclusively with N in the second dry bean years reached 910 kg/ha. This yield is equivalent to those normally obtained in fertile soils.

Abstract in portuguese Conduziu-se um estudo em um sistema agrossilvipastoril, constituído por Eucalyptus urophylla e Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia-1, para verificar a hipótese de que existiam outros fatores, além da baixa disponibilidade de luz, interferindo no crescimento normal da gramínea, quatro anos após sua introdução no sistema. O estudo consistiu de um ensaio de adubação NPK a campo, adotando-se o delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, com os tratamentos dispostos n (more) o arranjo fatorial 2³, com duas doses de nitrogênio (0 e 100 kg/ha de N), fósforo (0 e 70 kg/ha de P2O5) e potássio (0 e 100 kg/ha de K2O). A gramínea não respondeu ao P nem ao K, embora os teores originais de P e K disponíveis no solo fossem baixos. A adubação nitrogenada dobrou a taxa de acumulação de matéria seca do sub-bosque, mostrando que o crescimento da gramínea estava sendo restringido pela baixa disponibilidade de N no solo. A elevada resposta à adubação nitrogenada mostrou que o sombreamento não era o único fator limitando a produtividade do sub-bosque, e, também, que as plantas estabelecidas do capim-tanzânia não estavam sendo afetadas negativa e significativamente por substâncias alelopáticas produzidas pelo eucalipto. Abstract in english A study was conducted in an agrosilvopastoral system, constituted by Eucalyptus urophylla and Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia-1, to verify the hypothesis that there were other factors, besides the low light availability, affecting the normal growth of the grass, four years after its introduction in the system. A NPK fertilization field trial was carry out, using the randomized block design, with the treatments in the 2³ factorial outline, with two doses of nitrogen (0 and (more) 100 kg/ha of N), phosphorus (0 and 70 kg/ha of P2O5) and potassium (0 and 100 kg/ha of K2O). The grass did not respond to P nor K fertilization, in spite of the low original P and K availability in the soil. However, with the application of nitrogen the rate of herbage accumulation was twice superior compared to control, showing that the grass growth was being restricted by the low N availability in the soil. The high response to the N fertilization showed that the shading was not the only factor limiting the understorey productivity and, also, that the established Panicum maximum plants were not being negative and significantly affected by allelopathic substances produced by eucalypts.

The application of anaerobically digested biosolids as a nutrient source for pecan, Carya illinoinensis (Wangeh.) K. Koch, cultivar Western, was evaluated. Conventional NPK fertilizers (CF) and biosolids included a treatment with the rhizospheric fungi Pisolithus tinctorius+Scleroderma sp. and Trichoderma sp. After an average of three years, the tree trunks with biosolid treatment grew 9.5% more than with CF; the length of the bearing shoots was 18.1 and 18.3cm and the production of nuts/tree was 9.26 and 8.75kg for pecans with CF and with biosolids, respectively. Western foliar nutrient concentration and nut quality were statistically equal in trees with CF and with biosolids. Soil inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi improved shoot growth by 19.4% when CF was applied, but did not when biosolids were used. Nutrient status and yield did not increase with mycorrhizal fungi. The addition of Trichoderma sp. did not favor any of the variables evaluated with both nutrient sources. Biosolids are efficient fertilizer at promoting the growth, production and nut quality of pecan trees. PMID:18993060

The experiment was aimed at estimating the effect of mineral fertilization with ternary mineral fertilizers (NPK) on the development of [ital Larix decidua Mill.] seedlings remaining under the influence of simulated acid rain. The soils with a mechanical composition of poor loamy sands were treated with water solutions of H[sub 2]SO[sub 4] of pH: 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 7.8 and selected biometric features were measured. The experiment was carried over a period of 2 yr. The analysis of changes in the biometric features demonstrated that the poor alkaline reaction of water solutions (7.8), and strong acid (2.5) has a negative effect on the development of the [ital Larix decidua Mill.] seedlings, resulting in the limitation of the length increment, decrease in the mass of seedlings, mass of needles etc. Optimal development of the seedlings was at pH 4.0. A decrease in the biometric features analyzed together with an increase in the acidity of water solution was observed. 14 refs., 3 figs., 4 tabs.

Summary In a nitrogen fertilization experiment set up on slightly calcareous Ramann sandy- loam brown forest soil studies were made on the effect of nitrogen (N) x Rhizobium japonicum inoculation (I) x variety (V) interactions on soybean yield in Hungary. The agrochemical parameters of the ploughed layer of soil were as follows: humus 1.3%, CaCO3 2.1%, silty clay 27%, pH (H2O) 7.2, pH (KCl) 7.0. The experiment involved 4N x 3I x 3V = combinations in 4 replications, giving a total of 144 plots. The most important results can be summarized as follows: (a.) 0, (b.) 100, (c.) 150 and (d.) 200 kg ha-1 year-1 of nitrogen application (a.) inoculation effect was maximum at 1 kg t-1 Nitrofix, (b.) yields were linearly and inversely related to the rate of Nitrofix, (c.) presence of any amount of Nitrofix has been a negative effect on yield and (d.) Nitrofix 1 kg t-1 was showed the best results. Both biological N2 fixation (BNF) and nitrate (NO3-) utilization by mineral nitrogen fertilizer (MNF) input were essential for maximum soybean yield. Introduction Nitrogen is the most frequently deficient nutrient in crop production therefore, most cropping system require N- inputs (Johnston 2000, Márton 2000, 2001). Many soursces are available for use in supplying N to crops (Kováts et al. 1985). In addition to from N2 fixation by leguminous crops can supply sufficient N for optimum crop production (Wilcox 1987, Kádár & Márton 1999, Márton & Kádár 1998, László & Jose 2001, László et al. 2001). Understanding the behaviour of N in the soil is essential for maximizing agricultural productivity and profitability while reducing the impacts of N fertilization on the environment. Managing the delicate balance in the soil N- supply in order to meet this goals. Nowadays there is an essential need to use nitrogen to achieve both economic yields and to produce enough food. Because the only way for agriculture to keep pace with population (world's population now exceeds 6 billion and continues to increase) and allewiate world hunger is to increase the intensity of production in those ecosystems that lend themselves to sustainable intensification while decreasing the intensity of production in the more fragile ecologies (Reeves 1998). Most plants depend entirely for growth on fixed nitrogen absorbed from the soil, mainly as nitrate but also as ammonium. Therefore to the methods of crop production now dominant in the agricultural systems of many developed countries strongly depend upon a sustained input of N. Economic and environmental considerations surrounding fertilizer use then empasize the need to increase the efficiency of N- utilization by plants. On the other hand the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is important under all imput conditions to ensure an optimal supply of nitrogen to the farming system. A well-founded understanding of the mechanistic interactions between BNF and N limitations is presently lacking. Synbiotic nitrogen fixation by legumes makes a valuable contribution to N-inputs, especially in countries like Hungary where effective rhizobia-inoculation techniques have been developed in the context of the new sustainable agricultural system. It is widely known that soya bean -Glycine max (L.) Merr.-, is an important legume. This plant able to fix the atmospheric nitrogen (N2) it needs for growth through the agency of specific bacteria Rhizobium japonicum. Under field conditions fixation usually accounts for only 25-30% of the total nitrogen accumulated by these plants at harvest. Therefore to marginal yield have to optimalise the nitrogen supply of these legume by N-fertilization. Objectives for our experiments were to (1.) comparisons of the plant nutrition performance of different soil nitrogen supply levels by N- fertilization and N- fixation under Mediterranean climate conditions at Hungary, (2.) evaluates the potential for N2 fixation imputs by grain legume based on the soya bean as a means of improving soil fertility, (3.) considers some aspects of for use mineral N fertilizer (MNF) and N2 fixation (BNF) imputs efficiency in soya production, (4.) to improve crop management and nutrient conservation in the hungarian agro-ecosystem. Materials and methods Field experiment was set up on a slightly calcareous Ramann sandy- loam brown forest soil at Hungary in 1986. The ploughed layer contained 1.3% humus, 2.1% CaCO3, 27% silty clay, had a pH (H2O) of 7.2 and pH (KCl) of 7.0 at initial the trial. The soil was medium supplied with easily soluble phosphorus (AL-P2O5 80 ppm) and potassium (AL-K2O 100 ppm) according to soil analysis. The nitrogen fertilization (N) x Rhizobium japonicum inoculation (I) x variety (V) experiment involved 4N x 3I x 3V = treatment combinations in 4 replications, giving a total of 144 plots. Basic fertilization with 100 kg ha-1 P2O5 and 120 kg ha-1 K2O was applied each year at autumn. N was applied at rates of 0, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1 year-1 in the form of calcium ammonium nitrate. And Rhizobium japonicum inoculation occured by Nitrofix at rates of 0, 1 and 2 kg t-1. Varieties were as follow: Mc Call (USA), Pz (PL) and Crusader (CDN). The plot size was 2.8 x 4.8 = 13.44 m2 and the plant density of soya was adjusted to 500 000 plants ha-1. The forecrop over 2 years was winter wheat. The ground water level was at a depth of 3m. These presentation is showed the results of 1988. The mean of daily temperature, the daily relatíve humidity and the monthly rainfall were 17oC, 65% and 49 mm, respectively over vegetation period from April to September. The number of pods and seeds ha-1, the mass of the individual plant parts ha-1 and biomass production ha-1 were determined and analysed by MANOVA. Results and conclusions The soybean has been characterized as being rather nonresponsive to the application of fertilizer N and Rhizobium japonicum inoculation. This characteristics provides the basis for a considerable amount of conflicting research reported in the literature. Here we present results demonstrating that soybean growing under different N and Rhizobium japonicum inoculation conditions maintain a high positive N and positive or negative N2 fixation effects (Table 1). The main conclusions are summarised below: 1. Without N- fertilization input the favourable BNF effects of Rhizobium japonicum on the yield formation and quantity of soya depended decisively on the Nitrofix inoculation rates: 0, 1 and 2 kg t-1. The maximum grain and biomass yield reached 1.4 and 3.7 t ha-1. On this slightly calcareous Ramann sandy- loam brown forest soil the inoculation effects were maximum at 1 kg t-1 Nitrofix on grain (17%) and biomass (12%) production compared to control (without inoculation) treatments. Here the number of root nodules were increased 2 times (8 plant-1) regarding to control plots (3 plant-1). These datas are showed that if soya properly inoculated by Nitrofix (1 kg t-1) was capable of fixing substantial amounts of the required N from the atmosphere. And the biological nitrogen fixation was very important under this zero N- fertilization input conditions to ensure the satisfactory supply of nitrogen to farming. Grain mass was altered from 1.2 to 1.4 t ha-1 and biomass from 3.3 to 3.7 t ha-1. 2. Production in the case of low level of farming of 100 kg ha-1 year-1 our results were demonstrated that the crop was capable of utilizing both soil and fertilizer N. The use of N fertilizer significantly increased seed and biomass yield. Nitrogen fertilization effectivity on the grain and biomass accumulation was decreased by both of Nitrofix 1 and 2 kg t-1 inoculation to 28 and 44% and to 27 and 32%. The yields were linearly and inversely related to the rate of Nitrofix application. Grain mass was altered from 1.4 to 2.5 t ha-1 and biomass from 4.0 to 5.9 t ha-1. 3. At medium level of farming with N- fertilization of 150 kg ha-1 year-1 measured stagnant trends in yield compositions from the use of fertilizer N. With the help of variance analysis it was found that the presence of any amount of Nitrofix inoculum has been a negative effect on seed and biomass quantity. Grain production was altered from 1.6 to 1.9 t ha-1 and biomass from 4.3 to 4.9 t ha-1. 4. On high level of farming with N- fertilization of 200 kg ha-1 year-1 N fertilization significantly increased yield compositions and seed mass on the low amount of residual NO3- -N in the ploughed zone. We concluded that this crop respose to fertilizer N related to the amount of NO3- -N in the rooth zone. Rhizobium japonicum inoculation by the Nitrofix 1 kg t-1 was showed the best results. Pod and grain number, rooth, stalk, pod, grain and biomass were achieved 9365 (1000), 15378 (1000), 0.6, 1.4, 1.5, 2.4 and 5.9 t ha-1. The outstanding yields could be attributed to a greater input of N fertilizer and to the Nitrofix 1 kg t-1. Here we present results demonstrating that can be describe this process by synergic effect between N- fertilizer of 200 kg ha-1 year-1 and Nitrofix 1 kg t-1. Grain yield was altered from 1.4 to 2.8 t ha-1 and biomass from 4.0 to 5.9 t ha-1. There is ample evidence to suggest that to ensure the optimal yield production in the different -poor, low, medium, high- developed level of farming systems we have to apply the fertilizer N and biological nitrogen fixation treatments together. These datas confirm the yield potential and production possibilities of soya under Mediterranean agro-ecological and field conditions. These datas after adaptation can be used as guidelines by the extension service and are offered to apply on other climate and biogeoregions conditions to sustainable soya production. Acknowledgements This study were supported by Research Institute for Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (RISSAC-HAS) and University of Veszprém, Hungary. References Johnston, A.E., 2000. Some aspects of nitrogen use efficiency in arable agriculture. In.: Nitrogen efficiency in practical agriculture-fundamental processes and how to control them. Conference at the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry. April 12th. 1999. (Ed's Jan Persson). 9-23. Kungl Skogs-och Lantbruksakademiens Tidskrift. Stockholm. Kádár, I. & Márton, L., 1999. Mineral Nutrient Cycle of Soya. Agrochemistry and Soil Science. 48:67-82. Kováts, A., Márton, L. & Szabó, L., 1985. Analysis of the relation between humus and pH on the ground of results of soil investigations on farm-scale plots. Plant Production. 34:507-512. László, M., Silva, J.B.C. & José, A.B., 2001. Ecological friendly dragée technics on different crops and vegetables seeds. Acta Agronomica Óváriensis. 43:9-13. László, M., & Jose, E.M., 2001. Effects of Crotalaria juncea L. and Crotalaria spectabilis ROTH on soil fertility and siol conservation in Hungary. Acta Agronomica Óváriensis. 43:1-8. Márton, L., 2000. Effect of NPK fertilization on potao (Solanum tuberosum L.) yield. Ph.D dissertation. University of Veszprém, Keszthely, 136. p. Márton, L., 2001. Climate change and N, P, K, Mg fertilization effect analysis at Tisza-river basin in a long term field experiment. Szent István University, Gödöll?, 21. p. Márton, L. & Kádár, I., 1998. Effect of nitrogen supplies on the yield components of soya. Plant production. 47:677-687. Reeves, T.G., 1998. Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. Mexico city. Mexico. Wilcox, J.R., 1987. Soybeans: Improvement, Production, and Uses. Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Abstract in portuguese As palmeiras apresentam grande demanda por nutrientes. Por este motivo, o efeito da adubação NPK no crescimento de pupunheiras (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) foi estudado durante 30 meses (11/90 a 04/93) em experimento conduzido a campo em solo Aluvial álico (corrigido por meio de calagem) em Ubatuba, SP (clima "Cfa"). Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com uma repetição, em esquema fatorial fracionado (½ de 4³), com tratamentos dispostos em dois blocos, parc (more) elas úteis de 24 plantas e bordaduras duplas ao redor. Foram testadas quatro doses de nitrogênio (0, 100, 200 e 400 kg ha-1 ano-1 de N), fósforo (0, 50, 100 e 200 kg ha-1 ano-1 de P2O5) e potássio (0, 50, 100 e 200 kg ha-1 ano-1 de K2O), aplicadas em faixa e divididas em cinco aplicações anuais, utilizando como fontes nitrocálcio, superfosfato triplo e cloreto de potássio. As plantas foram cultivadas no espaçamento de 2 × 1 m, e avaliadas periodicamente quanto ao diâmetro da haste principal, número de perfilhos e porcentagem de plantas perfilhadas. Em solo arenoso e de baixa fertilidade, a pupunheira apresenta resposta linear, positiva e significativa de crescimento às adubações com nitrogênio (N) e potássio (K) e ausência de resposta ao fósforo (P). As primeiras respostas significativas ocorreram três meses depois de iniciadas as adubações diferenciadas. Não houve interações significativas entre N, P e K. O crescimento máximo foi obtido com doses anuais de 400 kg de N, 0 kg de P2O5 e 200 kg de K2O por hectare. Abstract in english Palms have high nutrient demand. For this reason, the effects of NPK fertilization on the initial growth of peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) were studied in a field experiment, from November 1990 to April 1993. The trial was set up on an allic, previously limed soil, in Ubatuba, SP, Brazil (23º27'S, 45º04'W, 6 m asl; "Cfa" climate). A fractional factorial experimental design (½ of 4³) was utilized, with two blocks, one replication, 24 inner plants per plot and doub (more) le border rows. Treatments were composed of four rates of nitrogen (0 to 400 kg N ha-1 year-1), phosphorus (0 to 200 kg P2O5 ha-1 year-1) and potassium (0 to 200 kg K2O ha-1 year-1), applied in stripes and divided in five annual applications. The fertilizers used were: calcium nitrate, triple super phosphate and potassium chloride. Plants were cultivated in a 2 × 1 m array, and periodically evaluated in relation to diameter of main stem, number of offshoots and percentage of plants with offshoots. In this sandy and low fertility soil, peach palm growth responses in relation to N and K amendments were linear and positive. Initial responses were observed three months after fertilizer application. No isolated effects of P fertilization, nor significant interactions among fertilizers were observed. Maximum growth responses were reached with 400 kg N ha-1 year-1, 0 kg P2O5 ha-1 year-1 and 200 kg K2O ha-1 year-1.

In this paper, we systematically describe the connection between immigration and fertility in light of the increasing nativist reaction to Hispanic groups. We follow a life-course perspective to directly link migration and fertility transitions. The analysis combines original qualitative and quantitative data collected in Durham/Chapel Hill, NC as well as national level information from the current population survey. The qualitative data provide a person-centered approach to the connection between migration and fertility that we then extend in quantitative analyses. Results demonstrate that standard demographic measures that treat migration and fertility as separate processes considerably distort the childbearing experience of immigrant women, inflating fertility estimates for Hispanics as...

Abstract in portuguese O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da aplicação de micronutrientes em arroz irrigado, em área de várzea após a sistematização. Foi realizado durante três anos agrícolas em PLANOSSOLO Hidromórfico eutrófico arênico, instalado em local de onde foi retirada uma camada de solo de cerca de 30cm de profundidade. A adubação com N, P e K foi realizada de acordo com a recomendação técnica para a cultura. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao aca (more) so com quatro repetições, constituído de um tratamento denominado "completo", contendo os micronutrientes boro (H3BO3), cobre (CuSO4), ferro (FeSO4), manganês (MnCl2), molibdênio (Na2MoO4) e zinco (ZnSO4) e de seis outros formados pela omissão de um micronutriente de cada vez, além de testemunha sem micronutrientes. Em 1996/97, foram aplicados 70g ha-1 Zn, 70g ha-1 Mn, 40g ha-1 Fe, 50g ha-1 B, 12,5g ha-1 Cu e 4g ha-1 Mo, via foliar, no perfilhamento e no início da formação do primórdio floral das plantas de arroz. Em 1997/98, foram utilizadas as mesmas soluções, porém com aplicação apenas no perfilhamento. Em 1998/99, as doses dos micronutrientes foram alteradas para 35g ha-1 Zn, 35g ha-1 Mn, 100g ha-1 B, 20g ha-1 Cu e 12g ha-1 Mo, aplicados no perfilhamento, não sendo utilizado o ferro no tratamento completo nem na composição dos demais tratamentos. A sistematização da área causou redução no teor de matéria orgânica, macro e micronutrientes, exceto o boro e aumento de alumínio no solo. Verificou-se que não houve efeito da aplicação foliar de micronutrientes no rendimento de grãos de arroz irrigado. Abstract in english The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of micronutrient application on irrigated rice in an area previously leveled. The experiment was carried out during three years on a Albalqualf soil in which the soil surface layer of about 30cm had been removed. NPK fertilization was applied according to soil analysis. The experiment design was a randomized block with four replications. The "complete" treatment had the micronutrients boron (H3BO3), copper (CuSO4 (more) ), iron (FeSO4), manganese (MnCl2), molybdenum (Na2MoO4) and zinc (ZnSO4) and treatments in which each one of the micronutrients was omitted besides a check without micronutrients. In the 1996/97 growing season the following rates were applied as leaf spraying at tillering and begining of flowering differentiation stage: Zn 70g ha-1, Mn 70g ha-1, Fe 40g ha-1, B 50g ha-1, Cu 12,5g ha-1 and Mo 4g ha-1. In the 1997/98 growing season the same solutions were used but only at tillering. In 1998/99 the micronutrients doses were altered to Zn 35g ha-1, Mn 35g ha-1, B 100g ha-1, Cu 20g ha-1 and Mo12g ha-1 at tillering growth stage and Fe no longer was used. Soil leveling decreased soil organic matter, macro and micronutrients except boron and increased aluminum levels in the soil. It was observed that leaf spraying application of micronutrients on leaves did not affect seed yield in any of the years in which the experiments were conducted

Abstract in portuguese O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência dos tratos culturais no desenvolvimento vegetal, morfologia e teor de flavonóides para Calendula officinalis L., Asteraceae. Os tratos culturais foram: calagem (CA), calagem + adubação orgânica (CAO) e calagem + adubação química NPK (CAQ). O experimento foi inteiramente casualizado com sessenta repetições e a comparação das médias realizada por ANOVA e teste de Duncan (significância de 95%). Os resultados apon (more) tam que CAO e CAQ apresentaram maior desenvolvimento vegetal comparados com tratamento CA. O tratamento CAO produziu ainda, plantas com maior homogeneidade, massa fresca e número de capítulos florais por planta, mas menor biomassa de flores produzidas por cada indivíduo. Observou-se também, variações morfoanatômicas com flores tubulares com centro amarelado (TCA) e tubulares com centro acastanhado (TAC) que produziram maior teor de flavonóides (1,41 e 1,44% respectivamente) comparadas com flores ligulares com centro amarelado (LCA) e ligulares com centro acastanhado (LAC) (0,89 e 0,95% respectivamente). Os compostos químicos nas flores de calêndula, visualizados por cromatografia em camada delgada, demonstraram que os tratamentos não têm influencia sobre o perfil químico qualitativo do vegetal. Entretanto, cultivares de calêndula submetidas ao tratamento CAQ produziram maior quantidade de flavonóides totais (1,14%) contra 1,04% do CAO e 1,03% de CA. Abstract in english The objective of this study was to examine the influence of cultivation treatments on plant development, morphology and flavonoid content in Calendula officinalis L., Asteraceae. The cultivation treatments were liming (LIM), liming + organic fertilizer (LORG) and liming + NPK chemical fertilizer (LCHEM). The experiment was completely randomized with sixty repetitions and the means were compared by ANOVA and Duncan's test (significance of 95%). The results show that LORG a (more) nd LCHEM produced greater plant development compared with LIM treatment. The LORG treatment also produced plants with greater homogeneity, fresh mass, and higher numbers of flowers per plant, but lower biomass of flower produced by each individual. Morphoanatomical variations were also observed with tubular flowers with yellow centres (TCA) and tubular flowers with brown centres (TAC) that produced a higher content of flavonoids (1.41 and 1.44% respectively), compared with ligulate flowers with yellow centres (LCA) and ligulate flowers with brown centres (LAC) (0.89 and 0.95% respectively). The chemical compounds in the flowers of calendula viewed by thin-layer chromatography showed that the treatments did not have any influence on the qualitative chemical profile of the plant. However, cultivars of calendula that underwent treatment LCHEM produced a greater quantity of total flavonoids (1.14%) against 1.04% for LORG and 1.03% for LIM.

The content of water-dispersible colloids (WDC) in a soil can have a major impact on soil functions, such as permeability to water and air, and on soil strength, which can impair soil fertility and workability. In addition, the content of WDC in the soil may increase the risk of nutrient loss and of colloid-facilitated transport of strongly sorbing compounds. In the present study, soils from the Bad Lauchsta¨dt longterm static fertilizer experiment with different management histories were investigated to relate basic soil properties to the content of WDC, the content of water-stable aggregates (WSA), and aggregate tensile strength. Our studies were carried out on soils on identical parent material under controlled management conditions, enabling us to study the long-term effects on soil physical properties with few explanatory variables in play. The content of WDC and the amount of WSA were measured at a series of time steps giving a colloid release and aggregate disaggregation rate and a quantification of the content of WDCand WSA at a given time for each of the six investigated experimental field plots. The content of WDC in the moist soil was linearly correlated (r = 0.82* [P G 0.05]) to the part of the total clay not associated with organic matter. No significant difference in release rate was found for air-dry aggregates. The low-carbon soils initially had a higher content of WSA but were more susceptible to disaggregation than the high-carbon soils. Furthermore, the application of NPK fertilizer had a destabilizing effect on the WSA and also caused a decrease in the cation exchange capacity of the soils. The mean tensile strength was positively correlated to the colloid release rate and the content of WDC after 2 min of shaking and therefore to the amount of clay not associated with organic carbon.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the mercury mobilization in a soil where fertilizers and organic matter were added. The study was carried out using a soil from the mercury mining district of Almaden (Spain). This area constitutes the largest and most unusual concentration of mercury in the World. The soil has been classified as an Alfisol Xeralf Haploxeral (USDA taxonomy), and the total mercury content is 14,16 0,65 mg kg-1in average. The experimental work was performed in 1 L glass columns filled with 500 g of soil. It was carried out 3 different treatments. The fi rst one, a NPK fertilizer (15:15:15) that was applied at three different doses (recommended dose -by farmers, half recommended dose and double recommended dose). The second one, a peat (Sphagnum) with a ph between 5,5-7, and the third one, a liquid organic amendment (Molex). The experimental work was carried out using 21 columns in total, where 3 of them were used as a control (C). During ten consecutive weeks, the columns were irrigated with distilled water (150 ml) once a week. The contact time was two days; after that, the leachates were collected and filtered. Finally, the soil contained in glass columns at soil fi eld capacity was centrifuged to get the wilting point. Mercury was determined using an Advanced Mercury Analyzer (AMA-254). Results show that mercury content in all samples was under detection limit (0,5 {mu}g L-1). It is according to the fact that mercury is mainly in a cinnabar form, which had a very low solubility. The addition of fertilizers and organic matter amendment do not increase the mercury content in the leachates either in the soil solution. (Author) 102 refs.

The search for microorganisms that improve soil fertility and enhance plant nutrition has continued to attract attention due to the increasing cost of fertilizers and some of their negative environmental impacts. The objectives of this greenhouse study with tomato were to determine (1) if reduced rates of inorganic fertilizer coupled with microbial inoculants will produce plant growth, yield, and nutrient uptake levels equivalent to those with full rates of the fertilizer and (2) the minimum level to which fertilizer could be reduced when inoculants were used. The microbial inoculants used in the study were a mixture of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IN937a and Bacillus pumilus T4, a formulated PGPR product, and the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus (AMF), Glomus intraradices. Results showed that supplementing 75% of the recommended fertilizer rate with inoculants produced plant growth, yield, and nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) uptake that were statistically equivalent to the full fertilizer rate without inoculants. When inoculants were used with rates of fertilizer below 75% of the recommended rate, the beneficial effects were usually not consistent; however, inoculation with the mixture of PGPR and AMF at 70% fertility consistently produced the same yield as the full fertility rate without inoculants. Without inoculants, use of fertilizer rates lower than the recommended resulted in significantly less plant growth, yield, and nutrient uptake or inconsistent impacts. The results suggest that PGPR-based inoculants can be used and should be further evaluated as components of integrated nutrient management strategies. PMID:19466478

Abstract in portuguese Qualidade das flores e a produtividade de antúrio (Anthurium andraeanum) dependem da adubação e do substrato utilizados. A maioria dos produtores brasileiros de antúrio costuma preparar seu substrato, mas eles não imaginam que o uso de substratos inadequados pode ser a causa de seus problemas de baixa qualidade ou baixa produtividade. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a produtividade e qualidade de flores de antúrio cultivado em diferentes substratos e adubações (more) . Plantas de antúrio da cultivar Eidibel foram plantadas em: a) casca de pinus + matéria orgânica decomposta (1:1); b) mistura de maravalha e composto (1:1); c) mistura de solo com resíduo de carvoaria e esterco de gado decomposto (substrato utilizado pelo produtor onde a pesquisa foi desenvolvida). Quatro fertirrigações foram aplicadas semanalmente durante onze meses. Estas soluções eram: NPK 100% (5,00:1,64:3,12 g planta-1 ano-1); N e K 100% + P 150% (5,00:2,46:3,12 g planta-1 ano-1); N e P 100% + K 150% (5,00:1,64:4,70 g planta-1 ano-1); N 100% + P e K 150% (5,00:2,46:4,70 g planta-1 ano-1). Estas soluções foram comparadas com a adubação feita pelo produtor local com adubo sólido de liberação lenta (4,52:1,23:4,99 g planta-1 ano-1). Embora não haja ocorrido aumento da produtividade, representada pelo número de flores por planta, o substrato preparado com maravalha + composto (1:1) com todas as adubações testadas produziu as melhores flores de antúrio (Extra e Classe I). Abstract in english Anthurium andraeanum flowers quality and productivity depend on the fertilizer, and the growing media used. Most Brazilian anthurium growers use to prepare their growing media, but they do not realize that the low quality and productivity might come from an inadequate mix that they are using. So, the objective was to determine yield and flower quality of anthurium plants grown in different growing media and fertilizations. 'Eidibel' anthurium plants were grown in: a) pine (more) bark + composted organic matter (1:1); b) wood shavings + composted organic matter (1:1); c) growing media usually utilized by the grower where this study was developed (a mixture of soil, coal residue and composted cow manure). Four fertigation solutions were applied weekly during eleven months. These solutions were: NPK 100% (5.00: 1.64: 3.12 g plant-1 year-1); N and K 100% + P 150% (5.00: 2.46: 3.12 g plant-1 year-1); N and P 100% + K 150% (5.00: 1.64: 4.70 g plant-1 year-1); N 100% + P and K 150% (5.00: 2.46: 4.70 g plant-1 year-1). These were compared with monthly fertilization done locally with slow releasing solid fertilizer (4.52: 1.23: 4.99 g plant-1 year-1). Although there was no increase in the yield, represented by the number of flowers produced per plant, the growing media prepared with wood shavings + organic compost (1:1) with all fertilization tested produced the best quality anthurium cut flowers (Extra and Class I).

Intercropping system of cereals with legume is common in semi-arid tropics of India. However, little attention has been paid to assessing nutrient competition in the system. Seasonal changes in relative dry matter yield (RDY), relative nitrogen yield (RNY), relative phosphorus yield (RPY) and relative potassium yield (RKY) are useful indices to estimate the N, P and K status in intercropping system. The competitive effect of soybean (Glycine max L.) in association with sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) was assessed using these indices under six nutrient treatments (0, 75% NPK, 100% NPK, 75% NPK+5Mg farmyard manure, 75% NPK+5Mg phosphocompost and 75% NPK+1.5Mg poultry manure) from a 5-year field experiment conducted in a N and P deficient Vertisol of Central India. The RDY and RNY of sorg...

In this paper, the authors deal with the problem of processing various types of waste generated by leather industry, with special emphasis to chrome-tanned waste. The agent that makes this waste potentially hazardous is hexavalent chromium. Its compounds can have negative effects on human health and some CrVI salts are considered carcinogens. The authors present the risks of spontaneous oxidization of CrIII to CrVI in the open-air dumps as well as the possible risks of wearing bad quality shoes, in which the chromium content is not controlled. There are several ways of handling primary leather waste, but no satisfactory technology has been developed for the secondary waste (manipulation waste, e.g. leather scraps and used leather products). In this contribution, a new three-step hybrid technology of processing manipulation waste is presented and tested under laboratory, pilot-scale and industrial conditions. The filtrate can be used as a good quality NPK fertilizer. The solid product, titanium-chromium sludge, can serve as an inorganic pigment in glass and ceramic industry. Further, the authors propose selective collection of used leather products (e.g. old shoes), the hydrolysable parts of which can be also processed by the new hybrid technology. PMID:18455302

The effects of water deficit and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 on the growth and content of essential oil, photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars, proline, macroelements (N-P-K) and microelements (Mg-Zn-Fe-Mn) of Pelargonium odoratissimum (L.) plants were investigated. Water deficits of 80% and 40% of field water capacity decreased certain growth characters (total leaf area, leaf number, and total fresh and dry mass). The photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls a and b, total carotenoids) and mineral content (N-P-K-Mg-Zn-Fe-Mn) also decreased as water deficit level increased. Water deficit promoted the accumulation of essential oil content and its main components (methyl eugenol, isomenthone and limonene) as well as total soluble sugars and proline contents. The water deficitxPEG 6000 inte...

Abstract in portuguese De 1943-44 a 1945-46 realizaram-se seis experiências (três anuais, uma conduzida por dois e duas por três anos), em três localidades do Estado de São Paulo, para estudar o efeito, sôbre a batata-doce, de diversas formulas contendo sempre 60-100-40 kg/ha de N-P2O5-K2O, mas preparadas com diferentes adubos nitrogenados, fosfatados e potássicos. Em relação ao tratamento sem adubo, foram poucos os casos em que as adubações com NPK aumentaram substancialmente a prod (more) ução. Nessas condições, superfosfato se mostrou ligeiramente superior à farinha de ossos e não se notou diferença entre cloreto de potássio e cinzas de café. Sulfato de amônio, que figurou na experiênca conduzida por dois anos, e torta de algodão, nas demais, em regra com portaram-se melhor do que salitre do Chile. Individualmente, as fórmulas mais eficientes foram as preparadas com superfosfato, cloreto de potássio e sulfato de amônio ou torta de algodão. Contudo, mesmo com estas, foi muito baixa a freqüência de resultados compensadores. Abstract in english Six experiments with sweet potatoes were located on two soil types of the State of São Paulo to study the effects of fertilizer mixtures prepared with different, N. P, and K sources, but containing always 60-100-40 kilograms of N-P(2)0(5)-K(2)0 per hectare. The yield increases of fertilized over the unfertilized plots were satisfactory only in a few of the 11 annual results obtained. Under such poor conditions, superphosphate was slightly superior to bone meal and no dif (more) ference was observed between coffee ashes and potassium chloride. Ammonium sulphate, in one, and cottonseed meal, in the other five trials, as a rule, were more efficient than Chilean nitrate. Individually, the mixtures prepared with superphosphate, potassium chloride, and ammonium sulphate or cottonseed meal gave the best results but even with them the frequency of satisfactory yield increases was very low.

Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) is an option for oilseed production, particularly in dry land areas due to good root system development. In this study, two field experiments were performed in the El-Khattara region (Sharkia Governorate, Egypt) during the 2005 season. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of organic nitrogen (ON) sources and their combinations as well as to compare the effect of ON and ammonium sulfate (AS) as a conventional fertilizer added individually or in combination on growth, yield components, oil percentage and the uptake of some macro nutrients by sunflowers grown on sandy soil.The treatments of chicken manure (CM) and a mixture of farmyard manure (FYM) with CM were superior to the other treatments and gave the highest yield, dry matter yield, NPK uptake by plants at all growth stages along with seed yield at the mature stage. The effect of the different ON on crop yield and its components may follow the order; CM> palma residues (PR)> FYM. This was more emphasized when the materials were mixed with AS at a ratio of 3:1 and 1:1. The uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) by plants was affected by the addition of different N sources and treatments. The highest nutrient content and uptake by straw were obtained when treated with CM followed by PR at all growth stages, while it was PR followed by CM for seeds. Oil recovery was shown to respond to the N supply and the changes in individual fatty acids were not statistically different. However, it seems that the application of organic fertilizers resulted in an increase in total unsaturated fatty acids compared to the control. (Author) 58 refs.

Abstract in portuguese Neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de diferentes doses de silicato de cálcio sobre a população de ninfas de percevejo castanho das raízes em Brachiaria brizantha, nas características químicas do solo, planta e produção de matéria seca. O experimento foi conduzido em blocos casualizados, com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições, totalizando 20 parcelas. Os tratamentos testados foram cinco doses (0, 0,5, 1, 2, e 4 t ha-1) de silicato de cálcio aplica (more) das junto com a adubação NPK na implantação da B. brizantha. Foi avaliado o número de ninfas do percevejo (profundidade de 0 a 40 cm), o pH e os teores de cálcio e de silício no solo. Aos 120 dias do plantio, a gramínea foi cortada, determinando-se a composição química e a produção de massa seca. Verificou-se que a aplicação de 2,6 t ha-1 de silicato de cálcio foi a melhor dosagem estimada para a redução de ninfas do percevejo castanho das raízes. A aplicação de doses crescentes de silicato de cálcio no solo promoveu o incremento do pH, dos teores de cálcio e silício no solo e o aumento na produção de matéria seca de B. brizantha. Abstract in english The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different calcium silicate rates on the nymph population of the brown root stinkbug in B. brizantha cv. marandu, in the soil chemical characteristics, and plant and dry matter production. The experiment was carried out in casualized blocks with five treatments and four repetitions, in a total of 20 plots. The treatments tested were five rates (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 t ha -1) of calcium silicate applied together with (more) NPK fertilization in the implantation of B. brizantha. The nymph number (depths 0 to 40 cm), pH, and soil calcium and silicon content were evaluated. On the 120th day after sowing, the grass was cut to determine the chemical composition and dry matter production. It was verified that the application of 2.6 t ha -1 of calcium silicate was the best estimated rate for the reduction of brown root stinkbug nymphs. The application of increasing doses of calcium silicate in the soil caused an increase of the pH, calcium and silicon content in the soil, and an increase in B. brizantha dry matter production.

Eight intensities of subsoiling were compared to disking on borrow pit reclamation plots amended with 17 mt/ha sewage sludge or inorganic fertilizer (1121 kg/ha) and lime (242 kg/ha). After one year, N and P levels in sludge plots were significantly higher than in fertilizer plots. K was low in all plots. Foliar N was significantly increased in trees on sludge plots, but foliar K was significantly higher in trees on fertilizer plots. Trees on the sludge-amended plots grew an average of 37.3% more in height and 76.5% more in DBH than trees grown in the fertilizer-amended plots.

A successful outcome to a given service is a combination of both male and female fertility. Despite this, most national evaluations for fertility are generally confined to female fertility with evaluations for male fertility commonly undertaken by individual breeding organisations and generally not made public. The objective of this study was to define a pertinent male fertility trait for seasonal calving production systems, and to develop a multiple regression mixed model that may be used to evaluate male fertility at a national level. The data included in the study after editing consisted of 361,412 artificial inseminations from 206,683 cow-lactations (134,911 cows) in 2,843 commercial dairy and beef herds. Fixed effects associated with whether a successful pregnancy ensued (pregnant = 1...

Abstract In this study, we re-examined the common practice of intensive P fertilization in altered wetland soils even when soil test (Olsen-P) indicates sufficient P levels (>10-mg/kg). We tested the effects of P fertilization on crop performance and P leaching in 36 lysimeters (1.5-m3) filled with peat, marl or alluvial materials and compared a new bone-char-based fertilizer to the common superphosphate. The lysimeter experiment consisted of the two fertilizer types, two application rates and a typical crop rotation of setaria (Setaria italica), pea (Pisum sativum) and tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum). By the end of each crop rotation, the yield was evaluated relative to P-fertilization rates and soil-test P. P fertilization resulted in increased Olsen-P, soil-solution P and P loss thro...

Abstract in portuguese As pastagens consistem no principal uso da terra na Amazônia. Com o tempo de utilização do pasto, a gramínea perde o vigor e reduz a produtividade, caracterizando algum estado de degradação. Entre as principais causas de degradação estão a falta de manutenção do pasto e consequente infestação de plantas invasoras, a escolha de espécies forrageiras inadequadas à região e o pastejo excessivo. O objetivo principal desta pesquisa foi avaliar o impacto de difer (more) entes manejos de recuperação sobre os atributos químicos do solo e a produtividade da gramínea numa pastagem degradada em Rondônia. Para atingir esse objetivo, foi instalado, em outubro de 2001, um experimento composto de 5 tratamentos: T = testemunha (controle); G = gradagem + NPK + micronutrientes; H = herbicida + NK + micronutrientes; A = plantio direto de arroz + NPK + micronutrientes; e S = Plantio direto de soja + PK+ micronutrientes. As seguintes fontes de N, P e K foram utilizadas: sulfato de amônio para N, termofosfato para o P e cloreto de potássio para o K. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. A produção de matéria seca da parte área da gramínea foi analisada a partir do trigésimo quinto mês de experimentação, englobando um período seco e outro úmido. A adubação fosfatada propiciou incrementos significativos de Ca2+ e Mg2+ e tendência de aumento de P na camada superficial do solo nos primeiros meses de condução do experimento nos tratamentos G e S e incrementos de Ca2+ e P (tendência) no tratamento A. A produtividade acumulada de Brachiaria brizantha, obtida entre os meses de set/2004 e mar/2005, foi de 30.025, 28.267 e 27.735 kg ha-1 de matéria seca da parte aérea, nos tratamentos G, A e S, respectivamente, as quais diferiram significativamente dos tratamentos T e H: 17.040 e 17.057 kg ha-1, respectivamente. Concluiu-se que a adubação fosfatada, associada à reforma da pastagem, foi efetiva no incremento de produção da matéria seca de Brachiaria brizantha. O plantio direto do arroz ou da soja é aconselhável como prática de reforma de pastagens, por propiciar o efeito residual da adubação. Abstract in english Pasture is the main form of land use in Amazonia. Over time the pasture grass loses vigor and yields decrease, indicating a certain degree of degeneration. The main causes of degradation are lack of pasture maintenance and subsequent weed infestation, the choice of regionally unsuitable forage species and excessive grazing. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of different recovery managements on soil chemical properties and grass yield of a degraded (more) pasture in Rondônia. For this purpose, an experiment was installed in October 2001, consisting of five treatments: C = control; HA = harrowing + NPK + micronutrients; HE = Herbicide + NK + micronutrients; R = No-tillage rice + NPK + micronutrients; and S = No-tillage soybean + PK + micronutrients. The following N, P and K sources were used: ammonium sulfate for N, calcined phosphate for P and potassium chloride for K. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with four replications. The shoot dry matter yield of the grass was analyzed as of the 35th month of experimentation, in a dry and a rainy period. Phosphorus fertilization resulted in significant increases in Ca2+ and Mg2+ and increasing trend of P in the topsoil in the initial months of the experiment in treatments HA and S and increases in Ca2+ and P (trend) in the treatment R. The cumulative production of Brachiaria brizantha, from Sep/2004 to Mar/2005, was 30,025, 28,267 and 27,735 kg ha-1 shoot dry matter in the treatments HA, R and S, respectively. These values differed significantly from treatments C and HE, with 17,040 and 17,057 kg ha-1, respectively. It was concluded that phosphorus fertilization associated to pasture reform was effective to raise the dry matter yield of Brachiaria brizantha. Rice or soybean under no-tillage is recommended as a practice of pasture recovery, due to the residual effect of fertilization.

The frequency of in vitro fertilization of mouse eggs using sperm obtained weekly (for 1-9 weeks) from epididymis after testicular X-irradiation (200 rad) was observed. The sperm concentrations for insemination were 100, 200 and 300/mm/sup 3/. The number of fertilized eggs seemed to remain constant almost at control level (90-98%) until the 4th week after X-irradiation. Thereafter, the number declined to reach a minimum level (about 30-50%) in the 6th week; they then recovered completely in the 8th week. This tendency was found at all sperm concentrations used. This result indicates that the most sensitive stage for the fertilization capacity of sperm to X-rays was the early spermatocytes or the late spermatogonia. The high radiosensitivity of the fertilization capacity of sperm irradiated during the early-spermatocyte to late-spermatogonial stage, corresponded well with the rate of induction of sperm abnormalities and spermatogenetic cell killing. The in vitro fertilization rate was not restored by an increase in sperm concentration at insemination; it is, therefore, likely that the in vitro fertilization frequency depends on the proportion of sperm with abnormal morphology and abnormal fertilization ability, and sperm number seems to have hardly any influence on the fertilization rate, as far as the in vitro fertilization experiment is concerned.

Ground rubber contains 15-20 g Zn/kg but very low levels of Cd and could serve as an inexpensive byproduct Zn fertilizer. The aim of this investigation was to test the kinetics of Zn release in a soil treated with ground tire rubber and rubber ash compared with commercial Zn fertilizer and a labora...

An endomycorrhizal fungus, Gigaspora margarita, was more effective in stimulating the growth of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) 'Coker 201' at a low fertility level (1.77 gm 10-10-10 N-P-K/pot) than doubling the fertility rate for nonmycorrhizal plants. Gigaspora margarita alone stimulated shoot growth ...

Recently, we and others found perchlorate at high levels (approximately 500 - 8000 mg/kg) in ~ 90% of 25+ fertilizers products (primarily lawn-and-garden type) with no known link to mined nitrate-bearing Chilean ore. This ore is used, albeit in small scale, in fertilizer product...

Abstract in portuguese Comparam-se as eficiências de soluções de aquamônia e de carbonato/bicarbonato de amônio contendo sais de K e de P quanto à produção de material seco da parte aérea e ao aproveitamento do N aplicado como fertilizante por cana-de-açúcar. Soqueiras de cana-de-açúcar da variedade "RB72454" foram transplantadas para vasos de 100 dm³ de terra e cultivadas por noventa dias. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em esquema fatorial 2 x 3 inteiramente casualizad (more) o, com 4 repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram no fornecimento de fontes de N em combinações ou não com KCl e NH4H2PO4. Os nutrientes P e K não incluídos em cada tratamento foram aplicados em outro ponto, à mesma distância e profundidade das soqueiras que as soluções de tratamento, para assegurar a igualdade das quantidades de N, P e K aplicadas a todas as parcelas. Avaliaram-se a produção de material seco da parte aérea, a extração total de N e a recuperação do N do fertilizante. Considerou-se, para este último parâmetro, a extração do N do solo pelas soqueiras de unidades que receberam somente sais de K e de P. As soluções com carbonato/bicarbonato de amônio resultaram em maiores produções de material seco da parte aérea que as de aquamônia, porém, não diferiram quanto à extração total de N e ao N recuperado do fertilizante. A adição de KCl e NH4H2PO4 às soluções de N não interferiram na extração e na eficiência de recuperação do N aplicado, para as relações N:K e N:P:K avaliadas. Abstract in english The efficiencies of aqua ammonia and ammonium carbonate/bicarbonate solutions mixed with K and P salts were compared to shoot dry matter yield and the profit of N applied from fertilizers by sugarcane. Sugarcane ratoons, cultivar "RB72454", were transplanted to 100 dm³ soil pots and were grown for ninety days. The experimental design adopted was a 2 x 3 completely randomized factorial, with 4 replications. Treatments consisted of supplying N sources mixed or not with KCl (more) and NH4H2PO4. P and K nutrients not included in each treatment were applied at another point, but at the same distance and depth from ratoons than the treatment solutions, to assure the equality of the rates of N, P and K applied to all treatments. Shoot dry matter yield, total N uptake and N recover from the fertilizer solutions were evaluated. This last parameter, was considered as soil N uptake by ratoons of plots, which received only K and P salts. The ammonium carbonate/bicarbonate solutions lead to greater shoot dry matter yield than the aqua ammonia, but they did not differ in respect of the total N uptake and N recover from the fertilizers solutions. The KCl and NH4H2PO4 inclusion to N solutions did not affect the total N uptake and N recover efficiency, to the evaluated N:K and N:P:K ratios.

Abstract in portuguese Estudou-se o efeito do nitrogênio nítrico, amoniacal e uréico, subministrados em distintas etapas de desenvolvimento do cultivo de tomate, sobre o rendimento e a qualidade do fruto. O trabalho se realizou no campo sob irrigação por gotejamento, em um solo vertisol pélico e clima cálido e semi-árido. Três tratamentos de fertilização (T1, T2 e testemunho) foram distribuídos em um desenho de blocos completos aleatório com três repetições. T1 e T2 se fertiliza (more) ram com 250-50-190kg?ha-1 de N, P e K, respectivamente; em estes o N se subministrou em diferentes proporções de N-uréico, N-amoniacal e N-nítrico, em distintas etapas de desenvolvimento do cultivo; o T3 se aplicou como os produtores do Vale de Culiacán, Sinaloa, México (450-118-413kg?ha-1 de N-P-K), com 75% do N como nitrato. A concentração de N-NO3 no extrato celular de pecíolos nos T1 e T2 flutuou de 500 a 1360ppm, e em T3 foi de 300-1175ppm. Estes valores estiveram relacionados com a dose de N total subministrado, mas não com a proporção de NH4/NO3 aplicada, e tampouco influíram na produção do fruto de exportação. A produção do fruto foi estatisticamente igual nas doses de fertilização alta e moderada, poupando 75% de N-nítrico. Em qualidade pos-colheita de frutos, a fertilização reduzida e a aplicação de N-uréico e N-amoniacal em altas proporções não afetou a firmeza, oBrix nem a perda de peso dos frutos. Abstract in spanish Se estudió el efecto de nitrógeno nítrico, amoniacal y ureico, suministrados en distintas etapas de desarrollo del cultivo de tomate, sobre el rendimiento y la calidad de fruto. El trabajo se realizó en campo bajo riego por goteo, en un suelo vertisol pélico y clima cálido y semiárido. Tres tratamientos de fertilización (T1, T2 y testigo) fueron distribuidos en un diseño de bloques completos al azar con tres repeticiones. T1 y T2 se fertilizaron con 250-50-190kg? (more) ?ha-1 de N, P y K, respectivamente; en estos el N se suministró en diferentes proporciones de N-ureico, N-amoniacal y N-nítrico, en distintas etapas de desarrollo del cultivo; el T3 se aplicó como los productores del Valle de Culiacán, Sinaloa, México (450-118-413kg·ha-1 de N-P-K), con 75% del N como nitrato. La concentración de N-NO3 en el extracto celular de peciolos en los T1 y T2 fluctuó de 500 a 1360ppm, y en T3 fue de 300-1175ppm. Estos valores estuvieron relacionados con la dosis de N total suministrado pero no con la proporción de NH4/NO3 aplicada, y tampoco influyeron en la producción de fruto de exportación. La producción de fruto fue estadísticamente igual en las dosis de fertilización alta y moderada, con un ahorro del 75% de N-nítrico. En calidad poscosecha de frutos, la fertilización reducida y la aplicación de N-ureico y N-amoniacal en altas proporciones no afectó la firmeza, ºBrix ni la pérdida de peso de los frutos. Abstract in english The effect of nitrogen form (urea, nitrate and ammonium) provided at various stages of development of the tomato crop on the yield and quality of fruit was studied. The work was conducted under field conditions in a pellustert soil, drip irrigation and a warm and semi-arid climate. Three fertilization treatments (T1, T2 and control) were arranged in a randomized complete-block design with three replicates. T1 and T2 were fertilized with 250-50-190kg·ha-1 N, P and K, resp (more) ectively; which N was supplied in different ratios of ureic-N, ammonium-N and nitric-N along growing tomato plants; T3 was provided in a similar way as is generally employed by the tomato producers in the Culiacan Valley, Sinaloa, Mexico (450-118-413kg·ha-1 N-P-K), with 75% of N in nitrate form. The concentration of N-NO-3 in the petiole cell extract in T1 and T2 ranged from 500 to 1360ppm, and in the control it was 300-1175ppm. These values were related with the total N doses supplied but not with the ratio of NH4/NO3 provided, neither influenced on the total amount of exportation fruit. The fruit production was statistically similar in the high and moderated fertilizer doses with a fertilizer savings of 75% of nitrate N. With respect to the post-harvest quality in the tomato fruit, moderated fertilization associated with high application of ureic-N and ammonium-N did not affect the fruit firmness, ºBrix or the weight loss in the fruit.

In this article, I demonstrate that the apparently much higher fertility of Hispanic/Mexican women in the United States is almost exclusively the product of period estimates obtained for immigrant women and that period measures of immigrant fertility suffer from three serious sources of bias that together significantly overstate fertility levels: difficulties in estimating the size of immigrant groups; the tendency for migration to occur at a particular stage in life; and, most importantly, the tendency for women to have a birth soon after migration. When these sources of bias are taken into consideration, the fertility of native Hispanic/Mexican women is very close to replacement level. In addition, the completed fertility of immigrant women in the United States is dramatically lower than...

A field study was carried out to monitor the effect of application of molasses based distillery effluent on yields of sugarcane and soil properties. The treatments consisted of main plots: control (I0), first pre-sowing irrigation with undiluted effluent (I1), one irrigation with effluent: tube-well water (1:3) at tillering stage (I2), two irrigations with effluent: tube-well water (1:4) at tillering and 30 d after tillering stage (I3). The subplots either received no fertilizer application (F0) or had 50 % of recommended dose (50 kg N, 60 kg P(2)O(5) and 40 kg K(2)O ha(-1) as basal dose (F1) with top dressing of 50 kg N ha(-1) at tillering and in June before the onset of monsoon. Nitrogen to the ratoon crops was applied in three equal splits. Application of 50 % recommended fertilizer dose increased the cumulative cane yields under different effluent treatments. Use of distillery effluent irrespective of the method of application significantly increased the cumulative yields of sugarcane over no application of effluent significantly at p ? 0.05. After the harvest of second ratoon crop, no significant effect of different treatments was noted on soil pH, electrical conductance and exchangeable Na. Significantly higher build-up of organic C in surface soil was noted under I2 treatment in comparison to I0 treatment at p ? 0.05. With no fertilizer application, both I1 and I2 significantly increased accumulation of alkaline KMnO(4) hydrolysable N in 30-45 cm layer in comparison to I0F0 at p ? 0.05. In comparison to I0, use of I2 increased the content of Olsen's P significantly (p ? 0.05) in 30-45 and 45-60 cm layers while I3 increased it significantly at p ? 0.05 in 0-15 and 45-60 cm layers. Use of distillery effluent as pre-sowing or standing crop irrigation increased ammonium acetate extractable K in surface and sub-surface layers significantly in comparison to I0 at p ? 0.05. Thus, use of distillery effluent in sugarcane crop as pre-sown or standing crop irrigation had no adverse impact on soil reaction or electrical conductivity and could save at least fifty percent of basal NPK application with significantly higher cumulative millable cane yields of main crop and two subsequent ratoons. PMID:22886369

Long-term stationary field experiments revealed a poor supply of gray forest soils with available phosphorus, which provides no more than half the amount necessary for optimum nutrition of plants. It was found that agricultural crops with different capacities to assimilate phosphates from the soil and fertilizers have strong requirements for phosphorus fertilizers and abruptly increase their utilization in the production process with increasing level of nitrogen nutrition. Crops with the optimum level of nitrogen nutrition uptake a double amount of phosphorus compared to crops depleted in nitrogen. Clover and barley have an increased capacity to mobilize soil phosphates from the lower horizons at an extremely low content of available forms of them in the plow layer. Winter wheat and corn are characterized by an active uptake of phosphorus applied with fertilizer and its efficient utilization in the production process if the nitrogen supply is not a limiting factor. The level of phosphorus nutrition of subsequent rotation crops increases due to the enrichment of the root-inhabited soil layer with phosphorus from clover root and harvest residues. Based on the data about the unacceptably abrupt decrease in the application of mineral fertilizers in Russian agriculture (90% of fertilizers are exported now), it is shown that the export of fertilizers should be limited at the state level, because chemicals, and primarily phosphorus fertilizers, should be considered strategic resources for internal use only.

... specialized hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. 2. Ovulation, which is the release of eggs needed for ... of estrogen and progesterone increase before and after ovulation. If the egg is not fertilized, hormone levels ...

... 2009 VIDEO: Higher Glucose Levels Linked to Lower Cognitive Function, Common Chemicals Affect Fertility, Kidney Donors Lead ... hallmarks of RP are that there is a loss of peripheral vision (eg, they wouldn’t see ...

Objectives: Levels of maternal serum markers of fetal Down syndrome in pregnancies conceived after assisted reproduction are different from those of normal spontaneous pregnancies. The present study examined the effects of conventional in-vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (...

Cassava main stem barks from two experiments in which similar fertilizers were applied directly in a 2/sup 5/ confounded factorial design were analyzed and the bark nutrients used as a guide to cassava nutrition. The application of multiple regression analysis to the respective root yields and bark nutrient concentrations enable nutrient levels and optimum adjusted root yields to be derived. Differences in bark nutrient concentrations reflected soil fertility levels. Bark analysis and the application of multiple regression analysis to root yields and bark nutrients appear to be useful tools for predicting fertilizer recommendations for cassava production.

Soil radiocarbon measurements can be used to estimate soil carbon turnover rates and inventories. A labile component of soil carbon has the potential to respond to perturbations such as CO{sub 2} fertilization, changing climate, and changing land use. Soil carbon has influenced past and present atmospheric CO{sub 2} levels and will influence future levels. A model is used to calculate the amount of additional carbon stored in soil because of CO{sub 2} fertilization.

Summary Based on lipid analyses, 16S rRNA/rRNA gene single-strand conformation polymorphism fingerprints and methane flux measurements, influences of the fertilization regime on abundance and diversity of archaeal communities were investigated in soil samples from the long-term (103 years) field trial in Bad Lauchstadt, Germany. The investigated plots followed a gradient of increasing fertilization beginning at no fertilization and ending at the `cattle manure' itself. The archaeal phospholipid etherlipid (PLEL) concentration was used as an indicator for archaeal biomass and increased with the gradient of increasing fertilization, whereby the concentrations determined for organically fertilized soils were well above previously reported values. Methane emission, although at a low level, wer...

Does the sex composition of existing children in a family affect fertility behavior? An unusually large data set, covering 64 countries and some 5 million births, is used to show that fertility behavior responds to the presence-or absence-of sons in many regions of the developing world. The response to the absence of sons is particularly large in Central Asia and South Asia. Modernization does not appear to reduce this differential response. For example, in South Asia the fertility response to the absence of sons is larger for women with more education and has been increasing over time. The explanation appears to be that a latent demand for sons is more likely to manifest itself when fertility levels are low. As a result of this differential fertility behavior, girls tend to grow up with s...

Clonal forestry offers the opportunity to increase yields, enhance uniformity and improve wood characteristics. Intensive silvicultural practices, including fertilization, will be required to capture the full growth potential of clonal plantations. However, variation in nutrient use efficiency that exists among clones could affect growth responses. Our research objective was to determine the range of growth response and stem form quality due to fertilization in clones of Pinus taeda. A split-plot experimental design was used, with the whole plots being two levels of fertilizer application (fertilizer versus control) and the split plot factor being 25 clones. Whole plot treatments were blocked and replicated four times. Six years after planting and five years after fertilizer application, a...

Abstract in portuguese O objetivo neste trabalho foi avaliar o valor nutritivo de dois sistemas forrageiros (SF): capim-elefante (CE) + azevém + trevo-branco + espécies de crescimento espontâneo (SF1); e capim-elefante + azevém + amendoim forrageiro + espécies de crescimento espontâneo (SF2). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos ao acaso com duas repetições (piquetes), totalizando quatro piquetes de 0,25 ha. O capim-elefante foi estabelecido em linhas espaçadas a cada 4 (more) m e as pastagens foram adubadas com 50-40-40 kg/ha do formulado NPK. Durante o período experimental, foram realizados nove pastejos (326 dias no SF1 e 336 dias no SF2). Para avaliação, foram usadas vacas em lactação da raça Holandesa, recebendo suplementação alimentar de concentrado (3,5 kg/dia). Avaliaram-se a massa de forragem inicial, a composição botânica e os componentes estruturais do capim-elefante. Amostras de simulação de pastejo foram coletadas para análises dos teores de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e proteína bruta (PB), da digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS) e matéria orgânica (DIVMO) e da composição em nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT). No sistema forrageiro com trevo-branco, os valores médios de FDN foram de 47,71%; os de PB, 15,69%; a DIVMS, 77,28%; a DIVMO, 75,92%; e o teor de NDT, 65,00%, enquanto, no sistema com amendoim forrageiro, foram de 51,84; 14,62; 73,7; 72,27; e 63,06%, respectivamente. Os resultados de PB, DIVMS e DIVMO na pastagem total foram melhores no sistema forrageiro com trevo-branco, enquanto os de FDN foram melhores no sistema com amendoim forrageiro. O valor nutritivo das duas pastagens é melhor no período hibernal. Considerando a adubação, o manejo e o tempo de utilização da pastagem, pode-se afirmar que os valores qualitativos de ambos os sistemas são elevados. Abstract in english The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of two pasture-based systems (PS), with elephant grass (EG) + ryegrass (RG) + white clover (WC) + spontaneous growing species (SGS), for PS1; and EG + RG + forage peanut (FP) + SGS, for PS2. Four paddocks, each one with 0.25 ha, were used in the assessment. A complete randomized block design was used with two replications (paddocks). The EG was established in rows with 4 m spacing. Pastures were fertilized wi (more) th 50-40-40 kg/ha NPK formulated, respectively. Nine grazings were performed during the experimental period (326 days in PS1 and 336 in PS2). Holstein cows receiving 3.5 kg/daily complementary concentrate feed were used in the evaluation. The initial forage mass, botanical composition and structural components of EG were evaluated. Samples were collected by the hand-plucking method to analyze neutral detergent fiber (NDF), crude protein (CP), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and total nutrient digestibility (TND). The mean values for NDF, CP, IVDMD, IVOMD and TDN were 47.71; 15.69; 77.28; 75.92; 65.00% in PS1; and 51.84; 14.62; 73.72; 72.27 and 63.06% in PS2, respectively. Superior results were detected for CP, IVDMD, IVOMD and TDN forage total in PS1 while superior NDF values were detected in PS2. In two pastures, the best nutritive value results were observed in the winter period. Both systems showed high qualitative values considering fertilization, management and use time.

Abstract in portuguese O presente artigo trata de um tipo de delineamento denominado "composto central duplo", basicamente simétrico, constituído de dois fatoriais (ou fatoriais fracionados) nos níveis ±1 e ±W, duas estrelas nos níveis ±a e ±ga para cada fator e pontos centrais, e podendo apresentar cinco, sete ou nove níveis para cada fator. Devido à maior flexibilidade desse tipo de delineamento em relação ao composto central, propriedades como ortogonalidade dos coeficientes, sub (more) divisão ortogonal em blocos e rotacionalidade são mais facilmente integradas no mesmo delineamento. Como podem ser estabelecidos com uma parte fracionada de um fatorial completo, esses delineamentos podem explorar um maior número de níveis na amplitude de variação que se pretende pesquisar, com um número um pouco maior de pontos que o delineamento composto central correspondente. Na Agricultura, em contraste com os experimentos tecnológicos e, principalmente, nas pesquisas com fertilizantes, devido à variabilidade do solo e do clima, os experimentos devem ser efetuados com a utilização dos tratamentos do delineamento colocados, todos, de uma só vez. As respostas obtidas podem ser mais altas, na amplitude estudada, nos anos bons, e, nos anos ruins, de menor magnitude, ascendente e com resposta em uma amplitude menor, apresentando, em certos casos, uma "resposta em platô" para as dosagens mais altas. O delineamento composto central duplo pode adaptar-se melhor a essa peculiaridade, porque, pela sua estrutura, utiliza maior número de pontos na amplitude de dosagens utilizada. Se uma calibração adequada foi originalmente adotada e o ano agrícola muito bom, a amplitude maior utilizada capta a resposta aos fertilizantes em toda a extensão pesquisada; se o ano foi ruim, a resposta aos fertilizantes é de menor magnitude e, provavelmente, com resposta da "curva em platô" para as dosagens mais altas; a análise do delineamento como um todo pode causar, nesse caso, um "viés" nos coeficientes do modelo, e a determinação da dosagem econômica fica prejudicada; nesse caso, o delineamento proposto torna possível contornar o problema, efetuando a análise da parte central do delineamento como um delineamento composto central simples, usando os níveis ±1 para a parte fatorial e ±a para a axial, possibilitando a obtenção de uma estimativa justa (não enviesada) dos coeficientes do modelo e uma determinação mais precisa das dosagens econômicas; para a mesma amplitude estudada, isso não poderia ser obtido caso se utilizasse um delineamento composto central ou um fatorial 3 x 3 x 3. Basicamente, este artigo apresenta três tipos de delineamento; no quadro 1, delineamentos que, além de ortogonais, são subdivísíveis em dois, três ou cinco blocos: os níveis foram escolhidos de forma a que os níveis W da parte fatorial sejam menores que dois (níveis mais altos são raramente utilizados na prática). Os delineamentos do segundo grupo (Quadro 2) são ortogonais, divisíveis ortogonalmente em blocos, com os pontos da parte fatorial inseridos em duas hiperesferas de raios a = Ök e ga»WÖk, contendo dois ou quatro pontos centrais; esses delineamentos podem ser considerados como constituídos de dois delineamentos compostos centrais, apresentando, cada um deles, segundo LUCAS (7), eficiência do tipo D-ótimo. No terceiro grupo, incluídos no quadro 3, os delineamentos são ortogonais, subdivísíveis ortogonalmente em blocos e com rotacionalidade plena ou quase plena (marcados com um asterisco), no sentido dado por BOX & HUNTER (1), apresentado com um número adequado de pontos centrais, visando fornecer boa estimativa do erro experimental e possibilitando, assim, um teste mais preciso de adequação do modelo estudado. Esses delineamentos podem ser de utilidade aos pesquisadores e aos estatísticos naqueles casos, como na pesquisa agrícola e na pequisa com fertilizantes, em que a subdivisão em blocos é muito importante; possibilitam uma determinação precisa da dose econômica dos fertilizantes e servem também para aqueles casos em que se sente que é importante cobrir a área pesquisada com várias doses de cada fator. Abstract in english The present paper deals with the type of designs known as "Double Central Composite". Basically they are a symmetric type composed of two factorials (or fractional factorials) at levels ±1 and ±W, two stars at levels ±a and ±ga for each factor and central points, presenting five, seven or nine levels for each factor. Due to the higher flexibility of this type of design in comparison with the central composite, properties like orthogonality of the coefficients, orthogo (more) nal blocking and rotatability are easily put together in the same design. As these designs can be arranged with a fractionary part of a 2k factorial, they can explore more levels in the range considered with just a few more points than the correspondent central composite design. In agriculture, opposite to technological experiments, and principally in fertilizer research, due to the soil and climatic variability, the experiments should be performed with all treatments allocated at the same time. The responses obtained may be higher and enlarged in the good years and smaller or with a "plateau response" in the bad years. The double central composite design may fit better this situation, because by its structure they cover better a broader range of dosages. If an adequate calibration was originally adopted and the year was a good one, the larger range will fit better the response. If the year was bad, the response is smaller and may present some type of "plateau response" to the higher dosages; the analysis of the complete design may cause a "bias" in the coefficients of the model and in the determination of the economical dosages. In this case the design makes possible to contour the problem by just analysing the central part of the design, as a central composite, using the levels ±1 for the factorial and ± ato the axial, getting an "unbiased" estimate of the coefficients; for the same range of dosages originally utilized, this could not be obtained through an original central composite or with a 3x3x3 factorial. Basically this paper presents three types of design. In Table 1, designs are presented that, besides being orthogonal, are orthogonally blocked in 2, 3 or 5 blocks. The levels were chosen in such a manner as to become the W levels of all designs, smaller than two (levels higher than two are seldom used in practice). The designs of the second group are orthogonal, orthogonally blocked with the external points all of them on the surface of two hyperspheres of rays a= Ök and ga» WÖk, containing two or four central points; these designs may be considered as composed of two central composites, each one having, according with Lucas, quasi optimum D-efficiency. In the third group, presented in Table 3, the designs are orthogonal, orthogonally blocked and with full rotatability or quasi rotatability (the last one presented with an asterisk), in Box and Hunter sense, with enough central points to furnish good estimates of the experimental error, allowing a more precise test for the adequacy of the model. The double central composite design should be of value for the research workers or for the statisticians in those cases in which blocking is very important as in field agriculture experiments and particularly in fertilizer experiments when we are looking for the economical response to NPK. They may be utilized in other areas of research with similar problems, in cases in which we want to evaluate the response for several levels of each factor.

Abstract in portuguese No presente trabalho são relatados os resultados de sete anos de um estudo feito sob a forma de ensaio de campo com a finalidade de verificar o possibilidade pratica da restauração de lavoura velha de café, no Estado de São Paulo, mediante o emprego da irrigação associada a outras práticas culturais. Foram estudados os efeitos da irrigação, inicialmente em diferentes dosagens, e os efeitos das combinações fatoriais de NPK (duas dasagens), presença e ausência (more) de estêrco de curral, e presença e ausência de adubação verde intercalar, utilizando o delineamento de blocos ao acaso com canteiros subdivididos, com um total de 8 blocos, cada um com 8 tratamentos de 16 plantas, totalizando 2.856 árvores, inclusive as bordaduras, abrangendo a área total de 35.000 m². A adubação química completa, parcelada, foi empregado como adubação básica, figurando a dosagem simples de NPK como testemunha; as adubações orgânicas foram testados como complementares. O ensaio foi instalado num dos melhores talhões de cafèzal velho da variedade Bourbom Vermelho, plantado há mais de 30 anos, em terra de tipo arenito Bauru, desbravada de mato virgem, na Estação Experimental de Pindorama, do Instituto Agronômico do Estado de São Paulo. As análises da variância dos dados de produção revelaram que o efeito da irrigação foi significativo apenas na colheita de 1957, com um aumento de produção da ordem de 90%. Apesar do elevado aumento de produção, o significando estatística não ultrapassou o nível de 5%, devido o irregularidade dos produções dos blocos. Abstract in english This paper reports and discusses results refering to a field trial set up to study irrigation and fertilization problems of old coffee groves. The seven year study, started 1953, was carried at a representative well coffee grove of Bourbon variety, about 35 years old, located in a typical sandy soil of the Bauru superior formation of the Pindorama Experiment Station, considered to well represent on extensive port of that formation where the bulk of coffee is at present pr (more) oduced in the State of São Paulo. Eight randomized blocks were used with a 2x2x2 factorial for the small treatments in each block, the following treatments being compared: complete chemical fertilizer in two dosages, with and without organic manure, with and without green manure as an annual intercrop. The irrigation treatments, the first two years, included application of 1 and 2 inches of water every three weeks, starting July, 2 inches storting August and no irrigation. The remaining 5 years the treatments compared were simply with irrigation and no irrigation. Irrigation application time was then mostly determined by soil moisture depletion, when about 50 millimeters were consumed from the 0-80 centimeter soil layer. Irrigation effect was significant only one year, with substantial increase in yield. The first two years irrigation apparently decreased yields. However, this result can be attributed to the effect of insufficient number of replications and to the fact that the blocks with no irrigation were benefited by their particular location in the field, where soil fertility was higher. The remaining years, although a balanced re-sampling was made to double the replications by reducing the irrigation treatments, the climate was generally more favorable to coffee production, thus minimizing the effect of irrigation. The use of green manure as an annual intercrop was shown to significantly decrease yields, in spite of the fact that seeds were inoculated and there was a basic substract of chemical fertilizer in all plots. The use of organic manure in the dosage of about 12 kg every year per coffee tree (which means o group of 3-6 trees originally planted in the some hole) did not increase yields. In no year the effect of double dosage of fertilizer was significant. The average basic dosage used was the following per tree per year: 311 g of ammonium sulphate (20,5% N), 162 g of calcium superphosphate (20% P2O5) and 145 g of potassium chloride (60% K2O). When yields of the treated plots were compared with yields of untreated border plot trees, it was shown an increase of about 38% due to the effect of chemical fertilizer alone. However, the present coffee economical situation in Brasil does not favor the use of fertilizers on o profit basis on the old coffee plantations of the type reported. Considering the advantages of forming new coffee groves according to modern techniques, where there was before pasture lond, a practice which is sure to grow in importance, it would be outdated to recommend expenditures to try to improve old coffee plantations. The irrigation equipmente used for the experiment and part of the laboratory equipment needed was acquired through a donation of the Rockefeller Foundation,, to which we owe due recognition.

Successful production of biomass for energy requires selection of species with high annual yields and development of proper management conditions. Pennisetum purpureum, Erianthus arundinaceum, Sorghum bicolor, and Tripsacum dactyloides were grown as single biomass crops and Brassica campestris, Sorghum bicolor were grown in sequence under one nematicide and two fertilization treatments. The experiment was conducted over a three year period. P. purpureum (52.2 Mg/ha) and Erianthus (46.4 Mg/ha) produced highest dry biomass yield when recommended fertilizer rate for forage production was applied and the plants were cut once each year. Harvesting P. purpureum twice each year reduced yields 65% compared with the single cut. Decreasing fertilizer by one-half lowered yield 14-26% for P. purpureum and sorghums; 49% for T. dactyloides (zero fertilizer applied), whereas Erianthus increased from 46.4 to 54.0 Mg/ha with the lower fertility. The application of 6.7 kg/ha active nematicide on the soil surface in late March of each year did not control nematodes nor affect yields. Biomass yields from P. purpureum and Erianthus when grown on flatwood soils in peninsular Florida at the normal fertilizer rate and harvested once per year were higher than yields at reduced fertilizer treatments. Additional research is needed to determine optimum fertilizer levels for each grass grown under specific soil conditions. 8 references.

The clearing of tropical forest in the Brazilian Amazon for cattle pasture since the 70s is a globally important land use change that has consequences for soil biogeochemical cycles. Generally, five to ten years after deforestation, pastures become degraded due to inadequate management practices. Development of strategies for restoration of low productivity pastures constitutes the main goal for Rondônia state. We analyzed the concentrations of the main nutrient of the biogeochemical cycles in three representative land uses at Fazenda Nova Vida, in central Rondônia (10o30'S, 62o30'W). The treatments were: (1) native forest; (2) pasture dominated by the forage grass Brachiaria brizantha but containing some weeds, under non- intensive management and; (3) a section of the same pasture that was subjected to tilling, replanting and fertilization (NPK + micronutrients) to eliminate weeds and improve grass productivity. Water samples from rain, throughfall, overland flow, tension lysimeter and zero-tension lysimeter (1.0 m soil depth), were collected during the rainy seasons from January to May of 2002 and 2003. The concentrations of C (DOC and DIC), inorganic-N (NH4+, NO3- and NO2-), Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, SO42- and Cl- were measured in all treatments. Rain water was dominated by the nutrients (NH4+, Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Cl-) and DOC. Forest throughfall was enriched in most of the elements. Concentrations of elements in the overland flow showed higher variations in the pasture and in the plowed pasture, however samples were not collected in forest. Soil solution waters (tension lysimeter) and lysimeter waters (zero-tension lysimeter) too had higher variations for elements concentrations in all treatments. Forest clearing for pasture and pasture submitted to tillage practices profoundly influence soil properties and, consequently, the nutrient availability in soil profiles. The soil solution composition may be indicative of altered patterns of nutrient availability in this land use change.

Narcissus bulbs contain the biologically active alkaloid galanthamine, and Narcissus is being developed as a natural source of the molecule for the pharmaceutical industry. The effect of fertilizer on galanthamine production was investigated in a field study using a (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolite profiling approach. Galanthamine was quantitated and major metabolites in the bulbs were identified. The application of standard fertilization levels of nitrogen and potassium caused a significant increase in galanthamine as compared to a control. Multivariate data analysis of the (1)H NMR data revealed that applying double the standard level of nitrogen fertilizer resulted in production of more amino acids and citric acid cycle intermediates, but not more galanthamine. The results indicated that standard levels of fertilizer currently applied in The Netherlands are sufficient for optimal galanthamine accumulation in the bulbs. This study shows how (1)H NMR-based metabolic profiling can provide insight into the response of plant metabolism to agricultural practices. PMID:21375239

The widespread application of intensive forest management practices throughout the southeastern U.S. has increased loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L., yields and shortened conventional rotation lengths. Fluctuations in Nantucket pine tip moth, Rhyacionia frustrana (Comstock), population density and subsequent damage levels have been linked to variations in management intensity. We examined the effects of two practices, irrigation and fertilization, on R. frustrana damage levels and pupal weights in an intensively-managed P. taeda plantation in South Carolina. Trees received intensive weed control and one of the following treatments; irrigation only. fertilization only, irrigation + fertilization, or control. Mean whole-tree tip moth damage levels ranged from <1 to 48% during this study. Damage levels differed significantly among treatments in two tip moth generations in 2001, but not 2000. Pupal weight was significantly heavier in fertilization compared to the irrigation treatment in 2000, but no significant differences were observed in 2001. Tree diameter. height. and aboveground volume were significantly greater in the irrigation + fertilization than in the irrigation treatment after two growing seasons. Our data suggest that intensive management practices that include irrigation and fertilization do not consistently increase R. frustrana damage levels and pupal weights as is commonly believed. However, tip moth suppression efforts in areas adjacent to our study may have partially reduced the potential impacts of R. frustrana on this experiment.

Abstract in english WATER-CULTURE EXPERIMENTS. Two water-culture experiments were carried out to study the absorption and the translocation of radiozinc in young coffee plants as influenced by two factors, namely, concentration of heavy metals (iron, man ganese, copper and molybdenum) and method of application. Inert zinc was supplied at an uniform rate of 0. 05 p. p. m.; the levels of iron supply were 0, 1.0, and 10.0 p. p.m.; manganese was supplied in three doses 0, 0.5, and 5.0 p. p.m.; c (more) opper- 0, 0. 02, and 0. 2 p. p. m.; molybdenum- 0, 0. 01, and 0. 1 p. p. m. When applied to the nutrient solution the activity os the radiozinc (as zinc chloride) was 0. 15 microcuries per plant. In the study of the leaf absorption, Zn65 was supplied at the level of 0. 10 microcuries per plant; in this case the radioative material was brushed either on the lower or on the upper surface or both two pairs of mature leaves. The absorption period was 8 weeks. The radioactivity assay showed the following results: 1 - Among the heavy metals herein investigated the iron concentration did not affect the uptake of the radiozinc; by raising the level of Mn, Cu and Mo ten times, the absorption dropped to 50 per cent and even more when compared with the control plants; when, however, these micronutrients were omitted from the nutrient solution, an increase in the uptake of zinc was registered in the minus Cu treatment only. The effects of high levels of Mn, Cu and Mo probably indicate an interionic competition for a same site on a common binding substance in the cell surface. 2 - The absorption of the radiozinc directly applied to the leaf surface reached levels as high as 8 times that registered when the root uptake took place. Among the three methods of application which have been tried, brushing the lower surface of the leaves proved to be the most effective; this result is easily understood since the stomatal openings of the coffee leaves an preferentially located in the lower surface - in this treatment, about 40 per cent of the activity was absorved and around 12 per cent were translocated either to the old or to the newer organs. Chemical analyses for heavy metals, were carried out only in the plants received Zn65Cl2 in the nutrient solution; the results were as follows; 1 - Control plants had, per 1,000 gm, of dry weight the following amounts in mg.: Zn- 48 in the roots and 29 in the tops; Fe- 165 in the roots and 9 in the tops; Mn- 58 in the roots and 15 in the tops, Cu- 15 in the roots and 1. 2 in the tops; Mo- 2. 8 in the roots and 0. 45 in the tops. 2 - The effect of different levels of micronutrients in the composition of the plants can be summarized as follows: Fe and Zn- when omitted from the nutrient solution, the iron and zinc contents in the roots decreased, no variation being noted in the tops; the higher dosis caused an accumulation in the roots but no apparent effect in the tops; Mn- by omitting this micronutrient a decrease in its content in the roots was noted, where as the concentration in the tops was the same; Mo- no variation in roots and tops contents when molybdenum was omitted; higher dosis of manganese and molybdenum increased the amounts formed both in the roots and in the tops. 3 - The influence of the different concentrations of micronutrients heavy metals on the zinc content of the coffee plants can be described by saying that: Fe and Mo- no marked variation; Mn- no effect when omitted, reduced amount when the high dosis was supplied; Mn- when the plants did not receive manganese the zinc content in roots and tops was the same as in the control plants; a decrease in the zinc content of the total plant occurred when the high dosis was employed; Cu -the situation is similar to that described for manganese. Hence, results showed by the chemical analyses roughly correspond to those of the radioactivity assay; the use of the tracer technique, however, gave best informations along this line. SOIL-POTS EXPERIMENTS. The two types of soils which when selected support the most extensive coffee plantations in the State of São Paulo, Brazil: "arenito de Bauru", a light sandy soil and "terra roxa legitima", a red soil derived from basalt. Besides NPK containing salts, the coffee plants were given two doses of inert zinc (65 and 130 mg ZnCl2 per pot) and radiozinc at a total activity of 10(6) counts/minute. The results of the countings can be summarized as follows: 1 - When plants were grown in "arenito de Bauru" the activity absorbed as per cent of the total activity supplied was not affected by the dosis of inert zinc. The highest value found was around 0. 1 per cent. 2 - For the "terra roxa" plants, the situation is almost the same; there was, however, a slight increase in the absorption of the radiozinc when 130 mgm of ZnClg2 was given: a little above 0. 2 per cent of the activity supplied was absorbed. The results clearly show that the young coffee plants practically did not absorb none of the zinc supplied; two reasons at least could be pointed out to explain such a fact: 1 - Zinc fixation by an exchange with magnesium or by filling holes in the octahedral layer of aluminosilicates, probably kaolinite; 2 - No need for fertilizer zinc in the particular stage of life cycle under which the experiment was set up. The data from chemical analysis are roughly parallel to the above mentioned. When one attempts to compare - by taking data herein reported zinc uptake from nutrient solution, leaf brushing or from fertilizers in the soil, a practical conclusion can be drawn: the control of zinc deficiency in coffee plants should not be done by adding the zinc salts to the soil; in other words: the soil applications used so extensively in other countries seem not to be suitable for our conditions; hence zinc sprays should be used wherever necessary.

Abstract in portuguese A formulação suspensão concentrada (SC), que é à base de trióxido de Mo, permite altas concentrações de Mo por unidade de volume; é, portanto, um avanço tecnológico no tratamento de semente, pois há condições de obedecer à recomendação de Mo da Embrapa em volumes de dosagens menores que os produtos em formulação solução líquida (LS). Objetivou-se avaliar a eficácia de doses de fertilizantes contendo Co e Mo em formulação suspensão concentrada (CS (more) ) em comparação com a formulação solução líquida (LS), bem como a associação dos fertilizantes com fitormônio aplicados no tratamento de semente e o desempenho na produtividade da soja. Foram realizados dois experimentos, em dois anos consecutivos, nas safras de 2004/2005 e 2005/2006. O primeiro foi conduzido na área experimental da Fazenda Capim Branco, com seis tratamentos e quatro repetições: (1) Mo e Co (CS) - 22 g ha-1 + 1,08 g ha-1; (2) Mo e Co (CS) - 22 g ha-1 + 1,08 g ha-1 + fitormônio - 200 mL ha-1; (3) Mo e Co (LS) - 20,7 g ha-1 + 4,13 g ha-1; (4) Mo e Co (LS) - 20,7 g ha-1 + 4,13 g ha-1 + fitormônio - 200 mL ha-1; (5) fitormônio - 200 mL ha-1; e (6) testemunha (ausência de Mo e Co no tratamento de sementes). A composição do fitormônio é à base de auxina (11 mg L-1) e citocinina (0,031 mg L-1). A cultivar de soja utilizada foi a Monsoy 8004, e a adubação de semeadura foi realizada com 400 kg ha-1 da formulação 02-20-20. De posse dos resultados obtidos no primeiro experimento, foi realizado outro experimento na Fazenda Floresta do Lobo, localizada no município de Uberlândia, MG. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados, com nove tratamentos e quatro repetições. Foram aplicados, em tratamento de semente, nas doses em g ha-1 de Mo e Co: formulação CS - (15, 25, 35, 45, 60 e 0,74; 1,23; 1,72; 2,21; 2,95), respectivamente formulação LS - (15; 20 e 25 e 3,18; 4,25; 5,31), respectivamente; e a testemunha (ausência de Mo e Co no tratamento de sementes). Utilizou-se a cultivar Monarca, com a adubação de semeadura de 300 kg ha-1 do formulado 03-32-06; e adubação de cobertura com 78 kg ha-1 de K2O, aos 30 DAE. As doses de Mo e Co no tratamento de semente com solução líquida e suspensão concentrada, aumentaram o rendimento de grãos de soja. A produtividade da soja foi superior à da testemunha a partir das doses de 20 g ha-1 de Mo e 4,25 g ha-1 de Co na solução líquida e de 35 g ha-1 de Mo e 1,72 g ha-1 de Co na suspensão concentrada. Abstract in english The concentrated suspension (CS), the basis of Mo trioxide, allows high Mo concentrations and is therefore a technical advance for seed treatment, since it allows the recommendation of the Mo at lower dosage than with the liquid solution formulations (LS). The purpose of this research was to evaluate the efficiency and doses of fertilizer with Mo and Co in concentrated suspension in comparison with liquid solution as well as fertilizers associated with phytohormones, appl (more) ied in seed treatments, and their effect on soybean yield. Two experiments were carried out in the growing seasons of 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 at the Universidade Federal de Uberlandia (UFU).The first was conducted in an experimental area on the Fazenda Capim Branco, with six treatments and four replications: (1) Mo and Co (CS) - 22 g ha-1 + 1.08 g ha-1; (2) Mo and Co (CS) - 22 g ha-1 + + 1.08 g ha-1 + phytohormone -200 mL ha-1; 3) Mo and Co (LS), 20.7 g ha-1 + 4.13 g ha-1; 4) Mo and Co (LS), 20.7 g ha-1 + 4.13 g ha-1 + phytohormone -200 mL ha-1; (5) + control phytohormone-200 mL ha-1; and (6) control (free of Mo and Co in the seed treatment). The phytohormone consisted of: auxin (11 mg L-1) and cytokynin (0.031 mg L-1). The soybean cultivar Monsoy 8004 was used and a fertilization of 400 kg ha-1 of 02-20-20 NPK fertilizer was applied at sowing. Based on the results of the first experiment, the second was conducted on the Fazenda Floresta do Lobo, in Uberlândia, MG, evaluated in a randomized block design with nine treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of Mo and Co (g ha-1) doses applied to soybean seeds, as CS formulation (15, 25, 35, 45, 60 and 0.74; 1.23; 1.72; 2.21; 2.95) and LS- (15; 20; 25 and 3.18; 4.25; 5.31), respectively, and the control (free of Mo and Co in the seed treatment). The variety Monarch was used, fertilized with 300 kg ha-1 of NPK fertilizer (03-32-06) at sowing; and 78 kg ha-1 (K2O) in topdressing 30 days after soybean emergence. The Mo and Co doses in the seed treatment with LS and CS resulted in higher soybean yields than in the control, from 20 g ha-1 Mo and 4.25 g ha-1 Co in liquid solution and 35 g ha-1Mo and 1.72 g ha-1 Co in the concentrated suspension.

Nutrient inputs to soil can alter mineralization of organic matter and subsequently affect soil carbon levels. To understand how elemental interactions affect the biogeochemistry and storage of soil C, we examined soils receiving long-term applications of mineral fertilizer and manure-containing fertilizers. As cellulose is the dominant form of carbon entering arable soils, cellulolytic communities were monitored through enzymatic analysis, and characterization of the abundance (real-time PCR) and diversity (terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism, T-RFLP) of fungal cellobiohydrolases (cbhI) genes. The data showed that long-term mineral fertilization increased soil organic C and crop productivity, and reduced soil heterotrophic respiration and cellobiohydrolases (CBH) activity. C...

Pregnancy rates in managed horse populations depend on the innate fertility of the mares and stallions involved and on the quality of breeding management. Of course, because a single stallion usually mates many mares, stallion fertility is a critical factor in the overall success of a breeding program. Unfortunately, accurate evaluation of stallion fertility per se requires a large number of normal mares to be mated and is necessarily retrospective. Rather, the ideal is to predict fertility in advance of the stallion's breeding career, and this is currently attempted by way of a thorough physical examination and a routine analysis of semen quality. However, while such a 'breeding soundness examination' identifies stallions that clearly lack the capacity for adequate fertility, it is of limited use for predicting the level of fertility and fails to identify some seriously sub-fertile animals. Similarly, while various sperm function tests (e.g., sperm head morphometry, the hypoosmotic swelling test, glass wool-sephadex filtration, progesterone receptor exposure) have been shown to correlate fairly well with fertility in the field, most examine only a single or a narrow range of the attributes that a sperm must possess if it is to fertilize an oocyte in vivo, and are thus more useful for identifying specific causes of sub-fertility than for predicting the level of fertility. On the other hand, combining the results of the various sperm function tests does improve the reliability of fertility estimation and current research is therefore concentrated on identifying a range of tests that covers as many important sperm attributes as possible but that can be performed rapidly and cheaply. In this respect, flow-cytometry has proven to be an ideal tool because it allows the objective, rapid and simultaneous analysis of a number of properties in a large number of sperm. Moreover, stains are available for an increasing range of sperm characteristics including viability, capacitation and acrosome status, mitochondrial activity and chromatin integrity. Flow-cytometric analysis of sperm with appropriate probes thus offers considerable promise for the prediction of stallion fertility. PMID:12887569

Abstract in portuguese A utilização de dejeto líquido de suínos (DLS) como fonte de nutrientes no cultivo de grãos como milho, feijão, soja e trigo, além de ser uma forma de descarte dos dejetos orgânicos resultantes da atividade suinícola, pode contribuir para aumento significativo no rendimento de grãos, substituindo assim o fertilizante mineral. Este trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da utilização de DLS no rendimento de grãos de milho, feijão, soja e trigo no perío (more) do de 2002 a 2007, contrastando com a fertilização mineral. O experimento foi conduzido no Instituto Agronômico do Paraná (IAPAR), Estação Experimental de Pato Branco, PR, sobre um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico, com a aplicação das doses de DLS de 0, 15, 30, 45 e 60 m³ ha-1 e um tratamento com adubação mineral. Como adubação de cobertura, no tratamento com adubação mineral, utilizaram-se 60, 120 e 90 kg ha-1 de N para feijão, milho e trigo, respectivamente. Em todos os anos e para todas as culturas, foram observados aumentos significativos da produção de grãos em função das crescentes doses de DLS aplicadas, especialmente para as gramíneas. Também, com crescentes doses de DLS, aplicadas semestralmente, ocorre acúmulo de K, P, Ca e Mg no solo, com aumento do pH. O uso de 60 m³ ha-1 de DLS favorece a obtenção dos maiores rendimentos de grãos e supera o obtido com a adubação mineral recomendada, o que sugere ser essa a quantidade adequada a ser usada para essas culturas. Abstract in english Swine residue (SR) applied as nutrient source of crops such as corn, bean, soybean and wheat, besides representing an environmental-friendly way of disposing of organic waste resulting from swine production, may significantly increase grain yields, replacing mineral fertilizer. The objective was to evaluate the effect of SR rates on corn, common bean, soybean and wheat yields from 2002 to 2007, in comparison with mineral fertilizer. The experiment was carried out at the I (more) nstituto Agronômico do Paraná - IAPAR, Pato Branco, PR and consisted of increasing SR rates (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 m³ ha-1) and one treatment with mineral fertilizer (NPK 4-30-10), using 250 kg ha-1 for bean and 300 kg ha-1 for corn, soybean and wheat. Also, in the treatment with mineral fertilizer, 60, 120 and 90 kg ha-1 N was applied as topdressing to bean, corn and wheat, respectively. There were significant increases of grain yield in all evaluated years and crops with increasing SR rates, especially in the grass species under study. Also, with increasing SR rates applied every six months, K, P, Ca and Mg were accumulated in the soil and the pH increased. The application of 60 m³ ha-1 SR increased yields and exceeded the yield obtained with the recommended mineral fertilizer, indicating this amount as adequate for these crops.

Crop nutrient- and water-use efficiency could be improved by using crop varieties highly compatible with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Two greenhouse experiments demonstrated the presence of genetic variability for this trait in modern durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum L. var. durum Desf.) germplasm. Among the five cultivars tested, 'AC Morse' had consistently low levels of AM root colonization and DT710 had consistently high levels of AM root colonization, whereas 'Commander', which had the highest colonization levels under low soil fertility conditions, developed poor colonization levels under medium fertility level. The presence of genetic variability in durum wheat compatibility with AMF was further evidenced by significant genotype × inoculation interaction effects in grain and straw biomass production; grain P, straw P, and straw K concentrations under medium soil fertility level; and straw K and grain Fe concentrations at low soil fertility. Mycorrhizal dependency was an undesirable trait of 'Mongibello', which showed poor growth and nutrient balance in the absence of AMF. An AMF-mediated reduction in grain Cd under low soil fertility indicated that breeding durum wheat for compatibility with AMF could help reduce grain Cd concentration in durum wheat. Durum wheat genotypes should be selected for compatibility with AMF rather than for mycorrhizal dependency. PMID:22356605

Data from the 1990 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), the 1985 census, and PROFAMILIA and Ministry of Health service statistics were used to analyze persistence of high fertility in different subregions and socioeconomic groups of Colombia. The 1990 DHS sample design divided the country into 13 subregions, allowing greater than usual disaggregation of data. The analytic strategy had three parts: identification of regions exhibiting high fertility during 1987-90; characterization of the regions according to macro level indicators and fertility level; and analysis of the importance of the effects of the contextual and individual variables on recent fertility by means of a multilevel multivariate model. The characterization of the regions and the multivariate analysis tested the hypothesis that contextual conditions influence fertility directly and not just as instruments of the individual characteristics of local populations. Based on demographic transition theory and available information, several contextual indicators were studied: women's status, economic role of children, infant mortality, access to modern family planning methods, and urbanization. The analysis demonstrated the existence of high fertility in 3 of the 13 geographic subregions: northeast, northwest, and Tolima Grande. The characterization of the subregions indicated that those where women had lower status, and where there was less emphasis on children's school attendance, high infant mortality, low access to family planning, and low level of urbanization were not necessarily the areas with the highest total fertility rates, suggesting that a cultural effect might also be present. The northeast and northwest subregions have cultural values and family structures different from those of the rest of Colombia and similar to other Caribbean countries: prevalence of consensual unions, early marriage, and high value of children in the household. The results of the multivariate analysis also indicated the presence of a distinct cultural effect on fertility. PMID:12347876

A 2-year study was done to compare the effects of nitrogen (N) fertigation and granular fertilizer application on growth and availability of soil N during establishment of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. “Bluecrop”). Treatments included four methods of N application (weekly fertigation, split fertigation, and two non-fertigated controls) and four levels of N fertilizer (0, 50, 100, and 150?kg·ha?1?N). Fertigation treatments were irrigated by drip and injected with a liquid urea solution; weekly fertigation was applied once a week from leaf emergence to 60 d prior to the end of the season while split fertigation was applied as a triple-split from April to June. Non-fertigated controls were fertilized with granular ammonium sulfate, also applied as a triple-split, and irrigated by drip or microsprinklers. Weekly fertigation produced the smallest plants among the four fertilizer application methods at 50?kg·ha?1?N during the first year after planting but the largest plants at 150?kg·ha?1?N in both the first and second year. The other application methods required less N to maximize growth but were less responsive than weekly fertigation to additional N fertilizer applications. In fact, 44–50% of the plants died when granular fertilizer was applied at 150?kg·ha?1?N. By comparison, none of the plants died with weekly fertigation. Plant death with granular fertilizer was associated with high ammonium ion concentrations (up to 650?mg·L?1) and electrical conductivity (>3?dS·m?1) in the soil solution. Early results indicate that fertigation may be less efficient (i.e., less plant growth per unit of N applied) at lower N rates than granular fertilizer application but is also safer (i.e., less plant death) and promotes more growth when high amounts of N fertilizer is applied. PMID:16322081

Abstract in portuguese A utilização do manejo convencional em solos sob cerrado tem acarretado modificações nas suas propriedades, bem como no comportamento e qualidade da sua matéria orgânica. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar o impacto do manejo convencional nas propriedades físicas e no conteúdo e qualidade de substâncias húmicas de um Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo, originalmente sob cerrado. O estudo foi realizado em uma propriedade agrícola no município de São Desidério-B (more) A. Foram avaliadas quatro áreas sob diferentes períodos de uso e uma sob cerrado nativo. Os tempos de uso foram de um, dois, três e seis anos, sendo que a área estudada após seis anos passou por um período de três anos de pousio. O sistema de preparo do solo utilizado foi o tradicional da região, que consiste no uso de duas passadas de grade pesada aradora e duas de grade niveladora. Também foram realizadas, na ocasião de cada plantio, uma adubação com N-P-K + micronutrientes e calagens com base em resultados de análise de solo. As áreas foram cultivadas com milho e soja em sistema de rotação. Verificou-se que o manejo adotado não foi sustentável, pois já nos primeiros três anos de uso agrícola, ocorreu grande deterioração das propriedades físicas do solo, como densidade, porosidade e conteúdo de água disponível. O processo de humificação e a qualidade da matéria orgânica foram influenciados pela aplicação de calcário e pela rotação de culturas (milho/soja) e, ainda, que o sistema de manejo utilizado mostrou-se mais benéfico para o processo de estabilização das substâncias húmicas do que para as propriedades físicas dos solos estudados. Abstract in english The utilization of intensive conventional management system on soils under cerrado biome has caused modification in their properties, as well as, in the behavior and quality of the organic matter. The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of conventional soil management practices upon physical properties, contents and qualities of humic substances of a Red-Yellow Oxisol, formerly, under cerrado (savana-like) natural vegetation. The study was accomplished o (more) n an private agricultural property in the municipal district of São Desidério-BA. They were appraised four areas under different length of times of agricultural use and one area under native cerrado (savana-like). The length of time under agriculture use was one, two, three and six years, and after six years the studied area was left uncultivated for a period of three years. The soil has been prepared under traditional systems which consists of plowing the land twice with heavy disks followed by twice grading. It was also applied, during the seedling time, N-P-K fertilizer plus micronutrients and lime according to soil analysis. The areas have been cultivated with corn and soybeans in a rotation system. It was observed that the adopted management system was not sustainable, because, at the first three years under cultivation occurred a great deterioration of physical properties such as soil density, porosity and available water contents. The humification process and the quality of the organic matter were influenced by both utilization of lime and by the rotation system (corn/soybeans). The used system was more benefic for the process of stabilization of the humic substances than for the physical properties of the studied soils.

Abstract in portuguese Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a produção e composição química do leite, o consumo de matéria seca e a taxa de lotação em pastagens de capim-tanzânia (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzânia), grama-estrela (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst cv. Estrela-Africana) e capim-marandu (Brachiaria brizantha Stapf cv. Marandu). As gramíneas foram manejadas sob regime de lotação rotacionada com vacas mestiças Holandês x Zebu, com 30 dias de intervalo de desfolha e tr (more) ês dias de ocupação do piquete e foram adubadas com 1.000 kg/ha/ano da fórmula 20:05:20 (NPK), parcelada em três vezes durante a época das chuvas. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com três fatores em estudo e duas repetições. Foram utilizadas quatro vacas por piquete e, quando necessário, foram acrescentados animais reguladores objetivando obter oferta de massa seca de forragem verde de 7% do peso vivo. Os animais receberam individualmente 2 kg/dia de concentrado no período experimental. A produção de leite não diferiu entre as três gramíneas, com valores de 9,1; 9,1 e 8,7 kg/vaca/dia para as pastagens de capim-tanzânia, grama-estrela e capim-marandu, respectivamente. Da mesma forma, não houve efeito da gramínea na composição química do leite. A taxa de lotação foi semelhante entre as três gramíneas, com os valores de 4,6; 4,5 e 5,0 UA/ha para o capim-tanzânia, a grama-estrela e o capim-marandu. Maior consumo de matéria seca foi observado no capim-tanzânia com 2,6% do PV, enquanto a grama-estrela (2,3%) e o capim-marandu (2,4%) não diferiram entre si. O maior consumo de matéria seca na pastagem de capim-tanzânia não refletiu na produção de leite por animal. A produção e composição química do leite e a taxa de lotação sao similares entre as gramíneas avaliadas. Abstract in english The objective of this study was to evaluate milk yield and composition, dry matter intake, and stocking rate in pastures with tanzania grass (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia), star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis cv. Estrela-Africana), and marandu grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu). The grasses were managed in a rotational grazing system with Holstein x Zebu crossbreed cows, with a 30-day resting period and three days of paddock occupation. The pastures were fertilized wit (more) h 1,000 kg/ha/year using the 20:05:20 (NPK) formula, split in three applications during the rainy season. It was used a complete random block experimental design with three factors being studied and two replications. In the experiment, four cows/paddock were used and, when it was necessary, regulator animals were added in order to obtain a supply of 7% body weight green forage dry matter. The animals were individually fed concentrate at 2 kg/day during the experimental period. Milk yield did not differ among the three grasses, with values of 9.1; 9.1; and 8.7 kg/cow/day for pastures with tanzania grass, star grass and marandu grass, respectively. Similarly, grass did not affect milk chemical composition. Stocking rate was similar among the three grasses, with values of 4.6; 4.5 and 5.0 UA/ha for tanzania grass, star grass and marandu grass, respectively. The highest dry matter intake was observed for tanzania grass with 2.6% of the body weight while stargrass (2.3%) and marandu grass (2.4%) did not differ among each other. The highest dry matter intake on tanzania grass pasture was not reflected on milk yield per animal. Milk yield and composition and stocking rate are similar among the evaluated grasses.

Abstract in portuguese Para estudar modos e épocas de aplicação de nitrogênio (sulfato de amônio) na cultura do milho, foram conduzidas, em 1961-62 e 1962-63, dez experiências em oito localidades do Estado de São Paulo. Além de um tratamento com PK e outro com NPK, nos quais os adubos foram empregados na ocasião do plantio, em sulcos laterais, estudaram-se quatro com doses adicionais de N aplicadas em cobertura. Em dois dêstes, as coberturas foram efetuadas em uma faixa ao lado de cad (more) a linha de plantas; nos outros dois, no centro de entrelinhas alternadas. Em cada tipo de localização, aplicaram-se as coberturas de uma vez, 45 dias após o plantio, ou em duas parcelas iguais, 30 e 60 dias depois da semeação. As doses de N foram: no plantio, 30 kg/ha, em 1961-62, e 20 kg/ha, em 1962-63; em cobertura, respectivamente, 90 e 100 kg/ha. O nitrogênio não aumentou a produção em duas experiências. Na média das demais, não houve diferença entre as épocas e os modos de aplicação em cobertura. Empregado exclusivamente no plantio, o nutriente em estudo favoreceu a vegetação na maioria das experiências, mas sòmente em duas aumentou a produção de grãos. Entretanto, quando aplicado no plantio e em cobertura, seu efeito foi positivo nas oito experiências, atingindo, na média delas, +1.021 kg/ha ou +27%. Baseados nas observações feitas, os autores supõem que os resultados da adubação conjugada teriam sido ainda melhores se a dose inicial fôsse reduzida para 10 ou 15 kg/ha e se a cobertura fôsse efetuada um mês após a germinação, repetindo-a, no caso do parcelamento, cêrca de duas semanas mais tarde. Abstract in english Ten experiments were carried out in 1961-62 and 1962-63 at eight different localities of the State of São Paulo to study methods of nitrogen (ammonium sulfate) application to corn. Besides one treatment with PK and one with NPK, in which the fertilizers were side-placed at planting time, four further treatments were included to study the effect of supplementary amounts of nitrogen applied as top-dressing. In two of the latter treatments nitrogen was applied eight inches (more) from each row; in the other two, in the center of the odd inter-rows. In each type of localization the top-dressed amount of nitrogen was applied either 45 days after planting or halved for applying 30 and 60 days after planting. The following rates of nitrogen were used: at planting time, 30 kilograms to the hectare in 1961-62 and 20 in 1962-63; as top-dressing, 90 and 100 kilograms, respectively. Nitrogen did not increase the yields in two of the ten experiments and no difference was observed between the methods of top-dressing in the remaining eight experiments. Applied exclusively at planting time, nitrogen favored the growth of the plants but only in two experiments it increased the yields. However, when applied both at planting time and as top-dressing, it increased the yields in all of the eight experiments, its average response being +1,021 kilograms to the hectare, corresponding to +27% of the PK treatment yield.

Abstract:- Nitrogen fertilization is useful for obtaining higher growth and quality of productions, and the use of nitrogen fertilization is widespread. To evaluate the influence of nitrogen-rich fertilizers on quality characteristics of celery, shelf life tests of celery grown with 2 levels of nitrogen and 2 different nitrogen fertilizers were performed. The treatments of the celery samples were identified as follows: T1, mineral nitrogen (80 kg ha-1); T2, mineral nitrogen (120 kg ha-1); T3, organic nitrogen (80 kg ha-1); T4, organic nitrogen (120 kg ha-1); R4, residual organic nitrogen (120 kg ha-1); and C, untreated control. Celery plants were selected and packaged in either of the following 2 plastic films: antifog polyolefin (AFP) film or microperforated polypropylene (MPP) film. The ...

The study assesses the impact of family planning programs on the fertility of women in the Chiang Mai province of Thailand, where family planning programs were introduced early in 1963. The study documents and estimates the fertility trend of Chiang Mai's population from existing sources of data. A demographic survey, in which a random sample of 3,805 ever married women from both urban and rural areas were interviewed using the World Fertility Survey questionnaire, was conducted. The socioeconomic characteristics and attitudes towards family size of Chiang Mai's urban and rural population are compared. The findings show that fertility has fallen rapidly in all sectors of the population and the decline is attributed to the introduction of family planning programs. The study concludes that family planning programs are one of the best possible means of slowing population growth rates to desired low levels in both urban and rural population. (SY)

Green bean Helda in autumn cycle (118 days) was grown under greenhouse conditions in sand-mulched sandy loam soil. The crop was irrigated with disinfected urban wastewater (DUW) obtained from ozone from the Almeria Purifying Plant. The average nutrient parameters of DUW were 0.4 mM of nitrate (NO3-), 2.1 mM of ammonium (NH4+), 0.8 mM of potassium (K+), and electrical conductivity (EC) 1.6 dS m-1. Three different treatments were established: DUW without additional fertilization (FDUW), DUW with fertilization until the recommended rate was obtained (10.0 mM of N and 3.4 mM of K) (FNK), and DUW with fertilization until 1.5 FNK rate (15.0 mM of N and 5.1 mM of K) (F1.5NK) was obtained. The dry-matter production was not conditioned by the fertilizer level. Treatments FNK and F1.5NK showed the g...

Understanding salinity and fertilizer interaction is of great economic importance to improving crop yield and fertilizer use efficiency. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of nitrogen (N) rate on cotton yield and N use efficiency (NUE), and relate this to the optimum N fertilizer rate under saline field conditions. To achieve this goal, we conducted a two-year experiment in two nearby fields with similar fertility but varying salinity, using a split-plot design in the Yellow River Delta of China. The main plots were assigned to moderate (electrical conductivity of soil saturated paste extract, ECe=6.3dS/m) and high (ECe=12.5dS/m) salinity levels, while N-free (0kg/ha), low (120kg/ha), moderate (210kg/ha) and high (300kgN/ha) nitrogen rates were assigned to the subpl...

This article deals with the possible existence of deliberate fertility control before the fertility transition. The timing of the fertility response to economic stress, as measured by fluctuations in grain prices, is used as a measure of deliberate, but non-parity specific, control. Birth histories from six German villages (1766?1863), including information on occupation of the husband, are used together with community-wide grain price series in a micro-level event-history analysis. The results show a negative fertility response to grain prices both in the year immediately following the price change, and with a 1-year lag. The response was also highly different between socioeconomic groups, with the most pronounced effects among the unskilled laborers. Moreover, the response in this group ...