Potential of root acid phosphatase activity to reduce phosphorus fertilization in maize cultivated in Brazil.

It is urgent to mitigate the environmental impacts resulting from agriculture, especially in highly biodiverse and threatened areas, as the Brazilian Cerrado. We aim to investigate whether root acid phosphatase activity is alternative plant strategies for nutrient acquisition in maize genotypes cultivated under fertilized and unfertilized conditions in Brazil, potentially contributing to reducing the use of phosphate fertilizers needed for production. Three experiments were performed: the first was conducted in a glasshouse, with 17 experimental maize inbred lines and two phosphorus (P) treatments; the second in the field, with three maize inbred lines and two treatments, one without fertilization and another with NPK fertilization; and the third was also carried out in the field, with 13 commercial hybrids, grown either under NK or under NPK treatment. Plant variables were measured and tested for the response to fertilization, differences amongst genotypes and response to root acid phosphatase activity. The activity of root acid phosphatase was modulated by the availability of P and nitrogen (N) in the soil and promoted grain filling of commercial hybrids in soils with low P availability. These results demonstrate that it is possible to select genotypes that are more adapted to low soil P availability aiming at organic production, or to use genotypes that have high phosphatase activity under P fertilization to reduce the amount of added P needed for maize production in Brazil.

Biomass residues improve soil chemical and biological properties reestablishing native species in an exposed subsoil in Brazilian Cerrado.

Revegetation of exposed sub-soil, while a desirable strategy in the recovery processes, often fails due to extreme soil chemical properties, such as low organic matter and pH levels inhospitable to biological activities such as nutrients cycling and plant establishment. This is the case for approximately 800 ha of the Cerrado biome in Brazil, where erecting the embankment of a hydroelectric dam in the 1960's stripped vegetation, soil, and subsoil layers thereby distorting the soil properties. This work evaluates the effectiveness of restoration management (RM) treatments, to restore the soil quality, including biological activity and chemical attributes. In a factorial scheme, RM treatments include the addition of organic residue from aquatic macrophytes (AM) at 3 rates (0, 16 and 32 t ha-1), combined with ash from sugar cane bagasse of agroindustrial origin (BA) at 4 rates (0, 15, 30 and 45 t ha-1). RM samples contrasted samples collected from undisturbed Cerrado (CER) as well as a degraded area without intervention (DAWI). The mechanized RM plots received amendments and reforestation of 10 Cerrado native tree species. After 5 years, vegetation covered up to 60% of the surface in RM treatments receiving AM32 + BA45. AM and BA residues promoted height increases in the introduced plants. All RM treatments promoted lower levels of Al3+ than DAWI and CER. The combination of AM32 over the rates of incorporated ash increased soil pH and K values similarly to CER. Microbial-related variables, such as microbial biomass-C was the largest in CER, followed by the RM treatments, and the lowest in DAWI. The microbial quotient was no different between CER and RM treatments. The addition of residues such as AM and BA increased the vegetation covered, improved chemical and microbiological indicators. Thus, the residues used aided the recovery process of intensely degraded soils in the Cerrado area.

Physiological response of marandu grass seeds exposed to NPK fertilizer / Resposta fisiológica de sementes de capim marandu expostas ao fertilizante NPK

ABSTRACT: To facilitate seeding process of forage species, a common practice is to mix seeds with fertilizers in monocropping and intercropping or in implementing integrated livestock production systems. However, in prolonged periods of contact, the fertilizer's salinity and acidity negatively affect the seeds' physiological quality. Therefore, this study intends to verify the effect of ten periods (0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours) of exposure to granular NPK fertilizer 04-30-16 on the vigor and germination of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu seeds. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replication. The fertilizer and seed mixture registered a negative effect on seed moisture content, electrical conductivity, emergence, emergence speed index, and seedling and radicle length as the period of exposure to the fertilizer increased from 3 to 120 hours.

RESUMO: Para facilitar o processo de semeadura de espécies forrageiras é comum a mistura de sementes com fertilizantes, seja em cultivo exclusivo, consorciado ou na implantação de sistemas integrados de produção agropecuária. Entretanto, a salinidade e acidez do fertilizante, em longos períodos de mistura, supõe-se ação deletéria na qualidade fisiológica das sementes. Dessa forma, o estudo teve como objetivo verificar o efeito de dez tempos de mistura (0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96 e 120 horas) do fertilizante granulado NPK 04-30-16, sobre vigor e germinação de sementes de Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições. Houve efeito negativo da mistura de fertilizante com as sementes para o grau de umidade, condutividade elétrica, emergência, índice de velocidade de emergência, comprimentos de plântula e de radícula em função do incremento do tempo de mistura com fertilizante, de 3 a 120 horas de exposição.