Qualitative soil quality assessment is efficient in a grazing system with or without trees.

BACKGROUND: Soil quality (SQ) assessment is affected by methods that convert data sets into indices, and such analyses are expensive and time-consuming. Qualitative SQ assessments are faster and cheaper than quantitative methods and they can be repeated to monitor SQ in crop and pasture systems. We evaluated SQ using qualitative and quantitative SQ indicators of two grazing systems under Voisin rational grazing (VRG) with trees (WT) or without trees (NT). We took an adjacent native forest as a reference and we used principal component analysis (PCA) to compare the accuracy of the assessment methods. RESULTS: According to the set of indicators used for quantitative assessment, the WT system and the Forest had higher SQ than other systems as a result of higher values of soil physical and chemical indicators. This the reflected better performance of soil in functions related to structural support, nutrient cycling and biological productivity. According to the set of indicators used for qualitative assessment, the WT system showed better SQ than the NT areas because of the higher scores of all indicators and better performance of the soil functions, and those values were close to the Forest in the indicators. PCA applied to integrate the data of qualitative and quantitative indicators indicated that SQ in WT was similar to Forest. CONCLUSION: The qualitative evaluation was as efficient as the quantitative evaluation for SQ assessment in VRG areas with and without trees. Its use can promote farmers' autonomy and the development of skills to identify environmental factors that help to evaluate their practices. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Nitrogen availability in an apple orchard with weed management / Disponibilidade de nitrogênio em solo de pomares de macieira com manejo de plantas espontâneas

ABSTRACT: Weed management in apple orchards (Malus domestica) can affect the leaching of nitrogen (N) in soil. The study aimed to evaluate the potential leaching of N forms in soil of an apple orchard with different weed management treatments. The experiment was conducted in an apple orchard implanted in 2008. In October 2011, 80 plants were selected and the following treatments were implemented: no weed management (NM), desiccation of weeds on the tree row with herbicide use (DR) and mechanical mowing of weeds on the tree row (MR). Yield was evaluated in the 2011/2012, 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 crop seasons. In May 2012 porous cup lysimeters were installed in the NM, DR and MR treatments. In the solution collected at 0.20m, NH4 +-N and NO3 --N were analyzed sixteen times and mineral N concentration was calculated. The highest concentrations of NO3 --N and mineral N occurred in soil solution with DR, which increases availability of the nutrient to apple trees, but also enhances the potential losses. Weed management and N flow in the solution did not affect apple yield.

RESUMO: O manejo de plantas espontâneas em pomares de macieira (Malus domestica) pode afetar a lixiviação de nitrogênio (N) do solo. O trabalho objetivou avaliar a lixiviação de formas de N em solo sob pomar de macieiras com diferentes manejos de plantas espontâneas. O experimento foi conduzido em um pomar de macieira implantado em 2008. Em outubro de 2011, foram selecionadas 80 plantas e implantados os tratamentos: sem manejo das plantas espontâneas (SM); dessecamento das plantas espontâneas na linha de plantio com uso de herbicidas (DL) e roçada mecânica das plantas espontâneas na linha de plantio (RL). Nas safras 2011/2012, 2012/2013 e 2013/2014 foi avaliada a produtividade. Em maio de 2012 foram instalados lisímetros com cápsula porosa nos tratamentos SM, DL e RL; e na solução coletada a 0,20m em dezesseis épocas foram analisados NH4 +-N e NO3 --N, e calculado o teor de N-mineral. Os maiores teores de NO3 --N e mineral-N ocorreram na solução no solo com DL, o que aumenta a disponibilidade do nutriente às macieiras, mas também potencializa as perdas. O manejo de plantas espontâneas e o fluxo de N na solução não afetaram a produtividade de maçã.

Grape yield, and must compounds of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grapevine in sandy soil with potassium contents increasing / Produção e composição do mosto de viníferas'Cabernet Sauvignon' cultivadas em solo arenoso com teores crescentes de potássio

ABSTRACT: Content of exchangeable potassium (K) in t soil may influence on its content in grapevines leaves, grape yield, as well as, in must composition. The study aimed to assess the interference of exchangeable K content in the soil on its leaf content, production and must composition of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' cultivar. In September 2011, in Santana do Livramento (RS) five vineyards with increasing levels of exchangeable K in the soil were selected. In the 2012/13 and 2013/14 harvests, the grape yield, yield components, total K content in the leaves in full bloom and berries veraison were evaluated. Values of total soluble sugar (TSS), pH, total titratable acidity (TTA), total polyphenols and anthocyanins were evaluated in the must. Exchangeable K content increase in soil with sandy surface texture increased its content in leaves collected during full flowering and in berries and must pH; however, it did not affect production of the 'Cabernet Sauvignon'.

RESUMO: O potássio (K) é um dos macronutrientes exigidos em maior quantidade pela videira, porém o seu incremento no solo pode não aumentar a produção de uva, mas pode modificar a sua composição. O trabalho objetivou avaliar a interferência do teor de K trocável no solo sobre o seu teor na folha, produção e composição do mosto da cv. 'Cabernet Sauvignon'. Em setembro de 2011, em Santana do Livramento (RS), foram selecionados cinco vinhedos com níveis crescentes de K trocável no solo. Nas safras 2012/13 e 2013/14, foi avaliada a produção de uva, os componentes de produção, o teor total de K nas folhas no pleno florescimento e na mudança da cor das bagas. No mosto, foram avaliados os valores de sólidos solúveis totais (SST), pH, a acidez total titulável (ATT) e os totais de polifenóis e antocianinas. O incremento do teor de K trocável no solo aumentou o K total nas folhas no pleno florescimento, nas bagas e a composição do mosto, mas não afetou a produção de uva da cv. 'Cabernet Sauvignon'.

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on young vines in copper-contaminated soil.

High copper (Cu) levels in uprooted old vineyard soils may cause toxicity in transplanted young vines, although such toxicity may be reduced by inoculating plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of AMF on the plant growth, chlorophyll contents, mycorrhizal colonization, and Cu and phosphorus (P) absorption in young vines cultivated in a vineyard soil contaminated by Cu. Commercial vineyard soil with high Cu levels was placed in plastic tubes and transplanted with young vines, which were inoculated with six AMF species (Dentiscutata heterogama, Gigaspora gigantea, Acaulospora morrowiae, A. colombiana, Rhizophagus clarus, R. irregularis) and a control treatment on randomized blocks with 12 replicates. After 130 days, the mycorrhizal colonization, root and shoot dry matter (DM), height increment, P and Cu absorption, and chlorophyll contents were evaluated. The height increment, shoot DM and chlorophyll contents were not promoted by AMF, although the root DM was increased by R. clarus and R. irregularis, which had the greatest mycorrhizal colonization and P uptake. AMF increased Cu absorption but decreased its transport to shoots. Thus, AMF species, particularly R. clarus and R. irregularis, contribute to the establishment of young vines exposed to high Cu levels.

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on young vines in copper-contaminated soil

Abstract High copper (Cu) levels in uprooted old vineyard soils may cause toxicity in transplanted young vines, although such toxicity may be reduced by inoculating plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of AMF on the plant growth, chlorophyll contents, mycorrhizal colonization, and Cu and phosphorus (P) absorption in young vines cultivated in a vineyard soil contaminated by Cu. Commercial vineyard soil with high Cu levels was placed in plastic tubes and transplanted with young vines, which were inoculated with six AMF species (Dentiscutata heterogama, Gigaspora gigantea, Acaulospora morrowiae, A. colombiana, Rhizophagus clarus, R. irregularis) and a control treatment on randomized blocks with 12 replicates. After 130 days, the mycorrhizal colonization, root and shoot dry matter (DM), height increment, P and Cu absorption, and chlorophyll contents were evaluated. The height increment, shoot DM and chlorophyll contents were not promoted by AMF, although the root DM was increased by R. clarus and R. irregularis, which had the greatest mycorrhizal colonization and P uptake. AMF increased Cu absorption but decreased its transport to shoots. Thus, AMF species, particularly R. clarus and R. irregularis, contribute to the establishment of young vines exposed to high Cu levels.