Submitted by Deyse Queiroz (deysequeirozz@hotmail.com) on 2018-05-22T18:21:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 WELLINGHTON ALVES GUEDES - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGHT 2018..pdf: 1025231 bytes, checksum: c9b9c1ab307c0308750dd6888f21c886 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-22T18:21:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 WELLINGHTON ALVES GUEDES - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGHT 2018..pdf: 1025231 bytes, checksum: c9b9c1ab307c0308750dd6888f21c886 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018 / A aplicação de biofertilizantes com a finalidade de melhorar o desempenho de culturas agrícolas, têm impulsionado a utilização de produtos à base de microalgas, por ser uma alternativa ao uso de fertilizantes e por ser ecologicamente correto. Desta forma, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o crescimento e qualidade de mudas de mamoeiro produzidas com o uso de Spirulina platensis através do tratamento das sementes e aplicações adicionais via solo e via foliar. A pesquisa foi realizada em ambiente protegido no Centro de Ciências e Tecnologia Agroalimentar da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Pombal-PB, sendo conduzidos quatro experimentos, utilizando-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso (DIC), com cinco repetições e três mudas por repetição. Para acompanhamento do crescimento das mudas adotou-se o esquema de parcelas subdivididas composto por dois fatores, doses de Spirulina platensis (0,0; 0,4; 0,8; 1,2; 1,6 e 2,0%) e épocas de avaliações (20, 28, 36, 44 e 52 dias). Os tratamentos foram realizados nas sementes durante cinco minutos e aplicados ao longo do tempo. A imersão das sementes nas doses de Spirulina platensis não influencia o índice de velocidade de emergência e a porcentagem de emergência. Mas, as aplicações realizadas ao longo do tempo via solo em mudas de mamoeiro do híbrido Tainung-1, referente ao grupo ‘Formosa’ e Sunrise solo, referente ao grupo ‘Papaya’, influência de forma positiva, sendo as doses de0,4 até 1,6% de Spirulina platensis que proporcionou o maior crescimento nas variáveis número de folhas, altura de plantas, diâmetro do caule, área foliar, comprimento da raiz, massa fresca da parte aérea, da raiz e total, massa seca da parte aérea, da raiz e total, relação raiz/parte aérea e Índice de Qualidade de Dickson. A dose de 2,0% de Spirulina platensis proporcionou maior acúmulo de N na massa seca das folhas. A testemunha apresentou maiores teores de P. As aplicações realizadas via foliar não influenciam no crescimento das mudas de mamoeiro ‘Formosa’, mas, para o mamoeiro ‘Papaya’ influenciou na massa fresca da parte aérea, raiz e total. Para as demais variáveis estudadas não houve resposta. A dose de 2,0% e controle proporcionou maior acúmulo de N e P, respectivamente, na massa seca das folhas de mamoeiro ‘Papaya’. / The application of biofertilizers or biostimulants for the purpose of improving the performance of agricultural crops has driven the use of products based on microalgae, as an alternative to the use of fertilizers and being ecologically correct. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the production and quality of papaya seedlings produced with the use of Spirulina platensis through seed treatment and additional applications via soil and foliar via, in a protected environment. The research was carried out at the Agro-Food Science and Technology Center of the Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal-PB. Four experiments were carried out, using a completely randomized experimental design (DIC), with five replications and three replications per replicate. In order to follow the growth of the seedlings, the split-plot scheme was composed of two factors, Spirulina platensis (0.0; 0.4; 0.8; 1.2; 1.6 and 2.0%) and (20, 28, 36, 44 and 52 days). The treatments were carried out in the seeds for five minutes and applied over time. Immersion of seeds at Spirulina platensis doses does not influence the rate of emergence and the percentage of emergence. However, the applications carried out over time via soil in papaya plants of the hybrid Tainung-1, referring to the group 'Formosa' and Sunrise soil, referring to the 'Papaya' group, influence positively, being the doses from 0.4 up to 1.6% of Spirulina platensis that provided the highest growth in the number of leaves, plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, root length, fresh shoot, root and total mass, shoot dry matter, of the root and total, root/shoot ratio and Dickson Quality Index. The 2.0% dose of Spirulina platensis provided greater accumulation of N in the leaf dry mass. However, for the 'Papaya' papaya, it influenced the fresh mass of the aerial part, root and total. For the other variables studied there was no response. The 2.0% and control dose gave higher accumulation of N and P, respectively, in the dry mass of Papaya papaya leaves.

MSCAGR (Soil Sciece) / Department of Soil Science / In most parts of Limpopo Province of South Africa, crop yields are low and continue to decrease due to decline in soil fertility, which has been identified as a major constraint to crop production. Therefore, there is a pressing need for soil amendments such as the application of biochar, which has the potential to improve soil fertility due to its physical and chemical properties. Biochar is the product of incomplete combustion of biomass in the absence of oxygen. The overall objective of the study was to determine the effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer on maize performance and selected soil nutrient levels. A 3x2 factorial experiment was conducted at the School of Agriculture Experimental Farm for two consecutive seasons (2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons). Treatments consisted of biochar applied at three levels, viz. 0, 10 and 20 t/ha and NPK inorganic fertilizer applied at two rates viz. NPK0 (zero NPK fertilizer) and NPK1 {N (150 kg/ha) P (50 kg/ha) K (20 kg/ha)}. The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Maize cultivar (DKC 2147) was used as the test crop. Maize growth and yield measurements assessed included: plant height (cm), stem diameter (cm), number of leaves, leaf area, dry biomass (kg/ha), nutrient uptake, cob yield, grain yield and harvest index. Soil samples were collected from 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil depths at the end of each season to determine total N, P, K nutrient levels in the soil. Data collected was subjected to two-way analysis of variance using the general linear model (GLM) procedure of Genstat software version 17. Comparison of means was done using the Standard Error of Deviation (SED) method at 5% level of significance (p<0.05). Biochar and NPK fertilizer had no effect on total N and exchangeable K at all soil depths in 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons. Biochar had no effect on phosphorus at all soil depths in 2015/16 and at 0-10 cm soil depth in 2016/17 season. The effect of biochar and NPK fertilizer was highly significant (p<0,001) on available P at 10-20 cm soil depth in 2016/17 season. Significant interactive effect of biochar and NPK fertilizer on soil total N at 10-20 cm (in 2015/16 season), available P and exchangeable K at 10-20 cm soil depth in 2016/17 season was also observed. Plant growth parameters increased with biochar addition at 20 t/ha and NPK1 (150 kg N/ha, 50 kg P/ha, 20 kg K/ha) fertilizer. The results of this study showed that biochar application at the rate of 10 and 20 t/ha has the potential to influence selected soil nutrient levels, maize growth, yield and yield components with and without NPK fertilizer application. Since this study was conducted over two seasons and biochar properties changes over a long-term period, more research is needed to evaluate the effect of biochar on soil nutrient levels and maize growth, nutrient uptake and yield over a long period of time. / NRF

MSCAGR (Animal Science) / Department of Animal Science / The objective of the study was to determine the effects of fertilisation with bio-digester slurry and the inclusion of carbohydrate additives at ensiling on the fermentation characteristics, chemical composition, ruminal degradability, and in vitro digestibility of Napier grass silage. Napier grass planted at the School of Agriculture Experimental Farm, University of Venda in 5 m x 4 m plots replicated three times in a completely randomised design and was irrigated with either biodigester slurry or no bio-digester slurry (tap water) for a period of 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, the Napier was freshly cut and ensiled for 90 days in 1 litre glass jars in a 2 (Control - tap water and slurry irrigation) x 4 (No additive, molasses, maize meal and brown sugar) factorial arrangement. Fermentation quality and nutritive composition were determined using standard protocols. The dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) ruminal degradability was determined in sacco by incubating feed samples in nylon bags (external dimension: 6 × 12 cm, pore size of 46 μm) in the rumen in three Bonsmara steers fitted with rumen cannulae for 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours (h). Parameters to describe the dynamics of ruminal degradability of DM and CP were obtained by fitting the data on the exponential equation P = a + b (1 - e-ct) using the NEWAY computer program, where “a” is the rapidly degradable fraction, “b” is the slowly degradable fraction and “c” is the outflow rate. The in vitro DM and CP degradability of rumen undegradable residue collected after 12, 24 and 48 h incubation was determined by sequential digestion in pepsin (abomasal) and pancreatin (small intestine) solutions. Fertilisation with bio-digester slurry increased (P <0.05) CP content of fresh cut Napier grass pre-ensilage. Bio-digester slurry fertilisation with molasses inclusion improved (P <0.05) the silage DM content which improved (P >0.05) fermentation characteristics with pH of 4.2 and lowest NH3-N of 13.3 g/kg. Other chemical compositions and fermentation characteristics were not affected (P >0.05) due to fertilisation x additives treatment combinations. No bio-digester slurry fertilisation with maize meal inclusion increased (P <0.01) DM degradability at 0 h incubation. As time progressed to 24 h, no biodigester slurry fertilisation with no additive included reduced (P <0.01) DM degradability with no difference (P >0.05) on other treatments. Potential DM degradability (a + b) of no bio-digester slurry fertilisation with no additive inclusion silage was reduced (P <0.01). The reduction was associated with low levels (P <0.01) of slowly degradable fraction “b”. In vitro DM and CP digestibility were not affected (P >0.05) due to fertilisation x additives treatment combinations. In conclusion, bio-digester slurry application improved the quality of fresh cut Napier grass, with the combination of bio-digester slurry fertilisation and molasses addition yielding the best silage quality.