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Thesis (MScAgric (Agronomy)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / A two year experiment (2004-2005) was conducted at the Tygerhoek Experimental Farm near Riviersonderend in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The effect of different crop rotation systems on soil properties, disease and insect pests, weed populations, wheat growth, yield and quality in the wheat crop phase, included in these crop rotation systems, was determined. This trial was part of a long term crop rotation experiment started in 2002. This trial was laid out as a block design with four replications. Crop rotation systems included wheat, barley, canola, lupins and pasture phases which consisted of medics and clovers planted collectively. Soil samples were taken at each replication for N-incubations for determination of mineral N (NO3 - -N plus NH4 + -N) at 0-150 mm soil depth. A basic soil chemical analysis was done at 0-150 mm and 150-300 mm soil depths, respectively. Each sub-plot (replication) consisted of a 3 m2 block that was divided into a 1.5 m2 block for harvest and smaller 0.25 m2 blocks for samples that were taken at different growth stages throughout both seasons. Dry mass and nitrogen (N) content of different plant components, leaf area index, disease symptoms and pest damage were recorded from each sample. Trends in basic soil chemical properties mostly differed between crop rotation systems during different seasons while similar trends in soil mineral nitrogen occurred. Highest soil mineral N levels occurred after one or two consecutive years of pasture while levels after a lupin phase were disappointingly low in both seasons. These high soil mineral N levels showed similar trends to wheat grain quality and some wheat yields, while the most influencing factors on wheat grain yield were probably soil physical properties. Soil mineral N after canola was high during plant after which levels were much lower than many other crop rotation systems. This occurrence will probably need a re-evaluation of N fertilizing programs if the same trends are found in similar, but longer trials. Lolium spp. was the most prominent weed that occurred in both seasons at some crop rotation systems seemingly with no direct effect from crop rotation. Highest disease incidence mainly from Septoria spp. and Puccinia spp. occurred, particularly in wheat/wheat rotations, except for Puccinia which showed high ratings of disease symptoms in all crop rotations in the drier 2004 season. Lower ratings occurred in crop rotation systems when wheat was preceded by nonwheat crops. Insect pest damage showed no similar trends indicating no direct effect of crop rotation on these pests and/or effective control from applied pesticides in both seasons. It was concluded that climate was one of the most influencing factors affecting differences and seem to be the main cause for different trends found between these two seasons in similar crop rotation systems. A similar trial with longer duration than this one is thus needed to obtain conclusive trends. This also indicates the importance of integration of crop rotation and management practices that are most optimal during dry and wet seasons, thus limiting risk.

The aim of this diploma thesis was to find out the causes of low returns on chosen cereals (oat, wheat, rye, and spelled) in ecological agriculture based on evaluating information on growing procedures obtained via the method of questionnaires. Gradually, 21 ecologically farming companies controlled by the Abcert AB a Biokont CZ, s.r.o. organizations were chosen. Based on the analysis of growing procedures, the most frequent mistakes made by farmers were identified. Companies with lower returns apply mainly an inappropriate structure of crops grown, a high representation of cereals, and they do not respect crop rotation principles. Especially in favourble conditions, some farms are run without livestock production. Leguminosae representation is low in most companies, intercrops are used very seldom. In case of straw plow, the C:N ratio is not maintained using manure. Mineral manure is not used at all, liming very seldom. Vegetation is usually not fertilized during vegetation period. Cereal weed regulation is carried out, but not sufficiently. Using farm seed is quite frequent, which increases the growth of weed. Comparing returns on cereal among better and worse companies, it is obvious that respecting given principles may increase return on seed in 1.0 to 1.9 t/ha.

Orientador: Ciro Antonio Rosolem / Banca: Maria Helena Moraes / Banca: Rogério Peres Soratto / Banca: Álvaro Pires da Silva / Banca: Sônia Carmela Falcci Dechen / Resumo: Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar as alterações na estrutura do solo e nas qualidades físicas e físico-hídricas com a utilização de espécies de cobertura com sistema radicular agressivo e volumoso, em esquemas de rotação de culturas em sistema semeadura direta, com o intuito de avaliar a possibilidade desse manejo ser indicado para substituir operações onerosas como a utilização de escarificadores mecânicos. As rotações de culturas utilizadas e repetidas por três anos consecutivos, em sistema semeadura direta, envolveram o cultivo de triticale e girassol no outono-inverno, associados com o cultivo de milheto, sorgo forrageiro e crotalária júncea, como plantas de cobertura, antecedendo a soja. Além disso, comparou-se o efeito dessas seqüências de culturas com o tratamento envolvendo a escarificação mecânica do solo. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda Experimental Lageado (Botucatu-SP), nos anos agrícolas de 2003/2004, 2004/2005 e 2005/2006. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições em esquema de parcelas subdivididas. Foram consideradas parcelas aquelas cultivadas com triticale e girassol, e subparcelas as cultivadas com milheto, sorgo e crotalária júncea, e também as manejadas com escarificador. A escarificação do solo foi realizada apenas em uma ocasião, ou seja, logo após a colheita das culturas de inverno do primeiro ano (Setembro de 2003), mantendo a área escarificada sempre em pousio entre os cultivos de inverno e verão. Foram coletadas amostras de raízes, tanto das espécies de cobertura como da soja, nas profundidades de 0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-40 e 40-60 cm. As raízes das plantas de cobertura foram amostradas antes da dessecação química. Já as raízes de soja foram amostradas na linha e na entrelinha de semeadura, quando a cultura apresentava-se no estádio R2 de desenvolvimento... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the alterations in soil structure and physical and physical-hydraulic properties with the use of different cover crop species with aggressive root system, in crop rotation under no-tillage, to evaluate the possibility of this management as an alternative to mechanical operations with chiseling, that are very expensive. The crop rotations used and replicated for three consecutive years, under no-tillage, had triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) and sunflower (Helianthus annus) as Autumn-Winter crops. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) were used in Spring, before the soybean. These management systems were compared with the mechanical chiseling. The research was carried out during three croping seasons (2003/2004, 2004/2005 and 2005/2006), in Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The experiment was a complete randomized block with subdivided plots and four replications. The plots consisted of triticale and sunflower crops. The subplots consisted of pearl millet, forage sorghum and sunn hemp, besides of the mechanical chiseling management. The chiseling was carried out only, after the harvest of the Autumn-Winter crops in the first year (September of 2003), keeping the chiseling area without crops between the Autumn-Winter crops and the Summer crops. Cover crop roots and soybean roots were sampled in depths of 0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm. The cover crop roots were sampled before chemical desiccation. The soybean roots were sampled in the rows and in the spacing row of the tillage, in R2 stage of development. Soil bulk density, macro and micro porosity, total porosity and the curve of soil water retention were determined using undisturbed samples collected at depths of 0-5, 7.5-12.5, 15-20, 27.5-32.5 and 47.5-52.5 cm. The least limit water range (LLWR)... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Orientador: Jose Eduardo Cora / Banca: Maria Cristina Pessoa da Cruz / Banca: Carolina Fernandes / Resumo: A rotação de culturas em sistema de semeadura direta (SSD) promove vários benefícios ao sistema, pois os resíduos das culturas, ao se decomporem, podem alterar os atributos químicos do solo e, como conseqüência, influenciarem a cultura em sucessão. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de culturas de inverno nos atributos químicos do solo, no estado nutricional e na produtividade das culturas de soja, milho e arroz, cultivadas no verão em SSD. O experimento foi realizado no município de Jaboticabal, SP, em Latossolo Vermelho eutrófico. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos casualizados com três repetições no esquema em faixas. Os tratamentos foram constituídos pela combinação de quatro seqüências de culturas de verão (monoculturas de milho e de soja e as rotações soja/milho e arroz/feijão/algodão) com sete culturas de inverno (milho, girassol, nabo forrageiro, milheto, guandu, sorgo e crotalária). Após o manejo das culturas de inverno e antes da semeadura das culturas de verão do ano agrícola 2006/2007, foram coletadas amostras de solo nas camadas de 0-2,5; 2,5-5,0; 5-10; 10-20 e 20-30 cm. Nas amostras de solo, foram determinados: matéria orgânica (MO), pH, P (resina), K, Ca, Mg, H+Al e calculados CTC e V. Nas culturas de verão, coletaram-se amostras foliares para a determinação das concentrações foliares de N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn. A produtividade das culturas de verão foi avaliada. Foram observados no solo, maiores teores de P após nabo forrageiro e crotalária e menores teores de MO após milho, girassol e guandu no inverno. O SSD apresentou gradientes de fertilidade ao longo do perfil para todos os atributos químicos avaliados... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The crop rotation practice in no-tillage system promotes lots of benefits to the system. The crop residues can change the soil chemical attributes, consequentially influencing the performance of following crops. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of winter crops on the soil chemical attributes, nutritional state and yield summer crops (soybean, corn and rice) in no-tillage system. A field experiment has been carried out on a eutrophic Red Oxisol at Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. A completely randomized block design with three replications was used, in strips. The treatments were the combination of four summer crops sequences (corn and soybean monocultures, rotation soybean/corn and rotation rice/bean/cotton) with seven winter crops (corn, sunflower, oilseed radish, millet, pigeon pea, sorghum and sunn hemp). After the winter crops management and before the summer crops sowing at the crop season 2006/2007, the soil was sampled at 0-2.5, 2.5-5.0, 5-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm soil depths. Organic matter, pH, P, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2, H+Al were determined, and cation capacity exchange and bases saturation values were calculated in each soil samples. The N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn uptake were determined in summer crops. Also, the summer crops yield was obtained. In the soil, the oilseed radish and sunn hemp provide the highest P contents and corn, sunflower and pigeon pea provide the lowest organic matter contents. The no-tillage system showed gradient of fertility in the soil profile. The soybean (rotation soybean/corn) showed lower S uptake after corn and sorghum. The soybean (monoculture) showed higher N, P and S uptake after oilseed radish and sunn hemp. In the corn, Zn uptake were lower after oilseed radish. The oilseed radish and sunn hemp provides the highest soybean yield. In the corn, the highest yields were observed after oilseed radish, millet and pigeon pea. The sorghum provides suppressor effect on the rice yield. / Mestre

Orientador: Jose Eduardo Cora / Coorientador: Carolina Fernandes / Banca: Isabella Clerici de Maria / Banca: Cimélio Bayer / Banca: Sandro Roberto Brancalião / Banca: Marcílio Vieira Martins Filho / Resumo: O presente trabalho teve como objetivo geral determinar como as plantas influenciam a estabilidade de agregados, a composição de carboidratos, o acúmulo de C orgânico do solo (COS) e de C microbiano em um Latossolo Vermelho. Na primeira parte do estudo, verificou-se que as sequências de culturas com milho (Zea mays L.) no verão e as milheto (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Leeke) e sorgo granífero (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) no inverno proporcionaram maior diâmetro médio ponderado (DMP) de agregados estáveis do solo. Assim como observado para o DMP, as sequências de culturas envolvendo milho no verão proporcionaram os maiores teores de xilose do solo. A menor proporção de carboidratos de origem microbiana em relação aos de origem vegetal foram observados com o cultivo mais frequente de espécies de monocotiledôneas. Na segunda parte do estudo, notou-se que os maiores valores de C presente como matéria orgânica particulada (C-MOP) do solo foram encontrados sob cultivo de guandu, o qual proporcionou valores 54%, 46% e 48% maiores em relação ao cultivo de milho, girassol e nabo forrageiro, respectivamente. As variações nos teores de C-MOP explicaram o efeito das culturas nos teores de COS. Notou-se um acúmulo conjunto de C-MOP e de resíduos fúngicos e bacterianos no solo. Na terceira parte do estudo, verificou-se que os materiais de monocotiledôneas adicionados ao solo apresentaram as maiores taxas de mineralização do compartimento de C não lábil (k), os maiores teores de pentose do solo e o maior DMP de agregados do solo em comparação à testemunha e às dicotiledôneas, em período posterior de decomposição. Isso sugere que k e teores de pentoses do solo controlam a estabilidade de agregados do Latossolo em período tardio de incubação. O efeito da decomposição dos materiais vegetais na agregação do solo ocorreu independente da variação da quantidade do teor de COS / Abstract: The general aim of this study was to determine how the plants influence the aggregate stability, carbohydrate composition and accumulation of soil organic C and microbial C of an Oxisol. In the first part of this study, it was found that summer crop sequences involving corn (Zea mays L.) and the winter crops millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Leeke) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) provided the highest mean weight diameter (MWD) of soil aggregate. The crop sequences involving corn in summer also provided the highest soil xylose contents. The lowest proportions of carbohydrates of microbial origin in relation to those of plant origin were found in soil under most frequent cultivation of plant species from monocots. In second part of this study, it was found that soil organic C content with pigeon pea was 20% higher compared to corn and 18% higher compared to sunflower. Likewise, the highest values of C associated to soil particulate organic matter (C-POM) was found with pigeon pea cultivation, which provided 54%, 46% and 48% higher contents than corn, sunflower and oilseed radish, respectively. The variation in C-POM explained the crop effects on soil organic C content. The results of the present study showed a co-accumulation of C-POM and microbial residues in soil. In the third part of this study, it was found that monocots plant materials presented the highest mineralization rates of non-labile pool of C (k), soil pentose content, plant pentose input and soil aggregate MWD. The results of the present study suggest that non-labile C pool, especially related to pentoses, controls the soil aggregation of an Oxisol in long-term. This effect appears to be independent of the variation in soil organic C content / Doutor