Soil moisture distribution resulting from a line source subsurface trickle irrigation system was studied on bare and cropped layered soils. The soil type was an Uchee loamy sand. The Continuous System Modeling Program (CSMP) Model was used to simulate the soil moisture distribution resulting from the linesource. The model was modified and developed in FORTRAN programming language. The modification included the effects of layered soil, source position, number of sources, soil evaporation and plant transpiration. The model was also used to simulate daily and one-in-several-days irrigations. Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the soil moisture retention curve, the hydraulic conductivity, and soil moisture distribution from the line source. This data was used for model verification with the lateral lines buried 13 inches below the soil surface and spaced 36 and 72 inches apart. Simulated and measured soil moisture distributions were in good agreement. Simulated moisture distribution indicated that the wetting front expansion is more a function of irrigation volume than irrigation rate. However, the irrigation rate does affect the soil moisture distribution. A higher rate will result in a larger quantity of horizontal water movement. The simulation also indicated that a one-in-ten days irrigation causes more horizontal movement than a daily irrigation. / Master of Science

M.S.

As a result of this investigation the following conclusions were reached: 1. The application of nitrogen, in any amounts, made immediately following planting does not produce any noticeable effect on the time of fruit bud differentiation in the strawberry. 2. Nitrogen fertilizers applied to strawberry plants shortly after planting hasten the formation of runners and increase the number of runners produced. 3. The length of the runners between rooted runner plants is not materially increased by.nitrogen fertilizers. 4. Although runner production is hastened by the use of nitrogen, the actual rooting of the runner plants takes place at approximately the same time in fertilized and unfertilized plants. 5. Fruit bud differentiation is associated 1vith a decrease in the length of runners produced which probably results in an accumulation of carbohydrates. 6. Field conditions cannot be satisfactorily simulated under average greenhouse conditions and therefor results that are secured in greenhouse experiments cannot be deemed applicable to plants growing under field conditions. / Master of Science

Master of Science

The effect of fertilizers and the variable weather conditions of temperature and moisture have presented many problems of a scientific nature of the agronomist. Not only has this been true for some time with the scientific agronomist, but of late years these problems have found their place in the working knowledge of the practical farmer from a crop standpoint. Many times the farmer fails to get a stand of certain crops due to bad germinations of the seed. This is attributed to bad seed, disease seed, old seed, to wet land and many other similar reasons. Not until recent years has the farmer attributed the inability to get a good stand of different crops on the land to the effect of fertilizers. Some of the more wide-awake farmers of today have noticed repeatedly that with certain seeds when sown with certain fertilizers a poor germination has always resulted. It has become common practice of many farmers in planting crops in which the seed is sown with the drill to mix the fertilizer with the seed and sow it out the same spout together, thus putting the fertilizer in contact with the seed. Many of the farmers are reporting bad germination from this practice and are asking for information about the effect of certain fertilizers on germination of certain seeds. To be able to give practical information on such problems as these, is the aim for this experiment work. / Master of Science

Field experiments were conducted in the Coastal Plain and Ridge and Valley regions of Virginia during the 1981-82 through 1985-86 winter wheat growing seasons. The treatments in all experiments consisted of varying amounts of N fertilizer rates applied at Zadoks' growth stages 25 (GS 25) and 30 (GS 30). The research was divided into three studies. The first study was conducted to assess the effect of N fertilizer rates and climatic conditions on the amounts and patterns of the crop N uptake. Dry matter production and total N concentration were measured in total above ground plant material at different growth stages, as well as in leaves, stems, and spikes. Plant N uptake was affected by the climatic conditions in the different growing seasons. Temperature and precipitation variations in early spring determined the differences in amounts and patterns of the N uptake by whole plants and by the various plant portions. Maximum N uptake daily rates were obtained in the period immediately after GS 30 suggesting that this is the wheat growth stage in which the highest efficiency of N fertilizer use could be expected. Crop N uptake at GS 30 also appeared to be a potentially good indicator of the plant N requirements. The second study was designed to develop models for determining critical N levels and optimum N fertilizer rates for winter wheat. Two nonlinear models were successfully developed to determine critical N levels at GS 30 utilizing plant N concentration at GS 30 (N%30) and crop N uptake at GS 30 (NUP30). The R² values for the models utilizing N%30 and NUP30 as independent variables were 0.87, and 0.82, respectively. Simple regression models were successfully developed to predict N rates required at GS 30 to obtain either maximum or economically optimum grain yields. The models utilized NUP30 as the independent variable and had high correlation coefficients and good predicting ability. The objective of the third study was to determine the recommended amount of N fertilizer to be applied at GS 25 that would optimize the use of the simple linear regression models developed in the second study. Quadratic programming models were developed with the objective of maximizing marginal profit with N fertilizer application. The models were then solved to determine the amounts of N at GS 25 and at GS 30 that would produce the maximum attainable profit. Four recommended nitrogen fertilizer rates at GS 25 (N25) were evaluated: 0, 30, 60, and 100 kg N ha⁻¹. The difference (D) between the yields with maximum attainable profit (Y) and the yields when N25 was forced to be 0, 30, 60, and 100 kg N ha⁻¹ (Υ^R) was then calculated (D = Y - Y^R). The best N25 recommendation was the one that minimized the mean value, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation of D. This methodology was used for 3 nitrogen fertilizer : wheat price ratios (2.0, 4.0, and 8.0). The results indicated that the best recommendations for N25 were 50 - 60 kg N ha⁻¹ for N fertilizer : wheat price ratios of 2.0 - 4.0, and 40 - 50 kg N haha⁻¹ for a price ratio of 8.0. Sensitivity analysis was then performed to study the effect of variations in the N fertilizer : wheat price ratio on the recommended N rates. The results indicated that the recommended N rates were essentially insensitive to the variations in the price ratio of N fertilizer : wheat / Ph. D.

Devido à importância do aumento da eficiência agronômica dos fertilizantes nitrogenados em função do custo cada vez maior dos fertilizantes na produção agrícola, o objetivo do presente estudo foi desenvolver formulações de fertilizantes nitrogenados a base de ureia com a adição de compostos inibidores de urease (NBPT, Cu, B), enxofre elementar e um argilomineral do grupo das zeolitas compondo os grânulos internamente, a fim de minimizar as perdas de N por volatilização de amônia e por lixiviação de amônio e nitrato. O primeiro experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação entre janeiro e março de 2013, no departamento de ciência do solo da ESALQ, onde foram avaliadas dez formulações produzidas no Laboratório de Tecnologia de Fertilizante da Embrapa Solos, mais alguns fertilizantes comerciais (FH Nitro Mais®, FH Nitro Gold®, Super N®, sulfato de amônio e ureia). Colunas de PVC com 15 cm de diâmetro por 45 cm de altura foram montadas e preenchidas com amostra de um Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo de textura média. A volatilização de amônia foi determinada através de uma câmara semi-aberta estática instalada na parte superior de colunas. A avaliação da lixiviação do nitrato e amônio foram feitas ao final do experimento de volatilização por meio da percolação de água, simulando chuva de 15 mm por 4 dias consecutivos, nestas mesmas colunas. Em seguida foi realizada coleta de solo nas camadas de 0-10, 10-20 e 20-45 cm com a finalidade de quantificar o teor de amônio e nitrato acumulado no perfil. Em outro experimento, conduzido em casa de vegetação entre abril e maio de 2013, foi testada a eficiência de uso de N pelas plantas de milho com quatro formulações produzidas e três fertilizantes comerciais, os quais apresentaram as menores perdas de N por volatilização, acrescidos do tratamento ureia comercial e controle, sendo avaliado o N acumulado e a massa seca produzida pelo milho cultivado em vasos com 6 kg de solo. As formulações produzidas com inibidores de urease (NBPT, B, Cu) incorporado nos grânulos e estes combinados com o argilomineral apresentaram maior eficiência na redução das perdas de N por volatilização em comparação aos fertilizantes comerciais com tecnologia de revestimento desses inibidores. Os resultados da lixiviação de amônio e nitrato e o acúmulo desses íons no solo não apresentaram diferenças expressivas entre os fertilizantes produzidos e os comerciais. O acúmulo de N nas plantas com a adubação referente aos fertilizantes produzidos foi similar aos fertilizantes comerciais, porém superior à ureia comercial. No entanto, é possível afirmar que a incorporação de inibidores de urease na ureia é mais eficiente na redução das perdas de N por volatilização, comparado aos fertilizantes produzidos com a tecnologia de revestimento desses mesmos aditivos. / Due to the importance of increasing the agronomic efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers and the increasing fertilizer costs in agricultural production, the aim of this study was to develop urea-based formulations of nitrogen fertilizer with the addition of urease inhibitors (NBPT, Cu, B), elemental sulfur and clay minerals of the zeolite group, composing beads internally to minimize N losses by volatilization and leaching of ammonium and nitrate. The first experiment was conducted in greenhouse from January to March 2013 in the Department of Soil Science of ESALQ, where was assessed ten formulations produced in the Fertilizer Technology Laboratory of Embrapa Solos and some commercial fertilizers (FH Nitro Mais®, FH Nitro Gold®, Super N®, ammonium sulfate and urea). PVC columns with 15 cm in diameter and 45 cm in height were assembled and filled with soil samples of Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo medium-texture. Ammonia volatilization was determined using a semiopen static chamber installed on the top of columns. Evaluation of nitrate and ammonium leaching was taken at the end of the volatilization experiment by water percolation, simulating a rain of 15 mm for 4 consecutive days. Furthermore, soil samples were collected at 0-10, 10- 20 and 20-45 cm depth layers in order to determine the concentration of ammonium and nitrate accumulated in the profile. Another experiment, conducted in greenhouse from April to May of 2013, was carried out to test N use efficiency by corn plants with four produced formulations and three commercial fertilizers which obtained the lowest N losses by volatilization, including urea and a control treatment, being assessed N accumulated and dry matter produced by corn grown in pots with a volume of 6 kg. The formulations produced with urease inhibitor alone (NBPT, B, Cu) embedded in beads and those inhibitors combined with the clay mineral showed greater efficiency in reducing losses by volatilization compared to commercial coated fertilizer with the same inhibitors. Ammonium and nitrate leaching and soil accumulation showed no significant differences between produced formulations and commercial fertilizers. The N accumulation in corn plants grown with the new formulations was similar to commercial fertilizer, being higher to commercial urea. However, it is clear that the incorporation of a urease inhibitor in urea fertilizer is more efficient in the reduction of losses by volatilization compared to coated fertilizers produced with the same additives.

Devido à importância do aumento da eficiência agronômica dos fertilizantes nitrogenados em função do custo cada vez maior dos fertilizantes na produção agrícola, o objetivo do presente estudo foi desenvolver formulações de fertilizantes nitrogenados a base de ureia com a adição de compostos inibidores de urease (NBPT, Cu, B), enxofre elementar e um argilomineral do grupo das zeolitas compondo os grânulos internamente, a fim de minimizar as perdas de N por volatilização de amônia e por lixiviação de amônio e nitrato. O primeiro experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação entre janeiro e março de 2013, no departamento de ciência do solo da ESALQ, onde foram avaliadas dez formulações produzidas no Laboratório de Tecnologia de Fertilizante da Embrapa Solos, mais alguns fertilizantes comerciais (FH Nitro Mais®, FH Nitro Gold®, Super N®, sulfato de amônio e ureia). Colunas de PVC com 15 cm de diâmetro por 45 cm de altura foram montadas e preenchidas com amostra de um Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo de textura média. A volatilização de amônia foi determinada através de uma câmara semi-aberta estática instalada na parte superior de colunas. A avaliação da lixiviação do nitrato e amônio foram feitas ao final do experimento de volatilização por meio da percolação de água, simulando chuva de 15 mm por 4 dias consecutivos, nestas mesmas colunas. Em seguida foi realizada coleta de solo nas camadas de 0-10, 10-20 e 20-45 cm com a finalidade de quantificar o teor de amônio e nitrato acumulado no perfil. Em outro experimento, conduzido em casa de vegetação entre abril e maio de 2013, foi testada a eficiência de uso de N pelas plantas de milho com quatro formulações produzidas e três fertilizantes comerciais, os quais apresentaram as menores perdas de N por volatilização, acrescidos do tratamento ureia comercial e controle, sendo avaliado o N acumulado e a massa seca produzida pelo milho cultivado em vasos com 6 kg de solo. As formulações produzidas com inibidores de urease (NBPT, B, Cu) incorporado nos grânulos e estes combinados com o argilomineral apresentaram maior eficiência na redução das perdas de N por volatilização em comparação aos fertilizantes comerciais com tecnologia de revestimento desses inibidores. Os resultados da lixiviação de amônio e nitrato e o acúmulo desses íons no solo não apresentaram diferenças expressivas entre os fertilizantes produzidos e os comerciais. O acúmulo de N nas plantas com a adubação referente aos fertilizantes produzidos foi similar aos fertilizantes comerciais, porém superior à ureia comercial. No entanto, é possível afirmar que a incorporação de inibidores de urease na ureia é mais eficiente na redução das perdas de N por volatilização, comparado aos fertilizantes produzidos com a tecnologia de revestimento desses mesmos aditivos. / Due to the importance of increasing the agronomic efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers and the increasing fertilizer costs in agricultural production, the aim of this study was to develop urea-based formulations of nitrogen fertilizer with the addition of urease inhibitors (NBPT, Cu, B), elemental sulfur and clay minerals of the zeolite group, composing beads internally to minimize N losses by volatilization and leaching of ammonium and nitrate. The first experiment was conducted in greenhouse from January to March 2013 in the Department of Soil Science of ESALQ, where was assessed ten formulations produced in the Fertilizer Technology Laboratory of Embrapa Solos and some commercial fertilizers (FH Nitro Mais®, FH Nitro Gold®, Super N®, ammonium sulfate and urea). PVC columns with 15 cm in diameter and 45 cm in height were assembled and filled with soil samples of Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo medium-texture. Ammonia volatilization was determined using a semiopen static chamber installed on the top of columns. Evaluation of nitrate and ammonium leaching was taken at the end of the volatilization experiment by water percolation, simulating a rain of 15 mm for 4 consecutive days. Furthermore, soil samples were collected at 0-10, 10- 20 and 20-45 cm depth layers in order to determine the concentration of ammonium and nitrate accumulated in the profile. Another experiment, conducted in greenhouse from April to May of 2013, was carried out to test N use efficiency by corn plants with four produced formulations and three commercial fertilizers which obtained the lowest N losses by volatilization, including urea and a control treatment, being assessed N accumulated and dry matter produced by corn grown in pots with a volume of 6 kg. The formulations produced with urease inhibitor alone (NBPT, B, Cu) embedded in beads and those inhibitors combined with the clay mineral showed greater efficiency in reducing losses by volatilization compared to commercial coated fertilizer with the same inhibitors. Ammonium and nitrate leaching and soil accumulation showed no significant differences between produced formulations and commercial fertilizers. The N accumulation in corn plants grown with the new formulations was similar to commercial fertilizer, being higher to commercial urea. However, it is clear that the incorporation of a urease inhibitor in urea fertilizer is more efficient in the reduction of losses by volatilization compared to coated fertilizers produced with the same additives.

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Agronomy)) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / Low yields in dry bean are often reported to be associated with lack of inoculation of seeds prior to planting. This also results in little fixed nitrogen contributed by the crop. Soil phosphorus (P) is another important yield limiting factor in most of the dry bean producing regions. Two field experiments were conducted to investigate the response of dry bean cultivars to inoculation and phosphorus application under dryland farming conditions during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 growing seasons at the Syferkuil farm of University of Limpopo. The experiments were carried out as a split split-plot arrangement in randomized complete block design with four replications. Main plot factor comprised two dry bean cultivars viz, red speckled bean and small white haricot. Rhizobium phaseoli inoculation levels (inoculated and uninoculated) were assigned in the sub-plot whilst the sub-sub plot was applied with three phosphorus rates at 0, 45 and 90 kg P kg/ha. Growth parameters, phenological characteristics and yield data were collected during the course of the experiments. The results of the two experiments showed that there was no interactive effect of treatments on growth and yield parameters. However, there was a significant interactive effect of cultivar and inoculation on phenological characteristics in both growing seasons. Main effects of cultivar and inoculation significantly affected most of the parameters measured. Inoculated red speckled bean produced tallest plants which reached 50% flowering and maturity earlier than the small white haricot variety. In both growing seasons grain yield was significantly different between the two cultivars (P ≤ 0.01). The red speckled bean produced higher grain yield of 1657 kg ha-1 and 2547 kg ha-1 in 2011/2012 and 2012/2013, respectively. In contrast, the small white haricot bean achieved grain yield of 1396 kg/ha and 1797 kg/ha in the respective seasons. Grain yield was significantly increased by approximately 16.15% and 27.50% with Rhizobium inoculation in the respective seasons. Phosphorus application at varying rates did not have a significant influence on all parameters measured the experiment in both 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons.

Graduation date: 1991