Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T18:56:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CARLOS_DISSERTACAO_AGRONOMIA_31_05_2012.pdf: 1729858 bytes, checksum: c9d12bae435ce85af2fa614993043588 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-15 / The aim of this study was to establish norms of the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) in the culture of banana (Musa sp) for the subgroup Cavendish. We used 107 leaf samples from plants on farms in the towns of Andirá and Rancho Alegre, both located in Northern Paraná State, cultivars Nanicão and Grande Naine , with and without irrigation, aged 2 to 10 years. Chemical analysis determined the content of leaf 11 nutrients N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn. DRIS norms have been established for less than average productivity of 75 t ha-1, where it was found differences between the patterns of levels of nutrients and DRIS norms developed in this study. It was recommended the need for reprogramming of the quantities of fertilizer to be used according to the results obtained for the N, Ca, Mg, S, Fe and Zn contents presenting below the pre-established standards tracks. / O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estabelecer normas do Sistema Integrado de Diagnose e Recomendação (DRIS) na cultura da banana (Musa sp) para o sub grupo Cavendish. Foram utilizadas 107 amostras foliares de plantas em lavouras situadas nos municípios de Andirá e Rancho Alegre, ambos localizados na Região Norte do Estado do Paraná, cultivares Nanicão e Grande Naine , com e sem irrigação, idade variando entre 2 a 10 anos. As análises químicas foliares determinaram os teores de 11 nutrientes: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn. Normas DRIS foram estabelecidas para produtividade média igual ou superior a 75 t ha-1, onde constatou-se divergências entre os teores padrões dos nutrientes e os teores das normas DRIS estabelecidas neste estudo. Recomendou-se a necessidade de reprogramação das quantidades a serem utilizadas de fertilizantes de acordo com os resultados obtidos, para N, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, e Zn que apresentaram índices abaixo das faixas padrões pré estabelecidas.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-18T17:51:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CARLOS_DISSERTACAO_AGRONOMIA_31_05_2012.pdf: 1729858 bytes, checksum: c9d12bae435ce85af2fa614993043588 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-15 / The aim of this study was to establish norms of the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) in the culture of banana (Musa sp) for the subgroup Cavendish. We used 107 leaf samples from plants on farms in the towns of Andirá and Rancho Alegre, both located in Northern Paraná State, cultivars Nanicão and Grande Naine , with and without irrigation, aged 2 to 10 years. Chemical analysis determined the content of leaf 11 nutrients N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn. DRIS norms have been established for less than average productivity of 75 t ha-1, where it was found differences between the patterns of levels of nutrients and DRIS norms developed in this study. It was recommended the need for reprogramming of the quantities of fertilizer to be used according to the results obtained for the N, Ca, Mg, S, Fe and Zn contents presenting below the pre-established standards tracks. / O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estabelecer normas do Sistema Integrado de Diagnose e Recomendação (DRIS) na cultura da banana (Musa sp) para o sub grupo Cavendish. Foram utilizadas 107 amostras foliares de plantas em lavouras situadas nos municípios de Andirá e Rancho Alegre, ambos localizados na Região Norte do Estado do Paraná, cultivares Nanicão e Grande Naine , com e sem irrigação, idade variando entre 2 a 10 anos. As análises químicas foliares determinaram os teores de 11 nutrientes: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn. Normas DRIS foram estabelecidas para produtividade média igual ou superior a 75 t ha-1, onde constatou-se divergências entre os teores padrões dos nutrientes e os teores das normas DRIS estabelecidas neste estudo. Recomendou-se a necessidade de reprogramação das quantidades a serem utilizadas de fertilizantes de acordo com os resultados obtidos, para N, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, e Zn que apresentaram índices abaixo das faixas padrões pré estabelecidas.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Biomedical Technology)) -- Central University of Technology, 2014 / The rising costs of health care, the outbreak of drug resistant organisms, health depleting lifestyles and the risky side effects of currently used drugs are world-wide problems. This has led to the search for novel drugs and drug leads. Traditional healers and other individuals across the globe possess unlimited knowledge on the healing powers of different plants that has been passed on through generations. This knowledge together with scientific investigations can lead to the eradication of most of the diseases either by treatment or prevention. Aloe ferox Mill. is one of the plants that have gained a lot of interest from the pharmaceutical industry. The plant has over 80 documented medicinal uses. These include treatment of impotence and infertility, sexually transmitted infections, arthritis, hypertension, leukaemia, bacterial and fungal infections. It is also known as a blood purifier, widely used as a laxative and anti- inflammatory agent. More research is required to discover more about A. ferox and its benefits to health as well as to investigate its potential for the development of novel drugs. The current study was focused at investigating the anti- cancer, anti- microbial antidiabetic, cytotoxic activities and phytochemical composition of leaf extracts of A. ferox. Three cancer cell lines namely: breast (MCF7), colon (HCT116) and prostate (PC3) cancer cell lines were used to investigate the anticancer activity of the extracts using the Sulforhodamine B (SRB) method. To determine the anti- diabetic activity of the plant extracts the C2C12 and Chang cell in- vitro models of glucose uptake were used. The micro- dilution technique was IV used to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal activity of the extract. The safety of these extracts against normal human foetal lung fibroblasts (W138), Chang and C2C12 cells was done by through the SRB and the MTT methods. To determine the phytochemical profile of A. ferox the DPPH radical scavenging and the Folin Ciocalteu methods were used to test the antioxidant activity and the total phenolic content of the different extracts respectively. Different methods were used to determine the presence of phytochemicals such as steroids, saponins, alkaloids, carbohydrates and flavonoids. LCMS was also done to detect the elemental composition of the plant extracts. According to the CSIR criteria A. ferox was inactive against the cancer cell lines used. It however exhibited antioxidant activity even at low concentrations, with an EC50 of 0.865 ± 0.783. The methanol extract showed more phenolic content than the dichloromethane and aqueous extracts at a concentration of 5mg/ml. It is believed that the antioxidant activity correlates with the phenolic content and quality of the phenols present in the plant and more assays have to be done to prove this hypothesis. Other phytochemicals found in the extract included saponins, steroids, alkaloids as well as flavonoids. Both the methanol and aqueous extracts of A. ferox caused a significant increase in glucose uptake by C2C12 cells but caused a slightly decreased uptake by the Chang cells. The plant extracts inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans at a concentration of 15mg/ml extract. Candida tropicalis and Escherichia faecalis were resistant to A. ferox extracts. Finally the extracts showed no toxic activity against the normal foetal lung fibroblasts, Chang and C2C12 cells validating the safety of this plant for human use. V The results in conjunction with literature findings show A. ferox to be a promising source of drugs and therapeutic agents. Due to the fact that traditional healers already rely on it as treatment for different ailments, it is important that the safety of the plant for use has been validated though other studies and clinical trial still need to be done to fully confirm this. All the information gathered also showed this plant to be of great benefit against major health problems, responsible for millions of deaths each year such as cancer, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, and diabetes. There is however still a great need for more investigation to be done on this plant against a vast majority of organisms and diseases so as to fully benefit from it.

O cultivar Piatã de Brachiaria brizantha é uma gramínea forrageira de lançamento recente para uso nas pastagens brasileiras e a pesquisa relativa à nutrição mineral deste capim é escassa. O nitrogênio é o principal responsável pelo aumento da produtividade em plantas forrageiras, porém a associação com o enxofre pode influir nas respostas das plantas forrageiras à adubação. Mediante a combinação de doses de nitrogênio com doses de enxofre, objetivou-se estudar as características morfogênicas, nutricionais e produtivas do capim-piatã cultivado em solução nutritiva, empregando-se a sílica como substrato. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação e estudou cinco doses de nitrogênio (2; 9; 16; 23 e 30 mmol L-1) e cinco doses de enxofre (0,1; 0,7; 1,3; 1,9 e 2,5 mmol L-1), em esquema fatorial 52 fracionado, em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. As plantas foram submetidas a dois cortes, sendo o primeiro aos 44 dias após o transplantio e o segundo 25 dias após o primeiro corte. A interação doses de nitrogênio x doses de enxofre foi significativa para o número total de folhas e perfilhos, taxa de aparecimento de folhas e filocrono, área foliar, massa seca da parte aérea e das raízes, valor SPAD, comprimento e superfície radiculares totais, concentração de nitrogênio e de enxofre nos tecidos foliares e radiculares, concentração de nitrato e relação nitrogênio total:enxofre total (Nt:St) em pelo menos um dos dois ciclos de crescimento do capim-piatã. As mais elevadas doses de nitrogênio e de enxofre maximizaram o crescimento e desenvolvimento da parte aérea e do sistema radicular das plantas. Doses elevadas de nitrogênio diminuíram o comprimento radicular específico e a relação enxofre-sulfato:enxofre total (S-SO4:St) nas folhas diagnósticas do capim, além de aumentar a atividade da enzima redutase do nitrato e a concentração de amônio nesses tecidos. A dose de enxofre de aproximadamente 1,3 mmol L-1 proporcionou o maior comprimento e superfície radiculares específicos, enquanto a dose mais alta de enxofre (2,5 mmol L-1) maximizou a concentração de enxofre-sulfato e a relação S-SO4:St nas folhas diagnósticas das plantas. Correlações significativas e positivas foram constatadas entre a concentração de nitrogênio total, valor SPAD e a concentração de enxofre total das folhas diagnósticas e a produção de massa seca das plantas, nos dois cortes do capim-piatã. A concentração de nitrogênio nas folhas diagnósticas do capim-piatã e o valor SPAD servem como bons parâmetros para a avaliação do estado nutricional das plantas em relação ao nitrogênio, enquanto para a avaliação do estado nutricional do enxofre nas folhas diagnósticas do capim-piatã, a concentração de enxofre total e a relação Nt:St devem ser tomadas em conjunto. / Piatã cultivar of Brachiaria brizantha is a recently released forage grass to be used in brazilian pastures and research on mineral nutrition of this grass is scarce. Nitrogen is the main nutrient to increase forage productivity, but the association with sulphur can influence plant response to fertilization. Through the combination of nitrogen rates with sulphur rates, the objective was to study the morphological, nutritional and productive characteristics of Piatã palissadegrass grown in nutrient solution, by using ground quartz as substrate. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse and five rates of nitrogen (2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 mmol L-1) were combined with five rates of sulphur (0.1, 0.7, 1.3, 1.9 and 2.5 mmol L-1) in a 52 fractionated factorial set in randomized block design, with four replications. Plants were harvested two times, the first harvest was done 44 days after transplanting and the second one was 25 days after the first harvest. The interaction nitrogen rates x sulphur rates was significant for the total number of leaves and tillers, leaf appearance rate, phyllochron, leaf area, dry mass of shoots and roots, SPAD value, root length and root surface, nitrogen and sulphur concentrations in the diagnostic leaves and roots, nitrate concentration and total nitrogen:total sulphur ratio in at least one of the two growth cycles of Piatã palissadegrass. High nitrogen and sulphur rates maximized growth of shoots and roots of the plants. High nitrogen rates resulted in low specific root length and sulfate-sulphur:total sulphur ratio (SSO4: St) in diagnostic leaves, in addition to increasing the activity of the nitrate reductase and ammonium concentration in diagnostic tissue. Sulphur rate about 1.3 mmol L-1 provided the highest specific root length and surface, while the highest sulphur rates (2.5 mmol L-1) maximized sulfate-sulphur concentration and S-SO4:St ratio in diagnostic leaves. There was a significant and positive correlation between the concentration of total nitrogen, SPAD value and total sulphur concentration in diagnostic leaves with plant dry matter production, in both harvests of Piatã palissadegrass. Nitrogen concentration and SPAD value in diagnostic leaves of Piatã palissadegrass can be used as good parameters for assessing the nutritional status of plants in relation to nitrogen, while for the assessment of sulphur nutrition status in diagnostic leaves of Piatã palissadegrass, the concentration of total sulphur and total nitrogen:total sulphur ratio should be taken together.

O cultivar Piatã de Brachiaria brizantha é uma gramínea forrageira de lançamento recente para uso nas pastagens brasileiras e a pesquisa relativa à nutrição mineral deste capim é escassa. O nitrogênio é o principal responsável pelo aumento da produtividade em plantas forrageiras, porém a associação com o enxofre pode influir nas respostas das plantas forrageiras à adubação. Mediante a combinação de doses de nitrogênio com doses de enxofre, objetivou-se estudar as características morfogênicas, nutricionais e produtivas do capim-piatã cultivado em solução nutritiva, empregando-se a sílica como substrato. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação e estudou cinco doses de nitrogênio (2; 9; 16; 23 e 30 mmol L-1) e cinco doses de enxofre (0,1; 0,7; 1,3; 1,9 e 2,5 mmol L-1), em esquema fatorial 52 fracionado, em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. As plantas foram submetidas a dois cortes, sendo o primeiro aos 44 dias após o transplantio e o segundo 25 dias após o primeiro corte. A interação doses de nitrogênio x doses de enxofre foi significativa para o número total de folhas e perfilhos, taxa de aparecimento de folhas e filocrono, área foliar, massa seca da parte aérea e das raízes, valor SPAD, comprimento e superfície radiculares totais, concentração de nitrogênio e de enxofre nos tecidos foliares e radiculares, concentração de nitrato e relação nitrogênio total:enxofre total (Nt:St) em pelo menos um dos dois ciclos de crescimento do capim-piatã. As mais elevadas doses de nitrogênio e de enxofre maximizaram o crescimento e desenvolvimento da parte aérea e do sistema radicular das plantas. Doses elevadas de nitrogênio diminuíram o comprimento radicular específico e a relação enxofre-sulfato:enxofre total (S-SO4:St) nas folhas diagnósticas do capim, além de aumentar a atividade da enzima redutase do nitrato e a concentração de amônio nesses tecidos. A dose de enxofre de aproximadamente 1,3 mmol L-1 proporcionou o maior comprimento e superfície radiculares específicos, enquanto a dose mais alta de enxofre (2,5 mmol L-1) maximizou a concentração de enxofre-sulfato e a relação S-SO4:St nas folhas diagnósticas das plantas. Correlações significativas e positivas foram constatadas entre a concentração de nitrogênio total, valor SPAD e a concentração de enxofre total das folhas diagnósticas e a produção de massa seca das plantas, nos dois cortes do capim-piatã. A concentração de nitrogênio nas folhas diagnósticas do capim-piatã e o valor SPAD servem como bons parâmetros para a avaliação do estado nutricional das plantas em relação ao nitrogênio, enquanto para a avaliação do estado nutricional do enxofre nas folhas diagnósticas do capim-piatã, a concentração de enxofre total e a relação Nt:St devem ser tomadas em conjunto. / Piatã cultivar of Brachiaria brizantha is a recently released forage grass to be used in brazilian pastures and research on mineral nutrition of this grass is scarce. Nitrogen is the main nutrient to increase forage productivity, but the association with sulphur can influence plant response to fertilization. Through the combination of nitrogen rates with sulphur rates, the objective was to study the morphological, nutritional and productive characteristics of Piatã palissadegrass grown in nutrient solution, by using ground quartz as substrate. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse and five rates of nitrogen (2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 mmol L-1) were combined with five rates of sulphur (0.1, 0.7, 1.3, 1.9 and 2.5 mmol L-1) in a 52 fractionated factorial set in randomized block design, with four replications. Plants were harvested two times, the first harvest was done 44 days after transplanting and the second one was 25 days after the first harvest. The interaction nitrogen rates x sulphur rates was significant for the total number of leaves and tillers, leaf appearance rate, phyllochron, leaf area, dry mass of shoots and roots, SPAD value, root length and root surface, nitrogen and sulphur concentrations in the diagnostic leaves and roots, nitrate concentration and total nitrogen:total sulphur ratio in at least one of the two growth cycles of Piatã palissadegrass. High nitrogen and sulphur rates maximized growth of shoots and roots of the plants. High nitrogen rates resulted in low specific root length and sulfate-sulphur:total sulphur ratio (SSO4: St) in diagnostic leaves, in addition to increasing the activity of the nitrate reductase and ammonium concentration in diagnostic tissue. Sulphur rate about 1.3 mmol L-1 provided the highest specific root length and surface, while the highest sulphur rates (2.5 mmol L-1) maximized sulfate-sulphur concentration and S-SO4:St ratio in diagnostic leaves. There was a significant and positive correlation between the concentration of total nitrogen, SPAD value and total sulphur concentration in diagnostic leaves with plant dry matter production, in both harvests of Piatã palissadegrass. Nitrogen concentration and SPAD value in diagnostic leaves of Piatã palissadegrass can be used as good parameters for assessing the nutritional status of plants in relation to nitrogen, while for the assessment of sulphur nutrition status in diagnostic leaves of Piatã palissadegrass, the concentration of total sulphur and total nitrogen:total sulphur ratio should be taken together.

Orientador: Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho / Resumo: A produção de alimento face a demanda mundial é um desafio para este século, devendo-se, obrigatoriamente, destinar atenção ao ganho de eficiência produtiva, incorporada as tecnologias disponíveis. Dentre as hortaliças folhosas, a alface se destaca em toda culinária global. A produção atual da alface tem passado por grandes avanços, atribuídos especialmente à técnica de produção hidropônica, contudo, ainda é necessita melhorias na adaptabilidade da tecnologia hidropônica às condições climáticas das diversas regiões e às diferentes necessidades da gama de cultivares presentes no mercado. Neste cenário, a proposição desta pesquisa surge em resposta à demanda de informações pelo setor produtivo, cumprindo seu papel na integração entre ensino, pesquisa e extensão rural, de maneira a contribuir modestamente com o setor produtivo. Para isso, foram realizados três experimentos isolados em sistema hidropônico NFT (Técnica de Fluxo Laminar de Nutrientes), com o objetivo de avaliar a nutrição e a produção econômica de alface americana em função da vazão, periodicidade de exposição e condutividade elétrica da solução nutritiva, respectivamente. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualisados, com cinco repetições e cada tratamento foi composto por 15 plantas. No experimento 1, os tratamentos utilizados constaram da aplicação de solução nutritiva nas vazões de 0,5; 1; 2 e 4 litros por minuto em cada canal de cultivo. No experimento 2, os tratamentos foram quatro combinações de int... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Doutor

Submitted by CLEITON DALASTRA null (sauems@gmail.com) on 2017-10-29T21:52:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Cleiton Dalastra_29_10_2017_ PG Agronomia.pdf: 4821380 bytes, checksum: fad04c9fa5853e9c381aeb892db6a996 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-11-09T15:35:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 dalastra_c_dr_ilha.pdf: 4821380 bytes, checksum: fad04c9fa5853e9c381aeb892db6a996 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-09T15:35:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dalastra_c_dr_ilha.pdf: 4821380 bytes, checksum: fad04c9fa5853e9c381aeb892db6a996 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-31 / A produção de alimento face a demanda mundial é um desafio para este século, devendo-se, obrigatoriamente, destinar atenção ao ganho de eficiência produtiva, incorporada as tecnologias disponíveis. Dentre as hortaliças folhosas, a alface se destaca em toda culinária global. A produção atual da alface tem passado por grandes avanços, atribuídos especialmente à técnica de produção hidropônica, contudo, ainda é necessita melhorias na adaptabilidade da tecnologia hidropônica às condições climáticas das diversas regiões e às diferentes necessidades da gama de cultivares presentes no mercado. Neste cenário, a proposição desta pesquisa surge em resposta à demanda de informações pelo setor produtivo, cumprindo seu papel na integração entre ensino, pesquisa e extensão rural, de maneira a contribuir modestamente com o setor produtivo. Para isso, foram realizados três experimentos isolados em sistema hidropônico NFT (Técnica de Fluxo Laminar de Nutrientes), com o objetivo de avaliar a nutrição e a produção econômica de alface americana em função da vazão, periodicidade de exposição e condutividade elétrica da solução nutritiva, respectivamente. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualisados, com cinco repetições e cada tratamento foi composto por 15 plantas. No experimento 1, os tratamentos utilizados constaram da aplicação de solução nutritiva nas vazões de 0,5; 1; 2 e 4 litros por minuto em cada canal de cultivo. No experimento 2, os tratamentos foram quatro combinações de intermitência de exposição da solução nutritiva em intervalos de bombeamento / intervalo de ausência de bombeamento em minutos: 15/60; 15/30; 15/15 e FI (Fluxo initermitente). No experimento 3, os tratamentos foram a manutenção diária da solução nutritiva em quatro valores de condutividade elétrica, de 0,8; 1,3; 1,8 e 2,3 dS m-1, em função da concentração de nutrientes. A maior produção e lucratividade de alface americana foi obtida com a vazão da solução nutritiva de 1 L/min, devido ao maior acúmulo de nutrientes na parte aérea e eficiência de sua utilização; também houve a maior produção e lucratividade de alface americana obtida com fluxo contínuo da solução nutritiva (FI), devido ao maior acúmulo de nutrientes na parte aérea e raízes, maior assimilação de nitrato e eficiência de utilização de nutrientes; economicamente, a condução em intervalo 15/30 minutos acarreta em prejuízo financeiro; o acompanhamento dos tratamentos de condutividade elétrica no decorrer do ciclo da alface aponta para produção superior com condutividade elétrica recomendada por fase de cultivo, sendo: 0,8 dS m-1 até os 10 dias após o transplantio (DAT); 1,30 dS m-1 dos 10 aos 17 DAT; 1,80 dS m-1 dos 17 aos 24 DAT e 1,30 dS m-1 dos 24 aos 31 DAT. / The food production to meet global demand is a challenge for this century, should be compulsorily intended attention to productive efficiency gains incorporated the available technologies. Among the leafy vegetables, the lettuce stands out in all global cuisine. The current production of lettuce has undergone great advances, especially attributed to the hydroponic production technique. However, it is still necessary to improve the adaptability of hydroponic technology to the climatic conditions of the different regions and to the different needs of the wide range of cultivars present in the market. In this scenario, the proposition of this research arises in response to the demand for information by the productive sector, fulfilling its role in the integration between teaching, research and rural extension, in order to contribute modestly with the productive sector. For that, three experiments were carried out in a NFT hydroponic system, with the objective of evaluating the nutrition and economic production of American lettuce as a function of flow rate, periodicity of exposure and electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution, respectively. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with five replicates and each treatment consisted of 15 plants. In the experiment 1, the treatments used consisted of the application of nutrient solution at the flow rates of 0.5; 1; 2 and 4 liters per minute in each culture channel. In experiment 2, the treatments were four combinations of intermittent exposure of the nutrient solution at pumping intervals / no pumping interval in minutes: 15/60; 15/30; 15/15 and 15/0. In experiment 3, the treatments were daily maintenance of the nutrient solution in four values of electrical conductivity, of 0.8; 1,3; 1.8 and 2.3 dS m-1, depending on the concentration of nutrients. The conclusions were: The highest production and profitability of American lettuce was obtained with the flow of the nutrient solution of 1 L/min, due to the greater accumulation of nutrients in the aerial part and efficiency of use of these; The highest production and profitability of American lettuce was with cycles of 15/0 minutes, that is, with continuous flow of the nutrient solution due to the greater accumulation of nutrients in the aerial part and efficiency of use of these; Economically, driving in interval 15/30 minutes under the conditions studied, does not supply the cost of production and entails financial loss; The treatments were monitored during the lettuce cycle, indicating a higher yield than the one obtained with the recommended electrical conductivity at each cultivation stage: 0.8 dS m-1 until 10 days after transplanting (DAT) of lettuce; 1.30 dS m-1 from 10 to 17 DAT; 1.80 dS m-1 from 17 to 24 DAT and 1.30 dS m-1 from 24 to 31 DAT.

To produce high quality paper, lignin should be removed from the pulp. Quantification of lignin concentrations using standard wet chemistry is accurate but time consuming and costly, thus not appropriate for a large number of samples. The ability of hyperspectral remote sensing to predict foliar lignin concentrations could be utilized to estimate wood lignin concentrations if meaningful relationships between wood and foliar chemistry are established. LAI (leaf area index) is a useful parameter that is incorporated into physiological models in forest assessment. Measuring LAI over vast areas is labour intensive and expensive; therefore, LAI has been correlated to vegetation indices using remote sensing. Broadband indices use average spectral information over broad bandwidths; therefore details on the characteristics of the forest canopy are compromised and averaged. Moreover, the broadband indices are known to be highly affected by soil background at low vegetation cover. The aim of this study is to determine foliar and wood lignin concentrations of Eucalyptus clones using hyperspectral lignin indices, and to estimate LAI of Eucalyptus clones from narrowband vegetation indices in Zululand, South Africa Twelve Eucalyptus compartments of ages between 6 and 9 years were selected and 5 trees were randomly sampled from each compartment. A Hyperion image was acquired within ten days of field sampling, SI and LAI measurements. Leaf samples were analyzed in the laboratory using the Klason method as per Tappi standards (Tappi, 1996-1997). Wood samples were analyzed for lignin concentrations using a NIRS (Near Infrared Spectroscopy) instrument. The results showed that there is no general model for predicting wood lignin concentrations from foliar lignin concentrations in Eucalyptus clones of ages between 6 and 9 years. Regression analysis performed for individual compartments and on compartments grouped according to age and SI showed that the relationship between wood and foliar lignin concentration is site and age specific. A Hyperion image was georeferenced and atmospherically corrected using ENVI FLAASH 4.2. The equation to calculate lignin indices for this study was: L1R= ~n5il: A'''''y . 1750 AI680 The relationship between the lignin index and laboratory-measured foliar lignin was significant with R2 = 0.79. This relationship was used to calculate imagepredicted foliar lignin concentrations. Firstly, the compartment specific equations were used to calculate predicted wood lignin concentrations from predicted foliar lignin concentrations. The relationship between the laboratorymeasured wood lignin concentrations and predicted wood lignin concentrations was significant with R2 = 0.91. Secondly, the age and site-specific equations were used to convert foliar lignin concentration to wood lignin concentrations. The wood lignin concentrations predicted from these equations were then compared to the laboratory-measured wood lignin concentrations using linear regression and the R2 was 0.79 with a p-value lower than 0.001. Two bands were used to calculate nine vegetation indices; one band from the near infrared (NIR) region and the other from the short wave infrared (SWIR). Correlations between the Vis and the LAI measurements were generated and . then evaluated to determine the most effective VI for estimating LAI of Eucalyptus plantations. All the results obtained were significant but the NU and MNU showed possible problems of saturation. The MNDVI*SR and SAVI*SR produced the most significant relationships with LAI with R2 values of 0.899 and 0.897 respectively. The standard error for both correlations was very low, at 0.080, and the p-value of 0.001. It was concluded that the Eucalyptus wood lignin concentrations can be predicted using hyperspectral remote sensing, hence wood and foliar lignin concentrations can be fairly accurately mapped across compartments. LAI significantly correlated to eight of the nine selected vegetation indices. Seven Vis are more suitable for LAI estimations in the Eucalyptus plantations in Zululand. The NU and MNU can only be used for LAI estimations in arid or semi-arid areas. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Vegetation status is a key indicator of the ecosystem condition in a particular area. The study objective was about the estimation of leaf nitrogen (N) as an indicator of vegetation water stress using vegetation indices especially the red edge based ones, and how leaf N concentration is influenced by various environmental factors. Leaf nitrogen was estimated using univariate and multivariate regression techniques of stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) and random forest. The effects of environmental parameters on leaf nitrogen distribution were tested through univariate regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Vegetation indices were evaluated derived from the analytical spectral device (ASD) data, resampled to RapidEye. The multivariate models were also developed to predict leaf N. The best model was chosen based on the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) and higher coefficient of determination (R2) values. Univariate results showed that red edge based vegetation index called MERRIS Terrestrial Chlorophyll Index (MTCI) yielded higher leaf N estimation accuracy as compared to other vegetation indices. Simple ratio (SR) based on the bands red and near-infrared was found to be the best vegetation index for leaf N estimation with exclusion of red edge band for stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) method. Simple ratio (SR3) was the best vegetation index when red edge was included for stepwise linear regression (SMLR) method. Random forest prediction model achieved the highest leaf N estimation accuracy, the best vegetation index was Red Green Index (RGI1) based on all bands with red green index when including the red edge band. When red edge band was excluded the best vegetation index for random forest was Difference Vegetation Index (DVI1). The results for univariate and multivariate results indicated that the inclusion of the red edge band provides opportunity to accurately estimate leaf N. Analysis of variance results showed that vegetation and soil types have a significant effect on leaf N distribution with p-values<0.05. Red edge based indices provides opportunity to assess vegetation health using remote sensing techniques. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

Vegetation status is a key indicator of the ecosystem condition in a particular area. The study objective was about the estimation of leaf nitrogen (N) as an indicator of vegetation water stress using vegetation indices especially the red edge based ones, and how leaf N concentration is influenced by various environmental factors. Leaf nitrogen was estimated using univariate and multivariate regression techniques of stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) and random forest. The effects of environmental parameters on leaf nitrogen distribution were tested through univariate regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Vegetation indices were evaluated derived from the analytical spectral device (ASD) data, resampled to RapidEye. The multivariate models were also developed to predict leaf N. The best model was chosen based on the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) and higher coefficient of determination (R2) values. Univariate results showed that red edge based vegetation index called MERRIS Terrestrial Chlorophyll Index (MTCI) yielded higher leaf N estimation accuracy as compared to other vegetation indices. Simple ratio (SR) based on the bands red and near-infrared was found to be the best vegetation index for leaf N estimation with exclusion of red edge band for stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) method. Simple ratio (SR3) was the best vegetation index when red edge was included for stepwise linear regression (SMLR) method. Random forest prediction model achieved the highest leaf N estimation accuracy, the best vegetation index was Red Green Index (RGI1) based on all bands with red green index when including the red edge band. When red edge band was excluded the best vegetation index for random forest was Difference Vegetation Index (DVI1). The results for univariate and multivariate results indicated that the inclusion of the red edge band provides opportunity to accurately estimate leaf N. Analysis of variance results showed that vegetation and soil types have a significant effect on leaf N distribution with p-values<0.05. Red edge based indices provides opportunity to assess vegetation health using remote sensing techniques. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)