Field studies were conducted during the summers of 2007 and 2008 at the Agricultural Research and Education Complex, Western Kentucky University, Warren County, KY and commercial production fields in Caldwell County, KY, Warrick County IN, and Vanderburgh County, IN. The goals of these studies were to further validate the Duncan grain yield model, the Russell aboveground biomass model, and to study the effect of inconsistent spacing within rows on Zea mays L. yield. Plant spacing other than uniform decreases grain yield and profitability. The population experiments conducted at the Warren County location were a randomized complete block design with three planting densities, three varieties (c.v. DeKalb DKC6547, DeKalb DKC6346, DeKalb DKC6478) in 2007 and (DeKalb DKC6478, DeKalb DKC6342, and DeKalb DKC6544) in 2008, and three replications. Seeds were planted in rows 76 cm apart and 9.1 m long with four rows per plot in a no-till system on a Crider Silt Loam with pH of 6.8 and 1.5% organic matter. The effect of variable within row spacing was evaluated in commercial production fields by randomly selecting five adjacent rows of 5.3 meters in length at each location. Grain yield for each row was then curve fitted both linearly and exponentially. Minimizing interspecies competition was essential to evaluating the effects of competition within Zea mays L. A burn-down application of 2,4-D and glyphosate was used prior to planting. The most common weeds in the plots were Sorghum halepense L. (johnsongrass), Trifolium repens L. (white clover), and Taraxacum officinale L. (common dandelion) . Glyphosate was reapplied throughout the growing season due to reemergence of S. halepense and Ipomoea hederacea Jacq. (ivyleaf morningglory). The weight of each ear was recorded and one row from each plot was randomly selected to shell. The moisture content was measured from a subsample twice each row using an electrical conductivity moisture meter. The mean of the two moisture readings was used as the moisture content from the plot. Cob weights from shelled ears were recorded to determine the grain/cob mass ratio. This ratio was used to project the grain weight for the remaining harvested rows. Duncan’s grain yield model and Russell’s biomass model were curve fitted to the data for areas of 0.00040 hectares at the p < 0.05 significance level or greater in all population density plots. Individual plant grain masses were curve fitted to Duncan’s model with p < 0.05 significance in 3 out of 15 plots. Grain mass was negatively correlated (R < 0) with standard deviation of within row spacing in 14 of 15 plots. A linear fit to this trend was significant in only 2 of 15 plots. The Duncan yield curve and the Russell aboveground biomass model fit all 6 genotype by environment interactions for 2007 and 2008 to the α = 0.05 level of confidence when evaluated over a 5.3 meter length on 76.2 cm wide rows. Individual plants fit linearly at α = 0.05 in 9 out of 15 plots. Individual plants fit the Duncan yield curve at α = 0.05 in 4 out of 15 plots. Standard deviation of within row spacing fit grain yield loss significantly at &#; = 0.05 in two of 15 plots. The individual plant spacing and local population density collectively fit nine plots significantly at α = 0.05 or better.

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2016-08-24T13:05:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Jaime do Espírito Santo Vieira Júnior_.pdf: 1262907 bytes, checksum: 5b0e860885baf3f15b288d7feea6cf29 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-24T13:05:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jaime do Espírito Santo Vieira Júnior_.pdf: 1262907 bytes, checksum: 5b0e860885baf3f15b288d7feea6cf29 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-06-29 / IFTO - Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Tocantins / A agropecuária do Tocantins vem sofrendo significativas transformações. Essas transformações estão ligadas às políticas federal e estadual de apoio à fronteira agrícola (MATOPIBA), ao aquecido mercado de exportação de commodities (grãos/carne), a programas de financiamentos agrícolas públicos e privados, à ocupação de terras em pastagens por atividades agrícolas e à migração. Em geral, os impactos destes incentivos que geram transformações econômicas não recebem a mesma importância dos seus idealizadores. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar as implicações da redução da atividade pecuária e aumento da atividade graneleira no estado do Tocantins, nos últimos 15 anos. Para alcançar os objetivos, foi realizada uma descrição conjuntural dos programas e intervenções estatais para promoção da agropecuária no Tocantins, onde se analisou a dinâmica e os efeitos econômicos causados. A importância desse estudo está no entendimento dos efeitos da redução da tradicional pecuária extensiva conjuntamente com o aumento da moderna agricultura tecnificada. Esse estudo viabiliza um melhor planejamento do futuro do Agronegócio tocantinense, apontando tendências que podem gerar efeitos inesperados. Nessa investigação foram usados dados secundários governamentais e não governamentais, entrevistas semiestruturadas e visitas a duas propriedades rurais. Nesse sentido, verificou-se que o projeto de Campos Lindos (berço do MATOPIBA-TO), apesar da truculência na implantação e dos impactos gerados, foi o que colocou o Estado no patamar de maior produtor de soja da região Norte do Brasil, sendo esse incremento, junto com os preços baixos das terras tocantinenses os motivadores do processo migratório de produtores e empresas de originação de grãos para áreas tradicionais de pecuária nas regiões Centrais e a Oeste do Estado. A partir do ano 2000 verificou-se uma intensa modernização agrícola no Tocantins, principalmente no município de Porto Nacional. Nesse período, os dados econômicos do Tocantins sofreram alterações positivas, uma vez que houve significativos aumentos do PIB, PIB per capita, renda e IDHM conforme os dados levantados. / Farming of Tocantins has suffered significant transformations. These changes are linked to federal and state policies to support agricultural frontier (MATOPIBA), to the popular market of commodities export (grains/meat), to public and private agricultural financial programs, to occupation of land in pasture for agricultural activities and migration. In general, the economic impacts of these incentives that generates economic transformations don’t receive the same importance of its creators. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the implications of reducing livestock activity and increased graneleira activity in the state of Tocantins, the last 15 years. To achieve the objectives, a cyclical description of the programs was realized and State interventions to promote agribusiness in Tocantins, where farming dynamics and socioeconomic effects caused were analyzed. The importance of this study is in the understanding of the effects of changes in traditional extensive livestock modifications for the technical modern farming. This study enables a better future planning of Tocantins Agribusiness, mitigating unexpected effects. Governmental and non-governmental secondary data were used for this investigation, semi-structured interviews and visits into rural properties. In this sense, it was established that the Campos Lindos project (Cradle of MATOPIBA-TO), despite the implementation truculence and the economic impacts generated, that put the State in a high level as the biggest soybean producer of the northern region, being this increase, the motivator of the migration process of producers and grain origination companies to traditional areas of livestock in the Central regions and at West of the State. From 2000, a real agricultural modernization occurred in Tocantins, mainly in the municipality of Porto Nacional. During this period, the socioeconomic data of Tocantins suffered positive changes, once there were significant increases of the GDP, GDP per capita, income and HDI, according to the data collected.

En el centro-este del país, el cultivo de trigo y la ganadería forman una parte importante del ingreso de las explotaciones agropecuarias. La producción ganadera se basa en el uso de recursos forrajeros perennes y cultivos forrajeros anuales de uso invernal. Los verdeos invernales son integrantes indispensables de la cadena forrajera de la invernada o el tambo en esta región. Teniendo en cuenta la magnitud de la superficie destinada a trigo, es importante considerar que, además de la producción de grano para cosecha, el forraje verde producido puede ser de utilidad simultáneamente para la producción bovina. La denominación trigo doble proposito (TDP) hace referencia a la utilización de este cultivo para un doble objetivo: la alimentación de animales a pastoreo durante el estadio de crecimiento vegetativo y la producción de grano. Así, el TDP es una alternativa forrajera en los sistemas mixtos agrícolo-ganaderos. La importancia radica en que en este período invernal existe una disminución en la oferta de forraje y, por otro lado, se incrementa la competencia por el uso del suelo con cultivos exclusivamente para grano. De esta manera, el uso de TDP puede generar una mayor eficiencia en la utilización de los recursos disponibles. En nuestro país es muy acotada la información referente al impacto producido por la fertilización nitrogenada sobre la composición nutricional de los verdeos de invierno, en especial los TDP. Para investigar este aspecto, en los años 2000 y 2001 se sembró TDP cultivar Prointa Super en dos sitios experimentales localizados en la provincia de Buenos Aires, pertenecientes a la Estación Experimental Coronel Suárez del Ministerio de Asuntos Agrarios y de la Producción: Pasman (38 21LS y 62 08LO) y Cabildo (38 25 LS y 61 42 LO). Los suelos son Hapludol típico con diferencias de textura y variación en el contenido de materia orgánica (Pasman: 4,4 %; Cabildo: 2,1%). A las parcelas se les aplicó distintas dosis de nitrógeno en forma de urea (0, 40, 80, 120, 160 kg/ha), con un diseño experimental de bloques al azar (n = 4). Se realizaron dos cortes por año, coincidentes con distintos momentos del ciclo de crecimiento del cultivo, el primer corte se realizó cuando el volumen de materia verde fue suficiente para un pastoreo. En el caso del segundo corte, correspondió antes de la emergencia del primer entrenudo (evento que marca el inicio del estado reproductivo de la planta). En cada corte se valuó la producción de forraje, tomándose muestras en cada corte para la determinación de materia seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), proteína soluble (PS), carbohidratos no estructurales solubles (CNES), fibra detergente neutra (FDN), fibra detergente ácida (FDA), lignina (L) y minerales. Los datos fueron sometidos a análisis de varianza con un diseño factorial de 5 x 2 x 2. Con algunas variaciones entre localidades y años, la fertilización nitrogenada incrementó linealmente la producción de forraje y grano. Con respecto a la composición nutricional del TDP, la fertilización disminuyó linealmente la concentración de MS (P<0,01), como así también hubo una ligera disminución de la concentración de FDN (P<0,05), pero no tuvo un efecto marcado sobre el porcentaje de FDA ni de lignina. No hubo efecto sobre la digestibilidad de MS (DMS). La fertilización nitrogenada disminuyó el contenido de CNES sólo en el año 2000. Hubo un efecto lineal ascendente muy marcado sobre la concentración de PB y PS (P<0,01) con el incremento de la dosis de urea. La fertilización nitrogenada incrementó la relación PB/CNES y PS/CNES (P<0,01). Sin embargo, el primer corte (C1) fue mayor al segundo corte (C2) en el año 2001 (P<0,01). Con respecto a los macrominerales el efecto más significativo de la fertilización nitrogenada fue sobre el contenido de K, el que aumentó linealmente con la dosis de urea (P<0,05). A modo de conclusión, la fertilización nitrogenada tuvo un efecto importante sobre la producción de forraje y grano en TDP. Aunque no afectó la DMS, la disminución de la concentración de MS y el incremento en la PB y la PS podrían impactar negativamente sobre la productividad animal. Este aspecto amerita posteriores investigaciones.

Thesis (PhD (Agric) (Agricultural Economics)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A complex and volatile decision-making environment and constant pressure on product prices, due to the cost-price squeeze, complicates decision-making for grain farmers in the Western Cape. Furthermore, available alternative crops and cultivation practices are limited due to local soil and climatic conditions. The farm system itself is complex due to the interdependence of a variety of factors and the synergy resulting from specific sequences of cash and pasture crops. The aim of this research project was to establish a method that would contribute to identifying strategies to advance the profitability of grain production. Research in the grain industry is traditionally specialised within specific fields, such as, agronomy, soil science, entomology, agricultural economics, etc., causing a fragmentation of knowledge. To ensure that the systems nature of a complex farm is accommodated, various related research domains should be acknowledged and incorporated. The use of expert group discussions, as a research method, is suitable, firstly, for gathering information in a meaningful manner and, secondly, to stimulate individual creativity by presenting alternative perspectives provided by various participating experts. In support of expert group discussions, simulation models in the form of multi-period whole-farm models were developed. This type of modelling supports the accurate financial simulation of farms, while the user friendliness and adaptability thereof can accurately accommodate typical farm interrelationships, and quickly measure the financial impact of suggested changes to parameters. Suggestions made by experts during the group discussions can thus be quickly introduced into the model. The financial implications are instantly available to prevent further exploration of non-viable plans and to fine-tune the viable plans. Participants in the group discussions represent fields of expertise such as agronomy, soil science, entomology, plant pathology, the agricultural chemical industry, agricultural mechanisation. Also represented are professionals such as extension officers from local agribusinesses, local producers and agricultural economists. The dynamics of the group discussions are supported by each participant’s specific strengths and perspectives. For each relatively homogeneous production area of the Western Cape, a typical farm budget model was developed, which served as the basis for the group discussions. The budget models measure profitability in terms of the IRR (internal rate of return on capital investment) and affordability in terms of expected cash flow. For the Swartland, the homogeneous areas identified were Koeberg/Wellington, the Middle Swartland and the Rooi Karoo, and for the Southern Cape, the homogenous areas identified were, the Goue Rûens, Middle Rûens and Heidelberg Vlakte. A model of a typical farm in the Wesselsbron area was developed for comparison with the Western Cape farms. For each area the expected impact of climate change, fluctuating product and input prices, and the possible impact of partial conversion to bio-fuel production were evaluated in terms of expected impact on profitability. Various area-specific strategies were identified that could enhance the profitability of grain production: most of the strategies focused on optimising machinery usage and expanding or intensifying the livestock enterprise. The repeated successful use of the model in support of the expert groups in all the chosen study areas illustrates the value thereof for identifying and evaluating plans to increase the profitability of small grain production. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Komplekse en wisselvallige besluitnemingsomgewing, en konstante druk op produkpryse weens die koste/prys knyptang bemoeilik besluitneming op graanplase in die Wes-Kaap terwyl die beskikbare alternatiewe verbouingsgewasse en -praktyke beperk is weens plaaslike grond en klimatologiese eienskappe. Die boerderystelsel self is kompleks weens die interafhanklikheid van die dele daarvan en die sinergisme verkry deur byvoorbeeld die spesifieke orde van opeenvolging van kontant- en weidingsgewasse in die wisselboustelsel. Hierdie navorsingsprojek se doel is om 'n werkwyse te vestig wat die identifisering van strategieë te ondersteun wat moontlik die winsgewendheid van graanproduksie kan bevorder. Navorsing in die graanbedryf is tradisioneel gespesialiseerd binne 'n spesifieke navorsingsveld soos agronomie, grondkunde, entomologie en landbou-ekonomie. Dit gee daartoe aanleiding dat elk van hierdie velde op dimensies van die boerderystelsel fokus asof dit in isolasie bestaan. Om te verseker dat die stelselsgeaardheid van 'n komplekse boerdery effektief verreken word behoort navorsing erkenning te gee die interafhanklikheid van die dimensies van 'n boerdery. Ekspert groepbesprekings is 'n navorsingsmetode wat eerstens geskik is om kennis sinvol byeen te bring en tweedens om kreatiwiteit by deelnemers te stimuleer deur die blootstelling aan nuwe perspektiewe van kundiges van ander spesialiteitsvelde. Ter ondersteuning van die ekspert groepbesprekings is simulasiemodelle in die vorm van multi-periode geheelboerderybegrotings ontwikkel. Die tipe modellering ondersteun die akkurate simulasie van boerderye terwyl die gebruikersvriendelikheid en aanpasbaarheid daarvan die tipiese interverwantskappe van 'n boerdery akkuraat weergee en die impak van aanpassings aan die parameters van die boerdery model vinnig kan meet. Voorstelle deur die deelnemende eksperts kan dus vinnig aangebring word en die finansiële implikasie is dadelik beskikbaar. Deelnemers aan die ekspertgroepbesprekings het velde verteenwoordig soos agronomie, grondkunde, entomologie, die landbou chemiese bedryf, landbou meganisasie, plantpatologie, voorligtingsbeamptes van plaaslike agribesighede, plaaslike produsente en landbou-ekonome. Die dinamika van die groepbesprekings word ondersteun deur elke deelnemer se spesifieke sterkpunte en perspektief. Vir elke homogene produksiegebied in die Wes-Kaap is 'n aparte begrotingsmodel van 'n tipiese plaas vir daardie area ontwikkel. Hierdie modelle het gedien as die basis van die groepbesprekings. Die modelle meet die winsgewendheid van boerderye oor die langtermyn deur middel van die IOK (interne opbrengskoers op kapitaal investering) en die bekostigbaarheid in terme van verwagte kontantvloei. Binne die Swartland is die Koeberg/Wellington, Middel Swartland en Rooi Karoo as homogeen geïdentifiseer en vir die Suid-Kaap die areas van die Goue Rûens, die Middel Rûens en die Heidelberg Vlakte. 'n Tipiese plaas model is ook vir die Wesselsbron area ontwikkel om te vergelyk met die Wes-Kaap areas se modelle. Vir elke area is die verwagte impak van klimaatveranderings, fluktuerende produk- en insetpryse en die moontlike impak van 'n biobrandstofbedryf geëvalueer in terme van die verwagte impak op winsgewendheid. Verskeie area spesifieke strategieë is geïdentifiseer wat moontlik die winsgewendheid van graanproduksie kan bevorder. Die meeste strategieë fokus op die optimalisering van masjineriegebruik en die uitbreiding of intensifisering van die veevertakkings. Die herhaalde suksesvolle gebruik van die modelle ter ondersteuning van die ekspertgroepe in al die gekose studie areas illustreer die waarde daarvan vir die identifisering en evaluering van planne om die winsgewendheid van kleingraanproduksie te verhoog.

No description available.

nÃo hà / The drought causes harmful effects to the regional development of the Brazilian Northeast, mainly in semi-arid of Cearà State. In this context, the crop-insurance is an important public policy intended to mitigate the negative impacts of drought on the primary economy of the region. It provides financial assistance to the small farming families affected. Starting from this premise, this study analyzes - graphical, statistical and econometric - the effectivity of crop-insurance in the Cearà State, through the study of the relation between the contributions made by municipalities to their farmers and their respective annual grain yields, considered the triennium 2009-2011. The methodology will include quantitative data analysis and exploratory research from the bibliography correlated. It was found traces of non-effectivity in the implementation of crop- insurance for the period with mismatch between the pair studied (crop insurance contributions and variation in grain production). It is proposed to give knowledge to the municipal authorities competent to promote improvements in the allocation of resources in favor of the statement, thereby ensuring the character of public policy isonomic crop-insurance, subject to the performance of the Municipal Court, which is responsible for assigning constitutional evaluate of government programs. / A seca ocasiona efeitos nocivos ao desenvolvimento regional do Nordeste brasileiro, principalmente no semiÃrido cearense. Nesse contexto, o seguro-safra se insere como importante polÃtica pÃblica destinada a atenuar os impactos negativos das estiagens sobre a economia primÃria da regiÃo, na medida em que fornece assistÃncia financeira Ãs pequenas famÃlias de agricultores afetadas. Partindo dessa premissa, este trabalho analisa â grÃfica, estatÃstica e econometricamente â a efetividade do seguro-safra no estado do Cearà por meio do estudo da relaÃÃo existente entre os aportes efetuados pelos MunicÃpios a seus agricultores e as respectivas produÃÃes de grÃos anuais das municipalidades, considerado o triÃnio 2009-2011. A metodologia abrangerà anÃlise de dados quantitativos, com pesquisa exploratÃria junto à bibliografia correlacionada. Constatou-se haver indÃcios de nÃo-efetividade na execuÃÃo do seguro-safra para o perÃodo analisado, com descompasso entre o binÃmio estudado (aportes do seguro-safra e produÃÃo de grÃos), para o que se propÃs dar conhecimento do aqui concluÃdo Ãs autoridades municipais competentes, a fim de que promovam melhorias na execuÃÃo da polÃtica pÃblica em menÃÃo, garantindo dessa forma o carÃter isonÃmico da aÃÃo governamental, sem prejuÃzo da atuaÃÃo do Tribunal de Contas dos MunicÃpios, ao qual compete a atribuiÃÃo constitucional de avaliar programas de governo.

No description available.