Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2017-04-11T12:30:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Felipe de Araujo Cabral.pdf: 2248759 bytes, checksum: f9bf08b2148a000ef1b3ba7f763e95db (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-11T12:30:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Felipe de Araujo Cabral.pdf: 2248759 bytes, checksum: f9bf08b2148a000ef1b3ba7f763e95db (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-01-31 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The aim of this study was to evaluate the biomass, chemical composition of the fodder and litter, Morphophysiological response of the plant at different distances from the trees in silvopastoral systems and compare this system with the monoculture (full sun) Zona da Mata of PE. The treatments were: association of Brachiaria decumbens pasture with the following tree legumes: “Sabiá” (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia I.) and gliricidia [Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp] and two additional treatments B. decumbens in the grassy moccultivo being an exclusive without nitrogen fertilization and another formed by grass fertilized with 60 kg N / ha / year. Response variables were measured at 5 different points (0 , 1.3, 2.7, 4.1 and 5.5 m away from the tree legume row), and randomly in monoculture system. The following responses were measured: percentage of litter, stem, leaf, canopy height, leaf area index (LAI), light interception (LI), herbage mass, N concentration in Brachiaria decumbens, SPAD index, litter mass, litter N, and soil fertility. Triple interaction (distance x grazing cycle x species) occurred for percentage of leaf litter, litter N, and light interception. The remaining variables showed interaction between distance x grazing cycle, except for the percentage of litter that showed significant differences (P <0.05) only among grazing cycles. Soil fertility did not differ (P < 0.05). Generally, there was an increase in the values of canopy height, LAI and LI with increasing distance from trees. Forage and litter N as well as SPAD index were higher near the tree double rows. In different periods of evaluation shows the contrast (P = 0.0001) than in silvopastoral systems N content in Brachiaria decumbens was higher when compared to monoculture with and without fertilizer, except in September 2010 and February 2011, Brachiaria decumbens in monoculture receiving N fertilization showed higher concentrations of N (1.02 and 1.7%, respectively) compared to silvopastoral system; Brachiaria intercropped with ‘Sabiá’ showed 0.9 and 1.64% for the months of September 2010 and February 2011, respectively. In silvopastoral system, there are influences of the tree component on most of the characteristics of the pasture according to the distance from the row of trees. The presence of trees in silvopastoral system promotes greater deposition of N via litter may contribute to long-term sustainability of the system. / O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a biomassa, teor de N da forragem e da serrapilheira, resposta morfofisiológica da planta, em diferentes distâncias das árvores dentro dos sistemas silvopastoris e comparar esse sistema com o sistema de monocultivo (a pleno sol) na Zona da Mata de PE. Os tratamentos experimentais consistiram na associação da gramínea Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. com as leguminosas sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth) e gliricídia [Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp] e mais dois tratamentos da B. decumbens em monocultivo sendo um a gramínea exclusiva sem adubação nitrogenada e outro formado pela gramínea adubada com 60 kg N/ha/ano. As amostragens foram realizadas na fila dupla de leguminosas arbóreas e em quatro diferentes pontos que se distanciavam da fileira dupla das leguminosas, ou seja, 1,375; 2,75; 4,125 e 5,5 m, e de forma aleatória em sistema de monocultivo. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: porcentagem de material morto e de folha, altura do dossel, Índice de Área Foliar (IAF), índice SPAD, massa de forragem, teor de N na Brachiaria decumbens, teor de N da serrapilheira. Os teores de N na forragem foram menores a 5,5 m de distância das árvores, variando entre os diferentes períodos de avaliação entre 1 a 1,63%. A maior massa de forragem foi de 8376 kg MS/ha verificada a 4,125 m das árvores. Nos diferentes períodos de avaliação o contraste mostra (P=0,0001) que em sistemas silvipastoril o teor de N na Brachiaria decumbens foi maior, quando comparado ao monocultivo com e sem adubação, com exceção dos meses de setembro de 2010 e fevereiro de 2011 onde a Brachiaria decumbens em monocultivo, recebendo adubação nitrogenada, apresentou maiores teores de N, sendo de 1,02 e 1,7%, respectivamente, quando comparado ao sistema silvipastoril apenas no tratamento da gramínea consorciada com o Sabiá, que apresentou 0,9 e 1,64 % nos meses de setembro de 2010 e fevereiro de 2011, respectivamente. O menor teor de N na serrapilheira observado em sistema silvipastoril foi ao mês de maio de 2011, onde tanto o consórcio com a Gliricidia quanto a Sabiá em Ssp apresentaram 1% no teor de N na serrapilheira. Em sistema silvipastoril há influência do componente arbóreo sobre a maioria das características do pasto, conforme o distanciamento da fileira das árvores. A presença de árvores em sistema silvipastoril promove uma maior deposição de N via serrapilheira, podendo, a longo prazo contribuir para sustentabilidade do sistema. A fração leve da matéria orgânica, em monocultivo, foi menor em 62, 68 e 53% da observada em sistema silvipastoril para as profundidades 0-10, 10-20 e 20-40 cm, respectivamente.

Orientador: Sandra Maria Carmello-Guerreiro, Fernando Roberto Martins / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T07:29:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Uehara_LucianaYukari_M.pdf: 4862542 bytes, checksum: ad70cd04421ec86d5f001965c62d9a94 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Características morfológicas e anatômicas da folha de espécies vegetais são importantes indicadores de sua ecologia e dos habitats que ocupam. A variação das características anatômicas das folhas relacionadas às diferentes condições ambientais como deficiência hídrica, luminosidade, tipo de solo e disponibilidade de nutrientes é interpretada como resposta ecofisiológica da planta às diferenças microclimáticas. Dentre as características morfo-anatômicas, a área foliar, a área foliar específica (AFE), a densidade estomática, a espessura total da lâmina, a espessura do parênquima paliçádico, a espessura da epiderme, a quantidade de tecido esclerenquimático e a razão entre o tecido paliçádico e lacunoso, são alguns caracteres que podem ser utilizados para avaliar o grau de escleromorfismo de uma vegetação. Características edáficas, como disponibilidade de água e de nutrientes, pH, textura, podem sofrer variações devido a condições do relevo, como declividade. As variações do relevo estão intrinsecamente relacionadas com a disponibilidade hídrica e nutricional, exercendo grande influência em características da vegetação local. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever e analisar características da morfológicas e anatômicas de folhas de espécies em diferentes microrrelevos, em um fragmento de Floresta Ombrófila Densa Submontana, na região da Serra do Mar, Estado de São Paulo. / Abstract: Plant species morphological and anatomical leaf traits are important indicators of their ecology and habitats. The variation of leaf anatomical traits, in relation to different environmental conditions, such as water stress, light, soil type, nutrient availability, is interpreted as ecophysiological response of plants to microclimatic differences. Among the morpho-anatomical traits, leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA), stomatal density, total thickness of leaf blade, the thickness of palisade parenchyma, thickness of epidermis, the amount of sclerenchyma, the ratio of palisade and spongy tissue, are some traits that can be used to assess the degree of scleromorphy of vegetation. Soil characteristics, such as availability of water and nutrients, pH, texture, may vary due to relief conditions, such as slope. Relief variations are intrinsically related to water and nutrient availability, exercising great influence on the characteristics of local vegetation. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze morphological and anatomical characteristics of leaves of herbaceous species on different micro-relief in a fragment Lower Montane Rain Forest in the Serra do Mar, State of Sao Paulo. / Mestrado / Biologia Vegetal / Mestre em Biologia Vegetal

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:38:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_otavio_matos_tavares.pdf: 665334 bytes, checksum: 9d1b76916bd06ebd657d489b448639b6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-06-29 / The experiment, divided into two phases (Phase I and Phase II), had as its objective to evaluate forage production of annual ryegrass (Estanzuela LE 284) of natural reseeding subjected to nitrogen fertilization in the succession of a soybean crop in crop-livestock integration and the residual effect of fertilization on the production of corn grains (crop successor). Treatments of Phase I consisted of four levels of nitrogen fertilization (urea 45%) of coverage (N0 = 0 kg/ha de N, N1 = 22,5 kg/ha de N, N2= 67,5 kg/ha de N e N3 = 135 kg/ha de N) and two levels base fertilization (B1= no fertilization; B2= with fertilization in the order of 170 kg/ha of the formula 05-25-25). The pasture was managed by cutes in accordance with its height. Each time the pasture reached the average canopy height from 20-25 cm, two samples (circular cuts - 0,0881 m²) were made leaving a residue of 10-12 cm. During this occasion a sample was collected with a square of 0,04 m² to determine the number of tillers and leaf area index (LAI). The entire profile of the canopy was cut. Phase II consisted of the evaluation of the residual effect of the fertilization treatments of Phase I on the production of corn grains. The base fertilization (NPK) and the application of nitrogen in coverage, significantly increase forage production of annual ryegrass of natural reseeding in soybean stubble in crop-livestock integration. Nitrogen fertilization linearly increase the weight of tillers and leaf blades. The averages of remaining ryegrass straw added to the soybean crop residues meet the appropriate amount for the implementation of the summer crop in the SPD. Nitrogen fertilization presents no residual effect on the crop yield of corn for grain in succession. / O experimento, dividido em duas fases (Fase I e Fase II), teve como objetivo avaliar a produção de forragem de azevém anual (Estanzuela LE 284) de ressemeadura natural na sucessão da cultura da soja submetido à adubação nitrogenada em integração lavoura-pecuária e o efeito residual da adubação na produção de grãos de milho (cultura sucessora). Os tratamentos da Fase I constaram de quatro níveis de adubação nitrogenada (ureia 45%) em cobertura (N0 = 0 kg/ha de N, N1 = 22,5 kg/ha de N, N2= 67,5 kg/ha de N e N3 = 135 kg/ha de N) e dois níveis de adubação de base (B1= sem adubação; B2= com adubação, na ordem de 170 kg/ha da fórmula 05-25-25). O pasto foi manejado por cortes seguindo um protocolo de altura. A cada vez que o pasto atingia altura média do dossel entre 20-25 cm eram efetuadas duas amostragens (cortes) circulares (0,0881 m²), deixando-se um resíduo de 10-12 cm. Na mesma ocasião era coletada uma amostra com um quadro de 0,04 m² para determinação do número de perfilhos e índice de área foliar (IAF), sendo coletado todo o perfil do dossel. A Fase II consistiu da avaliação do efeito residual dos tratamentos de adubação da Fase I sobre a produção de grãos de milho. As adubações de base (NPK) e de nitrogênio em cobertura aumentam a produção de forragem de azevém anual de ressemeadura natural em resteva de soja no sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária. A adubação nitrogenada aumenta de forma linear o peso de perfilhos e de lâminas foliares. As médias da palhada remanescente de azevém somadas aos resíduos da cultura da soja atendem a quantidade adequada para a implantação da lavoura de verão no SPD. A adubação nitrogenada não apresenta efeito residual sobre a cultura do milho para grãos em sucessão.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a native plant of Brazil and the base of multiple products, iincluding ethanol. Rio Grande do Sul State is a minor producer of cassava in Brazil, especially in the Central Region of the State. The objective of Chapter I in this Dissertation was to determine the phyllochron, the final leaf number (FLN) on the main stem (MS) and on simpodial branches of a cassava variety in different planting dates ia subtropical climate. The objective of Chapter II in this Dissertation was to characterize some development and growth parameters, and yield components of stem and tuber roots of a cassava variety in several planting dates in the Central Region of Rio Grande do Sul State. A field experiment was conducted in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, with cassava variety FEPAGRO RS 13, in a 16,000 plants ha-1 plant density. Treatments were four planting dates (26 Sep. 2006, 18 Oct. 2006, 08 Nov. 2006, and 28 Nov. 2006) in a completely randomized design, with sampling in the plots. Weekly measures of leaf number in six plants per plot were done for determining the phyllochron and the final leaf number on the MS, first order (RS1) and second order (RS2) branches. The phyllochron (oC day leaf-1) on the MS, RS1 and RS2, and the thermal time for developmental phases were estimated using a base temperature of 14oC. Leaf area was calculated from weekly measured of length the largest lobule of individual leaves and the leaf área index (LAI) was calculated by the sum of the area of individual leaves divided by the area o fone plant (0.64 m2). Other growth variables were measured during the winter when plants were not growing and right before harvesting. At harvesting, fresh and dry yield of stems and tuber rootswere measured in six plants per plot. The phyllochron and FLN varied with planting date, and are not different among stems in the same branching (RS1 and RS2). The phyllochron increased in the sequence MS<RS1<RS3 while the FLN had an inverse trend, i.e., MS>RS1>RS3. Early plantings hastened the onset of starch storage in the roots and date of RS1 appearance in this cassava variety. Maximum LAI was the greatest in the earliest planting date (LAI=7.7), decreased in the following planting dates, and increased again for the latest planting date (LAI=7.4). Growth of cassava variety FEPAGRO RS 13 decreased as planting date was delayed, and stems withing the same branching (RS1 and RS2) have different growth. There was interaction between planting dates and stems for the variables final stem length and final stem diameter. Among brances, final stem diameter was greater in the first planting date. Final plant heigth was greater in the two earliest planting dates. Stem yield was greater in the earliest planting date, while tuber roots yield was not different among planting dates. / A mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) é uma planta nativa do Brasil e base de múltiplos produtos, incluindo o álcool. O Rio Grande do Sul detém uma pequena participação nacional na produção de mandioca, concentrada principalmente na região da Depressão Central. O objetivo do capítulo I dessa dissertação foi determinar o filocrono, o número final de folhas (NFF) na haste principal (HP) e nas ramificações simpodiais de uma variedade de mandioca em diferentes datas de plantio em condições de clima subtropical. O objetivo do capítulo II foi caracterizar alguns parâmetros de desenvolvimento, de crescimento e os componentes da produtividade de ramas e de raízes tuberosas de uma variedade de mandioca em várias datas de plantio na região da Depressão Central do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Um experimento de campo foi conduzido em Santa Maria, RS, com a variedade FEPAGRO RS 13, na densidade de 16.000 plantas ha-1. Os tratamentos foram quatro datas de plantio (26/09/2006, 18/10/2006, 08/11/2006 e 28/11/2006) no delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com amostragem na parcela. Para a determinação do filocrono e número final de folhas da HP, ramificações de primeira (RS1) e segunda (RS2) ordem, foram realizadas contagens semanais em seis plantas por parcelão. Foi estimado o filocrono (ºC dia folha-1) para HP, RS1 e RS2 e a soma térmica para as fases de desenvolvimento, considerando a temperatura base para esta variedade de mandioca de 14ºC. A área foliar foi calculada apartir de medidas quinzenais do comprimento do maior lóbulo das folhas de uma planta em cada parcelão e o índice de área foliar (IAF) verde foi calculado somando-se as áreas individuais das folhas e dividindo-se pela área de solo ocupada por uma planta (0,64 m2). As outras variáveis de crescimento foram medidas durante o repouso invernal antes da colheita. No momento da colheita foram coletadas as variáveis de produtividade da parte aérea (ramas) e das raízes tuberosas nas seis plantas marcadas de cada parcelão e após determinadas a matéria fresca e seca dessas variáveis. O filocrono e NFF variaram com as datas de plantio. Dentro das ramificações simpodiais RS1, RS2, o filocrono e o NFF não são diferentes entre as hastes. O filocrono aumentou na seqüência HP<RS1<RS2 e o NFF teve variação inversa HP>RS1>RS2. Plantios mais cedo aceleram o desenvolvimento até o início da acumulação de amido (IAA) e até a ramificação simpodial de primeira ordem (RS1) dessa variedade de mandioca. O IAF máximo foi maior para o plantio em 26/09/2006 (IAF=7,7) e decresceu nas duas próximas datas, sendo elevado para a última data de plantio 28/11/2006 (IAF= 7,4). O crescimento da mandioca variedade FEPAGRO RS 13 decresceu com o atraso na data de plantio, e dentro de cada ramificação RS1 e RS2 as hastes têm crescimento diferentes. Houve interação entre datas de plantio e hastes para a variável comprimento e não para a variável diâmetro final das hastes. Entre as ramificações, o diâmetro final dos ramos foi maior para a primeira data de plantio. A altura final de plantas foi maior para as duas primeiras datas de plantio. A produtividade de ramas foi maior na primeira data de plantio enquanto a produtividade de raízes tuberosas não diferiu entre as datas de plantio.

Eddy-covariance (EC) CO₂ flux data were analysed and annual carbon (C) balances estimated for a four-year period (2004-2007) following clearcut harvesting of a boreal jack pine stand in northern Saskatchewan. The site was a source of C to the atmosphere for all years, with annual net ecosystem productivity (NEP) increasing from -153 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 2004 to -63 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 2007. This increase was mainly due to gross primary productivity (GPP) increasing significantly from 78 to 200 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ , while ecosystem respiration (R) increased only slightly from 231 to 263 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ over the same period. In the 2006 growing season (GS), a field campaign was conducted to investigate the relationships between monthly destructive measurements of leaf area index (LAI) and daily measurements of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and photosynthetic capacity (Amax). The latter was derived from 5-day, 16-day, 30-day and annual Michaelis-Menten light response analyses using daytime measurements of NEP and incident photosynthetically active radiation. Digital-camera data were used to evaluate the potential of using the rectilinear-lens vegetation index (RLVI) as a surrogate for NDVI of a young forest stand. Results showed that LAI was linearly related to NDVI and RLVI, which was largely the result of changes in the deciduous vegetation component across the GS. These results indicate that RLVI could be used as a surrogate for NDVI up to a GS maximum LAI of 0.91 m2 m⁻² observed in 2006. Measured mean (± 1 S.D.) GS LAI was 0.67 (± 0.24) m² m⁻² in 2006. LAI accounted for the majority of the variability in Amax at the 30-day time scale, while at shorter time scales air temperature was the dominant control. For 2004 to 2007, mean spring estimates of LAI were 0.25, 0.29, 0.38 (compared to 0.40 m² m⁻² from measurements) and 0.41 m² m⁻², respectively. Results suggest that a steady increase in the jack pine LAI component accounted for the annual increases in GPP and hence NEP over the four years. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

The majority of small-scale farmers in the Eastern Cape apply inadequate quantities of manure, inorganic (NPK) fertilizer and Gromor as lone fertilizers or tend to mix manure or Gromor with chemical fertilizers for crops, without any scientific basis (Mkile, 2001). Hence this study – aimed at achieving effective and efficient use of chemical fertilizers, manure and Gromor, either as lone fertilizers or mixed with one another, in maize production – was established. A three-year dry land field experiment, arranged in a RCBD with 3 replicates where cattle manure, chemical fertilizer and Gromor were mixed at different ratios – as treatments FM1 (10 percent fertilizer + 90 percent manure); FM2 (25 percent fertilizer + 75 percent manure); FM3 (50 percent fertilizer + 50 percent manure); MAP (100 percent fertilizer); M (100 percent cattle manure); FG1 (10 percent fertilizer + 90 percent Gromor); FG2 (25 percent fertilizer + 75 percent Gromor); FG3 (50 percent fertilizer + 50 percent Gromor); G (100 percent Gromor) and a control (with nothing applied) – was conducted at the Nolukhanyo agricultural project at Bathurst in the Ndlambe Local Municipality. Maize cultivars PAN 6480 and Sahara were used as test crops. Manure, Gromor and soil were analyzed for their nutrient composition. Data recorded involving number of kernels per cob-1, grain and dry matter (DM) yields for the 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, and leaf area index (LAI) – were subjected to Genstat Version 14.1 for statistical analysis. Grain yields of PAN 6480 and Sahara recorded in seasons 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 were significantly higher (p≤0.05) than those of the controls. In 2012-13, PAN 6480 on treatments FG3 and FG1 produced the highest grain yields (5 327 and 5 107kg ha-1) respectively, while in 2010-11 the highest yield was 3 780kg ha-1. In the 2012-13 season, Sahara on F treatment was the highest with 4 553kg ha-1 whilst there were no significant differences in F and M treatments. Dry matter yields of Sahara were higher than those of PAN 6480 in all seasons. The highest Sahara LAI obtained on FM2 was 5.85 in the 2012-13 season, whereas PAN 6480 had LAI of 4.77 on F treatment, followed by FG3 with 4.72 LAI. PAN 6480 number of leaves for 6 plants in m2 and LAI in week 8 of the 2012-13 season had a positive correlation, r2=0.84. PAN 6480 number of kernels and cob length in the same area correlated quite well (r2 =0.91). Chemical fertilizer corrects the imbalances of nutrients inherent in organic manures and increases both maize grain yields and dry matter yields, and also influences number of leaves and LAI. Treatments FG1, FG3 and FM1 of PAN 6480 resulted in high maize grain yields when planted 13 in late November of the 2012-13 growing season and when water in the soil profile was conserved as a result of good rains received prior to planting. Treatments FG1 (10 percent fertilizer + 90 percent Gromor), FG3 (50 percent fertilizer + 50 percent Gromor) of PAN 6480 produced the highest grain yields (5 107kg ha-1 and 5 327kg ha-1 respectively) in the 2012-13 season, whilst FM1 (10 percent fertilizer + 90 percent manure) gave the highest grain yield (of 4 277kg ha-1) for the same cultivar in the 2010-11 season.

Leaf area index (LAI) is a versatile indicator of crop growth that is used to estimate evapotranspiration (ET), monitor nitrogen status, and estimate crop yield. Traditional methods for measuring LAI can be improved using high resolution remote sensing. The aim of this study was to compare approaches for estimating LAI from UAV-derived visible vegetation indices. Coincident ground-based and remotely sensed data were obtained from two irrigated wheat fields and were sampled at a total of 5 events in 2019 and 2020. Ground-based LAI was measured with a ceptometer and remotely sensed images were collected using a consumer-grade UAV. Mosaiced orthophotos were resampled from native (0.06m) spatial resolution to increasingly coarser spatial resolutions up to 3 m by either a direct or ladder resampling method. Visible band color information (RGB) was extracted from the orthophotos at the points that LAI was collected within field and 12 different visible vegetation indices (VVIs) were calculated. Linear regression was performed to evaluate the relationships between wheat LAI and each calculated VVI for all spatial resolutions and resampling methods. Three VVIs, visible atmospherically resistant index (VARI), normalized green-red difference index (NGRDI), and modified green-red vegetation index (MGRVI), estimated LAI equally well (R2= 0.66, 0.66,0.66; RMSE=0.74,0.73,0.73; MAE=0.57,0.56,0.56) when resampled to 3 m spatial resolution with the ladder resampling method. These results demonstrate the potential to remotely estimate LAI using only RGB cameras and consumer grade drones. An additional aim of this study was to evaluate use of a remotely sensed visible vegetation index to characterize the spatial variability of LAI within irrigated wheat fields. Variation of LAI was measured with a ceptometer on random nested grids at two sites with pre-determined management zones in 2019 and 2020. Coincident digital imagery was collected using a consumer-grade unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A visible atmospherically resistant index (VARI) LAI estimation model was applied to red, green, blue (RGB) UAV imagery using a ladder resampling approach from 0.06 m to 3 m spatial resolution. There was significant within-field spatial and temporal variation of mean LAI. For example, in May at the Grace, ID location measured LAI ranged from 0.21 to 2.58 and in June from 1.68 to 4.15. The relationship of measured and estimated LAI among management zones was strong (R2=0.84), validating the remote sensing approach to characterize LAI differences among management zones. There were statistically significant differences in estimated LAI among zones for all sampling dates (P=0.05). We assumed a minimum difference of 15% between zone LAI and the field mean for justifying variable rate irrigation among zones, a threshold that corresponds with approximately a 10% difference in evapotranspiration rate. Three of the five sampling dates had LAI differences that exceeded the threshold for at least one zone, with all three having mean LAI of less than 2.5. The VARI model for estimating LAI remotely is more effective at identifying LAI differences among management zones at lower LAI. Application of this approach has potential for applications such as estimating evapotranspiration of irrigated fields and delineation of zones for variable rate irrigation.

The occasional failure of glyphosate to control all weeds throughout the entire growing season has prompted growers to sometimes use herbicides other than glyphosate on glyphosate-tolerant soybean. Field studies were conducted in 1999 and 2000 to investigate potential crop injury from several herbicides on glyphosate-tolerant soybean, and to determine the relationship between soybean maturity, planting date, and herbicide treatment on soybean injury, leaf area index (LAI), and yield. Three glyphosate-tolerant soybean cultivars representing maturity groups III, IV and V were planted at dates representing the full-season and double-crop soybean production systems used in Virginia. Within each cultivar and planting date, 15 herbicide treatments, in addition to a control receiving only metolachlor preemergence, were applied to cause multiple levels of crop injury. Results of this study indicate that glyphosate-tolerant soybean generally recovered from early-season herbicide injury and LAI reductions; however, reduced yield occurred with some treatments. Yield reductions were more common in double-crop soybean than in full-season soybean. In full-season soybean, most yield reductions occurred only in the early maturing RT-386 cultivar. These yield reductions may be attributed to the reduced developmental periods associated with early maturing cultivars and double-crop soybean that often lead to reduced vegetative growth and limited LAI. Additional reductions of LAI by some herbicide treatments on these soybean may have coincided with yield reductions; however, reduced LAI did not occur with all yield reducing treatments. Therefore, soybean LAI response to herbicide treatments does not always accurately indicate the potential detrimental effects of herbicides on soybean yield. Further, yield reductions associated with herbicide applications occurred, although soybean sometimes produced leaf area exceeding the critical LAI level of 3.5 to 4.0 which is the minimum LAI needed for soybean to achieve maximum yield. / Master of Science

Woody plant herbicide screening techniques were evaluated in an attempt to expedite the screening process and decrease amounts of herbicide active ingredient required. Rapid greenhouse screening of woody plant seedlings was performed in less than six months while rapid seed screening was performed in less than twenty days. A traditional field screen, requiring ten months, was performed for comparison purposes. Leaf area – biomass ratios were also examined for their influence on herbicide efficacy. Linear regressions were performed using traditional field screen data as the dependent variable and rapid screening technique data as the independent data. Rapid screens using triclopyr produced more statistically significant regressions compared to those involving imazapyr. Significant regressions were produced that could predict field response of several species using both herbicides and either rapid screening technique. This indicated that rapid screening techniques could determine herbicide efficacy and/or species spectrum of control in much less time with much less herbicide. Rapid seed screens could estimate species spectrum within five days after treatment. The rapid greenhouse screen and rapid seed screen techniques can provide woody plant herbicide developers initial efficacy and spectrum of control data in a cost- and time- effective manner. Testing showed that as woody plants mature from seedling to sapling, there is a decrease in the leaf area — total aboveground biomass ratio. The decrease in this ratio consistently decreased efficacy of both imazapyr and triclopyr at the lower active ingredient rates. Seedlings with the higher leaf area – biomass ratio had, on the average, higher efficacy response rates to herbicide treatments. / Master of Science

Africa's miombo woodlands constitute one of the most important dry tropical forests on earth, yet the hydraulic function of these woodlands remains poorly researched. Given the current predictions of increased aridity by the end of this century in the miombo ecoregion, understanding the likely response of miombo woodlands tree species to water stress is crucial in planning adaptation strategies. Predicting the response of miombo woodlands to future climate trends is hampered by a lack of knowledge on the physiology of the common miombo woodlands tree species. In particular, plant-water relations for this woodlands type are not well understood. An understanding of plant-water relations for this woodlands type will provide insights into how water limits tree species distribution in this ecosystem. This will also improve our prediction model on the likely response of this ecosystem to predicted climate change. For this reason, the overall objective of this research was to evaluate the hydraulic architecture and xylem vulnerability to cavitation for nine principal miombo woodlands tree species differing in drought tolerance ability and habitat preference. This was achieved by; examining the hydraulic properties and evaluating the extent to which each hydraulic design was vulnerable to water stress-induced xylem cavitation; investigating how seasonal changes in plant-water relations influences seasonal patterns of leaf display and; analyzing the relationship between stem hydraulic supply and leaf functional traits related to drought tolerance ability. This research has found that drought-intolerant tree species with mesic specialization have more efficient stem hydraulic systems than co-occurring habitat broad ranging species. Broad ranging tree species attain wider habitat distribution by adjusting their hydraulic supply in response to changing ecosystem water availability. The finding that hydraulic properties differ significantly between tree species with contrasting habitat preference suggests that tree hydraulic design may have some adaptive ecological role in influencing species habitat preferences in miombo woodlands. The evaluation of xylem vulnerability to cavitation revealed that mesic specialized tree species were more vulnerable to water stress-induced cavitation than habitat broad ranging tree species. Vulnerability to cavitation in individuals from the same broad-ranging species growing in contrasting habitats showed only marginal and statistically insignificant (P > 0.05) differences between wet and dry sites. In the investigation of the influence of seasonal changes in stem water relations on seasonal leaf display, seasonal rhythms in stem water status were found to exert significant controls on leaf phenology. Mesic specialists had strong stem water controls throughout the year in comparison to broad ranging tree species. An analysis of the relationship between stem hydraulic supply and leaf functional traits suggests that stem hydraulic supply constrains leaf biomass allocation patterns among miombo tree species. Mesic specialists tend to invest more in leaf longevity than broad ranging tree species. This thesis has uncovered some interesting relationships between plant-water-relations and the distribution of miombo woodlands tree species. These results lead to the conclusion that in an event of increased ecosystem drying under future climate trends, tree species with mesic specialisation are at a greater risk of experiencing cavitation related species mortality than broad ranging ones.