Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Agronomy / Dorivar Ruiz Diaz / The appropriate management for phosphorus (P) fertilizer can have significant agronomic, economic, as well as environmental impact. Studies in Kansas have evaluated different management systems to determine best management practices (BMP). The first component of this dissertation is a comprehensive review of tillage system and P fertilizer placement interaction. This review included studies completed in the U.S. Midwest. Results of this review showed greater corn yields with conventional tillage and broadcast applications when soil test P levels (STP) were below 20 mg P kg⁻¹. However, soybean yield was highest in no-till systems with broadcast P fertilizer applications. The second component if this dissertation was a long-term study conducted in Kansas to evaluate the effect of P fertilizer placement on corn and soybean production. Results showed that under strip-tillage, P fertilizer placement significantly affected corn growth, but, seldom resulted in yield response difference among placement methods. Phosphorus application as starter fertilizer at planting showed the most consistent yield response. In addition to the agronomic aspect of this study, the third component of this dissertation consisted of an economic analysis using partial budgets calculated using both fixed and varying prices and costs to compare management practices. With decreased application costs associated with deep banding in strip-tillage system, net returns are greater than broadcast applications. The highest net responses were observed with starter P fertilizer applications. The fourth component of this dissertation included a study evaluating the effects of chelated fertilizer on nutrients, such as P, Fe, Mn, and Zn in soybean. Results from our study showed that both ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)+P and hydroxyethyl ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (HEDTA)+P resulted in greater concentrations and uptake of Fe and lower Mn uptake in soybean. However, the application of glucoheptonate (GCH)+P had no negative effect on Mn uptake compared to EDTA+P and HEDTA+P. Across locations, EDTA+P and HEDTA+P showed higher yield than GCH+P. The use of long-term studies and comprehensive reviews can provide a unique perspective and better understanding of the most appropriate BMPs for P fertilizer management. Many agronomic and environmental implications of P fertilizer management and the interactions with tillage systems and soils may only become noticeable after multiple years or in a variety of conditions.

Resumo: O trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar os efeitos de sistemas de cultivo e métodos de implantação no sistema radicular da cebola e nas propriedades fisicas do solo (Experimentos I e 11), bem como na produtividade de cultivares no verão, visando à colheita de bulbos na entressafra (Experimentos 111 e IV). Os experimentos foram conduzidos em um Latossolo Vermelho, em São José do Rio Pardo-SP, entre dezembro de 2004 e setembro de 2005. No Experimento I, instalado em dezembro, foram avaliados os sistemas de cultivo na palha e convencional (aração/gradagem) e pontos de coleta de amostras do solo: linha e entrelinha. No Experimento 11, instalado em fevereiro, foram avaliados os sistemas de cultivo na palha e convencional, implantados por semeadura direta, transplantio de mudas de bandejas e de raizes nuas. No Experimento 11I, instalado em dezembro, foi avaliada a produtividade de Alfa Tropical, Alfa São Francisco e Mercedes, implantadas por transplantio de mudas de bandejas e de raizes nuas, no cultivo na palha e convencional. No Experimento IV, instalado em fevereiro, foram avaliados os mesmos tratamentos do Experimento 111 e foi adicionado o método da semeadura direta. O sistema radicular concentrou-se entre O e 20 cm de profundidade. A densidade de raizes foi maior no sistema de cultivo na palha do que no convencional, entre O e 10 cm. Os atributos físicos do solo não alteraram o desenvolvimento radicular. A semeadura direta propiciou maior densidade de raizes que mudas de bandejas e de raizes nuas. Altas produtividades foram obtidas com Alfa Tropical e Alfa São Francisco em dezembro, e em fevereiro com Mercedes. O transplantio de mudas de bandejas e a semeadura direta proporcionaram produtividades de até 50 t ha-1, quase o dobro da constatada no método de mudas de raizes nuas. Maiores produtividades ou precocidade de colheita foram obtidas no cultivo na palha em relação ao sistema convencional. / Abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of til/age system and method of crop implementation on the root system of onions and on the physical properties of the soil (Experiment I and 11), as well as on the productivity of the cultivars in the summer, for the purpose of collecting bulbs in the period of low onion yield (Experiments 111 and IV). The experiments were conducted in red latosol soil, in São José do Rio Pardo-SP, between Oecember, 2004 and September, 2005. Experiment I, started in Oecember, compared tillage systems, conventional (plowing/harrowing) versus no-tillage, and collection areas of soil samples, row versus interrow. Experiment 11, started in February, examined the two tillage systems, where crops were implemented by direct seeding (DS) and transplanting seedlings produced in trays (TST) or in raised beds (TSR). Experiment 11I, started in Oecember, studied the productivity of Alfa Tropical, Alfa São Francisco and Mercedes, implemented by TST and TSR, cultivated with no tillage and with conventional soil preparation. Experiment IV, started in February, examined the same treatments as in Oecember but also the OS method. The root system was concentrated at a depth of O to 20 cm. The density of the roots was greater between O and 10 cm with no tillage compared to conventional soi! preparation. The physical attributes of the soil had no influence on root development. OS favored a greater root density compared to TST and TSR. High productivity was obtained with Alfa Tropical and Alfa São Francisco in Oecember, and in February with Mercedes. TST and OS resulted in productivities of up to 50 t ha-1, almost double that with TSR. Greater yield was obtained with no tillage versus the conventional system. / Orientador: Leila Trevizan Braz / Coorientador: Itamar Andrioli / Coorientadora: Teresinha de Jesus Deléo Rodrigues / Banca: Arthur Bernardes Cecílio Filho / Banca: Marcos David Ferreira / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-12-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:18:19Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 vandervinne_j_me_jabo.pdf: 347258 bytes, checksum: b5423484849f6fdd515cedd6cecc561c (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar os efeitos de sistemas de cultivo e métodos de implantação no sistema radicular da cebola e nas propriedades fisicas do solo (Experimentos I e 11), bem como na produtividade de cultivares no verão, visando à colheita de bulbos na entressafra (Experimentos 111 e IV). Os experimentos foram conduzidos em um Latossolo Vermelho, em São José do Rio Pardo-SP, entre dezembro de 2004 e setembro de 2005. No Experimento I, instalado em dezembro, foram avaliados os sistemas de cultivo na palha e convencional (aração/gradagem) e pontos de coleta de amostras do solo: linha e entrelinha. No Experimento 11, instalado em fevereiro, foram avaliados os sistemas de cultivo na palha e convencional, implantados por semeadura direta, transplantio de mudas de bandejas e de raizes nuas. No Experimento 11I, instalado em dezembro, foi avaliada a produtividade de Alfa Tropical, Alfa São Francisco e Mercedes, implantadas por transplantio de mudas de bandejas e de raizes nuas, no cultivo na palha e convencional. No Experimento IV, instalado em fevereiro, foram avaliados os mesmos tratamentos do Experimento 111 e foi adicionado o método da semeadura direta. O sistema radicular concentrou-se entre O e 20 cm de profundidade. A densidade de raizes foi maior no sistema de cultivo na palha do que no convencional, entre O e 10 cm. Os atributos físicos do solo não alteraram o desenvolvimento radicular. A semeadura direta propiciou maior densidade de raizes que mudas de bandejas e de raizes nuas. Altas produtividades foram obtidas com Alfa Tropical e Alfa São Francisco em dezembro, e em fevereiro com Mercedes. O transplantio de mudas de bandejas e a semeadura direta proporcionaram produtividades de até 50 t ha-1, quase o dobro da constatada no método de mudas de raizes nuas. Maiores produtividades ou precocidade de colheita foram obtidas no cultivo na palha em relação ao sistema convencional. / The aim of the study was to determine the effects of til/age system and method of crop implementation on the root system of onions and on the physical properties of the soil (Experiment I and 11), as well as on the productivity of the cultivars in the summer, for the purpose of collecting bulbs in the period of low onion yield (Experiments 111 and IV). The experiments were conducted in red latosol soil, in São José do Rio Pardo-SP, between Oecember, 2004 and September, 2005. Experiment I, started in Oecember, compared tillage systems, conventional (plowing/harrowing) versus no-tillage, and collection areas of soil samples, row versus interrow. Experiment 11, started in February, examined the two tillage systems, where crops were implemented by direct seeding (DS) and transplanting seedlings produced in trays (TST) or in raised beds (TSR). Experiment 11I, started in Oecember, studied the productivity of Alfa Tropical, Alfa São Francisco and Mercedes, implemented by TST and TSR, cultivated with no tillage and with conventional soil preparation. Experiment IV, started in February, examined the same treatments as in Oecember but also the OS method. The root system was concentrated at a depth of O to 20 cm. The density of the roots was greater between O and 10 cm with no tillage compared to conventional soi! preparation. The physical attributes of the soil had no influence on root development. OS favored a greater root density compared to TST and TSR. High productivity was obtained with Alfa Tropical and Alfa São Francisco in Oecember, and in February with Mercedes. TST and OS resulted in productivities of up to 50 t ha-1, almost double that with TSR. Greater yield was obtained with no tillage versus the conventional system.

Years of intensive tillage operations and heavy winter rainfalls have taken a toll on the soils in the Mississippi Delta causing compaction and nutrient losses due to runoff. The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of tillage systems and P and K fertilizer placement methods on corn and soybean production, as well as soil properties in the Mississippi Delta. The tillage treatments included conventional tillage, conventional tillage with subsoiling, and strip-tillage. The fertilizer placement treatments included a non-treated control, incorporated with tillage, and broadcast after tillage. Strip-tillage treatments reduced soil compaction and maintain nutrient levels while improving or maintaining yields in both crops. A more long term study is needed to determine if incorporating fertilizer with tillage will impact crop yields.

Conservation tillage programs have been successfully implemented for many agronomic cropping systems, but adoption of reduced tillage for vegetable crops has been slow. As many conventionally managed conservation tillage programs rely on synthetic herbicides for clean cultivation, alternative methods must be devised to suppress weed pressure and reduce reliance on mechanical cultivation to aid in the development of reduced tillage programs for organic cropping system. Strip tillage is a reduced tillage method that is well suited to vegetable crop production, and the utilization of cover crops and living mulches between rows provides a viable weed management option for organic systems. The adoption of reduced tillage and the inclusion of cover crops and living mulches have the potential to alter the agroecosystem in ways that impact plant development and crop yield, and augment weed, insect and disease pressure. The current study focuses on the use of strip tillage and the interplanting of spring-seeded living mulches and overwintered cover crops for early-season organic broccoli production. Data were collected on ground cover provided by cover crops and living mulches, crop physiological status (petiole sap nitrate, photosynthetic rate, plant growth and crop biomass) and pest pressure (weed relative abundance, insect density and disease incidence and severity). Living mulches provided the greatest ground coverage when cover crop establishment was poor; however, when cover crops produced a large amount of biomass, living mulch establishment was suppressed. Decreases in herbivorous pests and suppression of grassy and cool-season weed species were also observed, indicating that strip tillage and the use of spring-seeded living mulches and overwintered cover crops may provide beneficial pest management strategies. Decreases in crop growth and biomass, and decreases in petiole sap nitrate were observed, however, indicating reductions in crop vigor and yield may be expected with the implementation of strip tillage and living mulch crops. It is suggested that the utilization of strip tillage and living mulch crops may provide benefits to pest management which may outweigh declines in yield.

The theoretical section of this thesis addresses corn characteristics and growing. Subsequently, it describes particular tillage technologies dividing them into conventional mouldboard ploughing technology, minimum tillage and introduces strip-till technology as a separate chapter. The major part describes the founding and evaluation of a 2016 field trial for study of different tillage technologies in terms of impact on silage corn growth quality, yield and physical characteristics of soil. The trial was based on five different technologies in two terms - strip tillage, ploughing and minimum tillage with two distinct tools at three depths. For trial evaluation, following parameters were observed: plant count, weight and height, dry matter content and yield and soil penetrometer resistance. The trial outcomes are commented and compared with trial results of other authors.

In the cassava production the conventional tillage, characterized by soil preparation with intensive mobilization, is commonly used. However, when this practice results in the maintenance of small quantities of straw on the soil surface, the erosion becomes imminent, and it is exacerbated by the spacing and slow initial development of this culture, especially until four months after planting. An alternative is the no-tillage system, a type of conservation tillage, in which only the owing/planting furrow is prepared for the deployment of culture, and is widely used in soybean, corn, wheat, beans, and others crops. For cassava, the adoption of this system has raised many questions on the basis of the soil physical properties recommended, according to which the crop requires well-drained and loose soils to allow the proper root development, where the carbohydrates produced by the plant are stored. It is believed that the deployment of a larger soil area in furrow may facilitate the proper development of cassava in no-tillage system and promote the soil protection due the maintenance of straw on the surface. In this context, the objective is improve the furrow opener device of cassava planters using the precepts of the agricultural machinery development process, with the intent of provide the cultivation of cassava in no-tillage system. For the furrow opener development it were implemented the informational, preliminary and detailed design phases of the product development process. It where formulated for the task of preparing the planting furrow, 31 needs of customers who were deployed in 30 customer requirements and then in 27 design requirements. From these requirements and the solutions available on other agricultural machines and implements, the winged tines where selected as a potential solution. So, a layout study where conducted and resulted in the construction of prototypes with different geometries to experimentation with cassava crop and tests of forces. The use of the reference model for the development process of agricultural machinery allowed the development of furrow opener device for the cultivation of cassava in no-tillage system, that have low cost, small number of components, simple manufacturing process and smooth operation. The yield obtained with the cassava crop in conventional tillage and no-tillage was similar, showing that this technique can be used to grow without com / No sistema de produção da mandioca o preparo convencional do solo (intenso revolvimento) é comumente utilizado. Quando esta prática resulta na manutenção de pequenas quantidades de palha sobre o solo, o problema da erosão se torna eminente e é agravado pelo espaçamento entre linhas e o lento desenvolvimento inicial desta cultura, principalmente até os quatro meses após o plantio. Uma alternativa é o sistema plantio direto, em que apenas o sulco de semeadura/plantio é preparado durante a implantação da cultura, e é largamente utilizado nas culturas de soja, milho, trigo, feijão, entre outras. Para a mandioca, a adoção deste sistema tem gerado muitas dúvidas em função das condições físicas do solo recomendadas, segundo as quais a cultura requer solos bem drenados e soltos para possibilitar o adequado desenvolvimento das raízes. Acredita-se que a mobilização de uma maior área de solo no sulco de plantio possa viabilizar o adequado desenvolvimento da mandioca em sistema plantio direto e favorecer a proteção do solo pela manutenção da palha sobre superfície. Nesse contexto, objetivou-se aperfeiçoar o mecanismo sulcador de plantadoras de mandioca utilizando os preceitos do processo de desenvolvimento de máquinas agrícolas, com o intento de viabilizar o cultivo de mandioca em sistema plantio direto. Para o desenvolvimento do mecanismo foram executadas as fases de projeto informacional, preliminar e detalhado. Formularam-se, para a função de preparar o sulco de plantio, 31 necessidades de clientes que foram desdobradas em 30 requisitos de clientes e posteriormente em 27 requisitos de projeto. A partir destes requisitos e das soluções disponíveis em outras máquinas e implementos, selecionou-se a haste sulcadora alada como potencial solução. Desta forma, realizou-se um estudo de leiautes que culminou na construção de protótipos com diferentes geometrias para testes, experimentação com a cultura da mandioca e ensaio de esforços. A utilização do modelo de referência para o processo de desenvolvimento de máquinas agrícolas permitiu o desenvolvimento de uma haste sulcadora alada de baixo custo, pequeno número de componentes, processo de fabricação simples e bom funcionamento. A produtividade obtida com a cultura da mandioca em preparo convencional e sistema plantio direto foi semelhante, evidenciando que esta técnica pode ser utilizada para o cultivo sem comprometer a produtividade e ainda melhorar a sustentabilidade do sistema.