Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:40:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 466360 bytes, checksum: e0d21936cd393cfb2e58f6a6e09e5149 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-03-16 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of the herbicides ametryn and trifloxysulfuron-sodium, singly or combined, and 2,4-D, on the soil microrganisms and the mineral nutrition of the sugar-cane plants. In the first trial, it was evaluated the activity of inorganic phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms and the numbers of fungi and bacteria in the rhizosphere of sugar cane and, in the second, the respiratory rate, microbial biomass, metabolic quotient, and total C-CO2 evolved from the soil. In the third trial, the growth and the macro and micronutrients concentrations were evaluated in the foliar tissues of the sugar-cane plants after the herbicide application. In the three trials, foliar tissue samples and rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil samples were collected and immediately analyzed at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after spraying (DAS). At 15 DAS, all herbicides tested led to reductions in the numbers of fungi in the soil. 2,4-D caused a reduction in the densities of bacterial populations in the rhizosphere at all times of evaluation, evidencing a higher sensitivity of bacteria to this compound. The soil microbial biomass was sensitive to ametryn applied singly or combined, especially up to 30 DAS. These treatments resulted in the highest values of metabolic quotient at 45 and 60 DAS. The foliar concentrations of N, P and Mg were not affected for the herbicide use. At 60 DAS, trifloxysulfuron-sodium lead to increase of 22.10% in the biomass accumulation of shoots sugar cane plants. Trifloxysulfuron-sodium and 2,4-D led to higher inorganic phosphate solubilization at 15, 30, and 45 DAS, and 15 and 30 DAS, respectively, without affecting the microbial biomass. This work evidences that herbicide application in the shoots of sugar cane affects the foliar concentrations of macro and micronutrients and the soil microorganisms in the rhizosphere. / Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar a microbiota do solo e a nutrição mineral da cana-de-açúcar após aplicação dos herbicidas 2,4-D, ametryn, trifloxysulfuronsodium e ametryn+trifloxysulfuron-sodium. No primeiro ensaio, avaliou-se a atividade e a densidade populacional dos microrganismos solubilizadores de fosfato inorgânico (MSFI) e totais no solo rizosférico da cana-de-açúcar e, no segundo, foram avaliadas a taxa respiratória, a biomassa microbiana e o quociente metabólico do mesmo solo. No terceiro ensaio, avaliaram-se o crescimento e as concentrações de macro e micronutrientes nos tecidos foliares das plantas de cana-de-açúcar após a aplicação dos herbicidas. Nos três ensaios foram realizadas avaliações aos 15, 30, 45 e 60 dias após a aplicação (DAA) dos herbicidas. Todos os herbicidas provocaram redução na densidade populacional fúngica do solo somente no período inicial de avaliação. O 2,4-D foi mais tóxico às bactérias do solo até aos 60 DAA. Analisando o quociente metabólico, ressaltaram-se condições estressantes para a microbiota do solo quando este foi tratado com ametryn isolado e em mistura com trifloxysulfuronsodium. A atividade dos MSFI foi favorecida pela aplicação do 2,4-D até os 30 DAA e o trifloxysulfuron-sodium estimulou essa atividade por todo período de avaliação. As concentrações de N, P e Mg nos tecidos foliares não foram afetados pela utilização dos herbicidas. Em plantas tratadas com trifloxysulfuron-sodium observou-se acréscimo de 22,10% no acúmulo de massa seca da parte aérea das plantas aos 60 DAA. Este trabalho evidenciou que a aplicação dos herbicidas na parte aérea de plantas de cana-de-açúcar afetou a concentração dos nutrientes foliares, a densidade populacional de microrganismos, atividade de solubilização de fosfato, a taxa respiratória, a biomassa e o quociente metabólico na rizosfera.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) growth and development, lint yield, and fiber quality are influenced by many management decisions. Three field experiments examining the interaction of plant population and planting date, and cultivar or herbicide and plant growth regulator application on these parameters were conducted in Virginia during 2005 and 2006 and in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Louisiana during specific years. Experiment I: Plant Population and Planting Date Lint yields were highest with populations of 8.9 and 12.8 plants m¯² compared to 5.3 plants m¯² in Virginia and North Carolina, while in Louisiana the highest yields resulted from populations of 5.8 and 9.5 plants m¯² compared to 17.1 plants m¯². Earlier planted (1 May) cotton produced higher yields relative to later planted (21 May) cotton in Louisiana, while yield was not influenced by planting date in Virginia and North Carolina. The impact of plant population and planting date on cotton appeared to be influenced significantly by heat unit accumulation. Experiment II: Cultivar and Mepiquat Pentaborate Application Mepiquat pentaborate (MPB) application consistently decreased plant height, HNR, and enhanced maturity for all cultivars, compared to untreated cotton. A trend of decreasing yield with increasing MPB application in Virginia was observed. These data suggests that cotton response to MPB application is influenced by cultivar maturity or fruiting interval. Experiment III: Trifloxysulfuron-sodium and Mepiquat Chloride Application Trifloxysulfuron-sodium (TFS) did not influence vegetative growth, maturity, or yield in comparison to untreated cotton. Mepiquat chloride (MC) application reduced vegetative growth and enhanced maturity in most years. The results of this experiment demonstrate that TFS application does not have the same effects on plant growth as MC application. / Master of Science