With shifting preferences of consumers towards healthier food, organic food demand has been on the rise for the past two decades. This increased demand has created an opportunity for farmers to shift from conventional to organic production. However, there are risks and uncertainties associated with organic farming. The management of an organic farm in the absence of organic-based disease and pest suppressing strategies constrains farmers from adopting organic vegetable production. The use of cover crops to control soil-borne diseases and suppress weeds and other pests has increased because of its sustainable and environmental friendly nature. This study of the economic impact of the cover crops on organic tomato production in the three states Ohio, New York, and Maryland showed mixed results. In Maryland, mixed forage radish and hairy vetch was projected to have a net present value over 15 years that was $1.53 million higher than single species hairy vetch, assuming maximum adoption level of 50 percent. In New York, mixed rye and turnip gave the higher return with a net present value of $2.61 million. In Ohio, the highest projected return was from mixed hay compared to hairy vetch with a net present value of $3.12 million when used without adding compost amendments. In Maryland and New York when bare ground was also used as a control, only mixed forage radish and hairy vetch in Maryland produced better returns compared to bare ground. A probit regression assessing the factors affecting the decision to adopt mixed species green manure technology indicated that farmer experiences in organic production, farmer age, access to the internet access, and farmers’ perceptions about the benefits of using mixed species green manures were significant factors. Each variables and factors except age had a positive influence. Similarly, probit results for microbial inoculants indicated that education, gender, and access to the internet were significant determinants, and had a negative effect on the probability of adoption. Access to the internet was significant for both mixed species green manures and microbial inoculants but with opposite sign, positive for mixed species green manures and negative for microbial inoculants. / Master of Science

A integração das espécies de adubos verdes, que imobilizam P, com a aplicação de fontes minerais fosfatadas é uma das medidas agronômicas mais promissoras para melhorar a disponibilidade de P para a cultura principal, com o objetivo de recuperar a fertilidade do solo, aumentar a matéria orgânica do solo e assim, otimizar eficiência de fertilizantes minerais. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram selecionar entre as espécies de adubos verdes mais eficientes em absorver o P na forma menos disponível e pela marcação isotópica destas plantas com ³²P, quantificar o aproveitamento deste nutriente proveniente dos adubos verdes e do fertilizante mineral pela cultura da cana-de-açúcar e do arroz, determinando suas reais contribuições como fonte de P. O estudo foi desenvolvido três fases, em amostras de Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo distrófico típico, com baixo teor de P, em casa-de-vegetação no CENA/USP. O primeiro experimento foi realizado com a finalidade de identificar e selecionar entre as 25 espécies de adubos verdes (AV) mais eficientes em absorver P através de métodos de diluição isotópica. As plantas foram cultivadas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com três repetições. Com os resultados (13 variáveis) das 25 espécies de adubo verde realizou-se análise estatística de componentes principais (PCA) e de agrupamento hierárquico (AHA) visando grupar os mais similares. A PCA foi explicada pelas duas primeiras componentes, definidas como P acumulado na planta e o valor L, resultando em três grupos, sendo o tremoço a espécies mais eficiente em absorver o P menos disponível, portanto, há diferença entre as espécies quanto à absorção. A partir desses grupos foram selecionadas algumas espécies de adubos verdes para avaliar o aproveitamento do P (AP) do adubo verde e do superfosfato triplo (SFT) pela raiz e parte aérea da cana-de-açúcar (experimento II) e pela parte aérea do arroz (experimento III) através da técnica da diluição isotópica. Para a cana-de-açúcar, foram selecionados braquiária ruziziensis, crotalária juncea, guandu anão, estilosante cv. Campo grande e para o arroz, a crotalária juncea e guandu anão e quatro doses de SFT (0; 30; 60 e 120 mg/vaso de P). Em média, os AVs apresentaram baixo aproveitamento, sendo 0,1 % pela raiz da cana; 0,8% pela parte aérea da cana e 2,0% pelo arroz. Para SFT, o AP pela raiz da cana foi de 1,0%; 9,9% pela parte aérea e 4,0% pelo arroz. Assim, o AP do SFT é superior aos dos adubos verdes para as duas culturas, independente das espécies de adubos verdes. Obtêm-se maior aproveitamento do SFT para ambas as culturas, na dose de 30 mg/vaso de P. O P do adubo verde não é suficiente para suprir a total demanda da cultura principal, mas favorece a absorção do P pela cultura quando associada ao SFT. / Integration of green manures species, which immobilize P, with supplying mineral P sources is one of the most promising agronomic practices for improving the availability of P for the main crop in order to recover soil fertility, increasing soil organic matter and thus optimize the efficiency of mineral fertilizers. The objectives of this work was to select among the green manure species the most efficient in absorbing the less available form of P, and by isotopic labeling of this plants, quantify the use of this nutrient from the green manures and mineral fertilizer by the sugar cane and rice crops, determining their real contributions as a P source. It was developed in three phases, in dystrophic Typical Hapludox, low-P, in the greenhouse in CENA / USP. The first experiment was conducted to identify and select the green manure species the more efficient one in absorbing P by isotopic dilution techniue. The plants were grown in a completely randomized design with three replications. With 25 species of green manures and 13 variables statistical analysis of principal components (PCA) and hierarchical clustering (HCA) were carried out in order to group the most similar ones. The PCA was explained by the first two components, defined as plant accumulated P and the L value, resulting three groups, and the white lupin being the most efficient in absorbing less available P, so there is difference between species on the ability to absorb the less available form of soil P absorption. From these groups some species of green manure were selected to evaluate the P use efficiency (PUE), from green manure and triple superphosphate (TSP), both labeled with ³²P, by sugar cane (experiment II) and rice plant (experiment III) through the isotopic dilution technique. Brachiaria, sunnhemp, dwarf pigeon pea, stylosante cv. campo grande were selected for sugar cane and sunnhemp and dwarf pigeon pea for rice, and four rates of TSP (0, 30, 60 and 120 mg P/ pot). On average, the AVs had low PUE, begin 0.1% by the root of sugar cane, 0.8% by shoot of sugar cane and 2.0% by rice. For TSP, the PUE by sugar cane roots were 1.0%, 9.9% by shoots and 4.0% by rice plants. Thus PUE of TSP is greater than that of green manure for both crops, regardless of green manure species. The highest PUE of TSP for both crops was obtained at rate of 30 mg P/pot. The green manure P is not sufficient to meet total demand for the main crop, but improves the absorption of P by the crop when associated with SFT.

O Brasil é o país que possui o maior potencial de crescimento na produção de etanol, podendo esse aumento ser através do incremento na produtividade da cana-de-açúcar ou a partir do uso dos resíduos vegetais, etanol de segunda geração. A recuperação do nitrogênio proveniente do fertilizante pela planta (RNP-fertilizante) é baixa, sendo questionado a importância desse no sistema de colheita sem queima associado à rotação de cultura. Dessa maneira, muito se questiona sobre a possibilidade de redução da dose de N-fertilizante e de remoção da palha do campo no atual sistema de manejo da cana-de-açúcar. Experimentos de campo foram desenvolvidos com os seguintes objetivos: avaliar a RNP-fertilizante, a dinâmica desse nutriente e a resposta da segunda soqueira de cana-de-açúcar à doses de N-fertilizante; e avaliar a RNP-fertilizante, a imobilização do N no solo (RNS) e na palha (RNPa) e os parâmetros produtivos da cana-de-açúcar ao longo do ciclo, na mesma dose de nitrato de amônio, com remoção parcial ou total ou manutenção total da palha em área com e sem plantio de Crotalaria spectabilis sob sistema de plantio direto. O plantio da crotalária na renovação do canavial apresentou pequena influência na segunda soqueira da cana-de-açúcar em sistema de plantio direto. Nos parâmetros produtivos e tecnológicos não houve alteração na produção de açúcar e de colmos, aumentou-se a RNP-fertilizante quando associada à remoção total da palha, não houve interferência na imobilização do N-fertilizante na palha e diminuiu-se a imobilização desse no solo ao final do ciclo. As quantidades de palha deixada sobre o solo também não modificaram os atributos tecnológicos, contudo a presença desse resíduo vegetal favoreceu a produtividade de colmos. A RNP-fertilizante no início da rebrota da cana foi beneficiada pela presença da palha em ambas as áreas a qual não se manteve até a colheita devido à condição climática e aos benefícios do plantio direto. Os resultados indicaram que pode-se reduzir a dose de nitrogênio a fim de aumentar a RNP-fertilizante, não havendo influência da rotação de cultura, e que a palha proporciona diversos benefícios à cultura, como aumento da RNP-fertilizante no início do ciclo na segunda soqueira da cana-de-açúcar, tornando a remoção desse resíduo vegetal inviável. / Brazil is the country that has the greatest increase potential in ethanol production, which may be achieved through a rise in the sugarcane yield or from the use of the plant residue\'s waste to produce second generation ethanol. The recovery of the nitrogen from the fertilizer by the plant (NPR-fertilizer) is low when questioning the importance of this in the new sugarcane system (green cane trash blanket) associated with crop rotation. In this case, there are a lot of questions about the possibility of reducing the fertilizer-N rate and about the straw removal from the field in the current management system of sugarcane. Field experiments have been developed with the following aims: to evaluate the NPR-fertilizer, the nitrogen dynamic and the response of the second sugarcane ratoon to the fertilizer-N rates; as well as to evaluate the NPR-fertilizer, the fertilizer-N immobilization in soil (NSR) and straw (NStR), and the productive parameters of sugarcane over the cycle in the same ammonium nitrate rate with partial or total removal or total maintenance of straw in the area with and without planting Crotalaria spectabilis under a no-till system. The planting of sunn hemp in the sugarcane\'s renewal presented little influence in the second sugarcane ratoon under the no-tillage system. In the productive and technological parameters there was no change in sugar and stalk production, NPR-fertilizer increased when associated with total removal of straw, there was no interference in the N-fertilizer immobilization in straw and it decreased the fertilizer-N immobilization in soil at the end of the cycle. The quantities of the straw left on the soil also did not change the technological attributes, however the maintenance of plant residue favored stalk yield. The NPR-fertilizer in the beginning of the sugarcane regrowth was benefited by the straw presence in both areas which did not remain until the harvest due to weather conditions and to the no-till system benefits. The results indicated that the fertilizer-N rate can be reduced in order to increase the NPR-fertilizer without influence of the crop rotation in this parameter and that the straw provides several benefits to the crop such as an increase of NPR-fertilizer in the beginning regrowth of the second sugarcane ratoon, making the straw removal infeasible.

Orientador: Marco Eustáquio de Sá / Banca: Orivaldo Arf / Banca: Roberval Daiton Vieira / Resumo: Plantas de cobertura são de grande importância para conservação e proteção do solo, além de serem grandes fontes de nutrientes minerais para as culturas seguintes. Assim, o trabalho teve o objetivo de verificar os efeitos de diferentes plantas de cobertura do solo, utilizando leguminosas e uma gramínea isoladas em consórcio leguminosa/gramínea e uma área de pousio, sobre o desenvolvimento, produção, qualidade fisiológica e sanitária de sementes de feijão do cultivar Pérola. O experimento foi conduzido em duas etapas, sendo a primeira com a implantação das plantas de cobertura que foram: guandu, crotalária, feijão-de-porco, mucuna preta e o milheto isoladas e o consórcio leguminosas/milheto com linhas alternadas e parcelas de 10 linhas/10 metros no verão. Na segunda etapa a área com as plantas de cobertura foi manejada para a semeadura do feijoeiro no outono/inverno e subdivididas em cinco linhas de cinco metros para as épocas de aplicação de nitrogênio em cobertura que aconteceu aos 25, 30 e 35 dias após a semeadura. Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Avaliou-se produção de massa verde e seca, teores de nutrientes para as plantas de cobertura, população final de plantas, componentes produtivos (número de vagens e de sementes por planta, número de sementes por vagem, massa de 100 sementes), produtividade de sementes, qualidade fisiológica e sanitária de sementes. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que as plantas de cobertura apresentaram bons teores e bom potencial de retorno de nutrientes, sendo que o consórcio leguminosa/gramínea na maioria dos casos apresentou melhores resultados em relação à planta cultivada em sistema solteiro, com destaque para o consórcio mucuna+milheto. As diferentes plantas de cobertura e épocas de aplicação de nitrogênio em cobertura não afetaram os componentes... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Covering plants have a great importance to soil conservation and protection, besides to be great mineral nutrients sources. This way, the study was carried out in order to verify the different effects of soil covering plants, applying legumes and a grass, separately or in a consortium legumes/grass, and fallow land area, on the development, production, sanitary and physiological seeds quality of common beans Perola cultivar. The experiments were conducted in two phases on the first one, was implanted the following covering plants: pigeonpea, sunn hemp, jack bean, velvet bean and the millet isolated and the consortium legumes/grass with alternated lines and parcels of 10 lines/10 meters on the summer. On the second stage the area with covering plans was handled to sow the common bean on the autumn/winter period and subdivided in five lines of five meters for the nitrogen application period in covering that occurs for 25, 30 and 35 days after the sow. The experimental design was used in randomized blocks, with four repetitions. The green and dry mass production, as well as the content and nutrient return to the covering plants, final stand, yield components (number of pods and seeds per plant, number of seeds per pod and 100-seed mass), beans productivity, sanitary and physiological seeds quality. The results showed that the covering plants showed good return potential and nutrient content, but the legume/grass consortium showed better results as compared to single one, notability the velvet bean+millet consortium. The different covering plants so as the nitrogen application period in covering didn't affect significantly the productive components neither the Perola cultivar common bean. Conclude that the consortium legumes (pigeonpea, sunn hemp, jack bean, velvet bean)/grass (millet) are a viable way to Perola cultivar common bean with high level of sanitary and physiological seeds quality. / Mestre

Orientador: Orivaldo Arf / Resumo: O sistema de produção baseado na sucessão de culturas, assim como a sucessão entre soja e milho no Brasil, não se sustenta ao longo dos anos. Assim, a inserção de plantas de cobertura, bem como o cultivo do arroz substituindo parte da área de soja, podem ser opções para beneficiar o sistema agrícola no Cerrado. O objetivo foi avaliar a adoção de plantas de cobertura no cultivo do arroz de terras altas, da soja e o efeito no milho segunda safra consorciado com Urochloa. O projeto foi constituído por três subprojetos. Subprojeto 1: Sistemas de produção para arroz de terras altas com o uso de plantas de cobertura. Subprojeto 2: Sistemas de produção para soja com o uso de plantas de cobertura. Subprojeto 3: Milho segunda safra consorciado com Urochloa ruziziensis, cultivado sobre palhada de arroz e soja, em função de plantas de cobertura. Foram utilizadas seis plantas de cobertura [milheto (Pennisetum americanum), crotalária (Crotalaria juncea), guandu (Cajanus cajan), milheto + crotalária, milheto + guandu e pousio] semeadas na primavera. O delineamento experimental para o arroz e soja foi o de blocos casualizados, com seis tratamentos e 4 repetições. O delineamento para o milho foi o de blocos casualizados, com esquema em faixas, com 4 repetições. O estudo foi realizado no município de Selvíria – MS, na região de Cerrado, sobre um Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico, conduzido no período de setembro de 2014 a setembro de 2016, com o uso de irrigação suplementar. Subprojeto 1 – No cul... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The production system based on the succession of cultures as well as the sequence between corn and soybean in Brazil, does not hold up over the years. Thus, the inclusion of cover crops, and rice cultivation by replacing part of the soybean area may be options to benefit the agricultural system in the Cerrado. The objective was to evaluate the adoption of cover crops in the cultivation of upland rice, soybean and the effect on maize second crop intercropped with Urochloa. The project consisted of three subprojects. Subproject 1: Production systems for upland rice with the use of cover crops. Subproject 2: Soybean production systems with the use of cover crops. Subproject 3: Maize second crop intercropped with Urochloa ruziziensis cultivated on rice and soybean straw, as a function of cover crops. Six cover crops were used [millet (Pennisetum americanum), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), millet + sunn hemp, millet + pigeon pea and fallow] soothed in the spring. The experimental design for rice and soybean was randomized blocks, with six treatments and 4 replications. The design for maize was randomized blocks, with a scheme in strips, with 4 replications. The study was conducted in Selvíria - MS in the Cerrado region, on a Oxisoil, conducted from September 2014 to September 2016, with the use of supplemental irrigation. Subproject 1 – In the cultivation of upland rice, the consortium millet + sun hemp provides greater accumulation of straw, macronutri... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

O Brasil é o país que possui o maior potencial de crescimento na produção de etanol, podendo esse aumento ser através do incremento na produtividade da cana-de-açúcar ou a partir do uso dos resíduos vegetais, etanol de segunda geração. A recuperação do nitrogênio proveniente do fertilizante pela planta (RNP-fertilizante) é baixa, sendo questionado a importância desse no sistema de colheita sem queima associado à rotação de cultura. Dessa maneira, muito se questiona sobre a possibilidade de redução da dose de N-fertilizante e de remoção da palha do campo no atual sistema de manejo da cana-de-açúcar. Experimentos de campo foram desenvolvidos com os seguintes objetivos: avaliar a RNP-fertilizante, a dinâmica desse nutriente e a resposta da segunda soqueira de cana-de-açúcar à doses de N-fertilizante; e avaliar a RNP-fertilizante, a imobilização do N no solo (RNS) e na palha (RNPa) e os parâmetros produtivos da cana-de-açúcar ao longo do ciclo, na mesma dose de nitrato de amônio, com remoção parcial ou total ou manutenção total da palha em área com e sem plantio de Crotalaria spectabilis sob sistema de plantio direto. O plantio da crotalária na renovação do canavial apresentou pequena influência na segunda soqueira da cana-de-açúcar em sistema de plantio direto. Nos parâmetros produtivos e tecnológicos não houve alteração na produção de açúcar e de colmos, aumentou-se a RNP-fertilizante quando associada à remoção total da palha, não houve interferência na imobilização do N-fertilizante na palha e diminuiu-se a imobilização desse no solo ao final do ciclo. As quantidades de palha deixada sobre o solo também não modificaram os atributos tecnológicos, contudo a presença desse resíduo vegetal favoreceu a produtividade de colmos. A RNP-fertilizante no início da rebrota da cana foi beneficiada pela presença da palha em ambas as áreas a qual não se manteve até a colheita devido à condição climática e aos benefícios do plantio direto. Os resultados indicaram que pode-se reduzir a dose de nitrogênio a fim de aumentar a RNP-fertilizante, não havendo influência da rotação de cultura, e que a palha proporciona diversos benefícios à cultura, como aumento da RNP-fertilizante no início do ciclo na segunda soqueira da cana-de-açúcar, tornando a remoção desse resíduo vegetal inviável. / Brazil is the country that has the greatest increase potential in ethanol production, which may be achieved through a rise in the sugarcane yield or from the use of the plant residue\'s waste to produce second generation ethanol. The recovery of the nitrogen from the fertilizer by the plant (NPR-fertilizer) is low when questioning the importance of this in the new sugarcane system (green cane trash blanket) associated with crop rotation. In this case, there are a lot of questions about the possibility of reducing the fertilizer-N rate and about the straw removal from the field in the current management system of sugarcane. Field experiments have been developed with the following aims: to evaluate the NPR-fertilizer, the nitrogen dynamic and the response of the second sugarcane ratoon to the fertilizer-N rates; as well as to evaluate the NPR-fertilizer, the fertilizer-N immobilization in soil (NSR) and straw (NStR), and the productive parameters of sugarcane over the cycle in the same ammonium nitrate rate with partial or total removal or total maintenance of straw in the area with and without planting Crotalaria spectabilis under a no-till system. The planting of sunn hemp in the sugarcane\'s renewal presented little influence in the second sugarcane ratoon under the no-tillage system. In the productive and technological parameters there was no change in sugar and stalk production, NPR-fertilizer increased when associated with total removal of straw, there was no interference in the N-fertilizer immobilization in straw and it decreased the fertilizer-N immobilization in soil at the end of the cycle. The quantities of the straw left on the soil also did not change the technological attributes, however the maintenance of plant residue favored stalk yield. The NPR-fertilizer in the beginning of the sugarcane regrowth was benefited by the straw presence in both areas which did not remain until the harvest due to weather conditions and to the no-till system benefits. The results indicated that the fertilizer-N rate can be reduced in order to increase the NPR-fertilizer without influence of the crop rotation in this parameter and that the straw provides several benefits to the crop such as an increase of NPR-fertilizer in the beginning regrowth of the second sugarcane ratoon, making the straw removal infeasible.

A integração das espécies de adubos verdes, que imobilizam P, com a aplicação de fontes minerais fosfatadas é uma das medidas agronômicas mais promissoras para melhorar a disponibilidade de P para a cultura principal, com o objetivo de recuperar a fertilidade do solo, aumentar a matéria orgânica do solo e assim, otimizar eficiência de fertilizantes minerais. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram selecionar entre as espécies de adubos verdes mais eficientes em absorver o P na forma menos disponível e pela marcação isotópica destas plantas com ³²P, quantificar o aproveitamento deste nutriente proveniente dos adubos verdes e do fertilizante mineral pela cultura da cana-de-açúcar e do arroz, determinando suas reais contribuições como fonte de P. O estudo foi desenvolvido três fases, em amostras de Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo distrófico típico, com baixo teor de P, em casa-de-vegetação no CENA/USP. O primeiro experimento foi realizado com a finalidade de identificar e selecionar entre as 25 espécies de adubos verdes (AV) mais eficientes em absorver P através de métodos de diluição isotópica. As plantas foram cultivadas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com três repetições. Com os resultados (13 variáveis) das 25 espécies de adubo verde realizou-se análise estatística de componentes principais (PCA) e de agrupamento hierárquico (AHA) visando grupar os mais similares. A PCA foi explicada pelas duas primeiras componentes, definidas como P acumulado na planta e o valor L, resultando em três grupos, sendo o tremoço a espécies mais eficiente em absorver o P menos disponível, portanto, há diferença entre as espécies quanto à absorção. A partir desses grupos foram selecionadas algumas espécies de adubos verdes para avaliar o aproveitamento do P (AP) do adubo verde e do superfosfato triplo (SFT) pela raiz e parte aérea da cana-de-açúcar (experimento II) e pela parte aérea do arroz (experimento III) através da técnica da diluição isotópica. Para a cana-de-açúcar, foram selecionados braquiária ruziziensis, crotalária juncea, guandu anão, estilosante cv. Campo grande e para o arroz, a crotalária juncea e guandu anão e quatro doses de SFT (0; 30; 60 e 120 mg/vaso de P). Em média, os AVs apresentaram baixo aproveitamento, sendo 0,1 % pela raiz da cana; 0,8% pela parte aérea da cana e 2,0% pelo arroz. Para SFT, o AP pela raiz da cana foi de 1,0%; 9,9% pela parte aérea e 4,0% pelo arroz. Assim, o AP do SFT é superior aos dos adubos verdes para as duas culturas, independente das espécies de adubos verdes. Obtêm-se maior aproveitamento do SFT para ambas as culturas, na dose de 30 mg/vaso de P. O P do adubo verde não é suficiente para suprir a total demanda da cultura principal, mas favorece a absorção do P pela cultura quando associada ao SFT. / Integration of green manures species, which immobilize P, with supplying mineral P sources is one of the most promising agronomic practices for improving the availability of P for the main crop in order to recover soil fertility, increasing soil organic matter and thus optimize the efficiency of mineral fertilizers. The objectives of this work was to select among the green manure species the most efficient in absorbing the less available form of P, and by isotopic labeling of this plants, quantify the use of this nutrient from the green manures and mineral fertilizer by the sugar cane and rice crops, determining their real contributions as a P source. It was developed in three phases, in dystrophic Typical Hapludox, low-P, in the greenhouse in CENA / USP. The first experiment was conducted to identify and select the green manure species the more efficient one in absorbing P by isotopic dilution techniue. The plants were grown in a completely randomized design with three replications. With 25 species of green manures and 13 variables statistical analysis of principal components (PCA) and hierarchical clustering (HCA) were carried out in order to group the most similar ones. The PCA was explained by the first two components, defined as plant accumulated P and the L value, resulting three groups, and the white lupin being the most efficient in absorbing less available P, so there is difference between species on the ability to absorb the less available form of soil P absorption. From these groups some species of green manure were selected to evaluate the P use efficiency (PUE), from green manure and triple superphosphate (TSP), both labeled with ³²P, by sugar cane (experiment II) and rice plant (experiment III) through the isotopic dilution technique. Brachiaria, sunnhemp, dwarf pigeon pea, stylosante cv. campo grande were selected for sugar cane and sunnhemp and dwarf pigeon pea for rice, and four rates of TSP (0, 30, 60 and 120 mg P/ pot). On average, the AVs had low PUE, begin 0.1% by the root of sugar cane, 0.8% by shoot of sugar cane and 2.0% by rice. For TSP, the PUE by sugar cane roots were 1.0%, 9.9% by shoots and 4.0% by rice plants. Thus PUE of TSP is greater than that of green manure for both crops, regardless of green manure species. The highest PUE of TSP for both crops was obtained at rate of 30 mg P/pot. The green manure P is not sufficient to meet total demand for the main crop, but improves the absorption of P by the crop when associated with SFT.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T14:38:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Raquel_Valmorbida.pdf: 1039911 bytes, checksum: f9af83c22da423b866713b0a21b70adb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-22 / Fundação Araucária / Muvuca is a seed sowing technique of various tree species succession of distinct stages, together with species of green manure, in order to restore a degraded area. In this seeding technique, there can be biological interaction exudates, seeds and seedlings adjunct, different species of which may be mutually benefit or impaired, as germination and early development. An attempt was made in this study to investigate the allelopathic potential of exudates of Cajanus cajan seeds and Bauhinia forficata on bioindicator species (Solanum lycopersicum - tomato); and the allelopathic effect of these same exudates on forest species (Bauhinia forficata and Parapiptadenia rigida). The experiment was conducted in the laboratory, and the treatments were: control; exudates of Phase I and II of the soaking curve of C. cajan seeds and B. forficata, who underwent pH testing, electrical conductivity and phytochemical screening. The bioindicator species subjected to treatment was evaluated for germination, early growth, antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid peroxidation. Forest species subjected to the treatments were evaluated for germination and early development. According to the electrical conductivity, a greater release of exudates of precursor species in phase II of soaking. All exudates showed allelochemicals in its composition. As for the allelopathic potential, it is concluded that the exudates of C. cajan seeds and B. forficata not adversely affect germination, early growth and antioxidant enzyme activity of bioindicator, on the contrary, benefited performance these variables evaluated tomato. As for the allelopathic effect, the exudate of phase I of soaking C. cajan, and phases I and II of the seeds of B. forficata stimulated shoot length P. rigida. However, the exudate of the soaking stage II seeds of C. cajan, negatively affected the germination and initial development B. forficata. And still retarded germination of P. rigida. / Muvuca de sementes é uma técnica de semeadura de diversas espécies florestais, de distintos estágios sucessionais, juntamente com espécies de adubos verdes, com a finalidade de restaurar uma área degradada. Nesta técnica de semeadura, pode ocorrer interação biológica de exsudatos de sementes e plântulas adjuntas, das diferentes espécies, que mutuamente podem ser beneficiadas ou prejudicadas, quanto à germinação e desenvolvimento inicial. Procurou-se neste trabalho investigar o potencial alelopático de exsudatos de sementes de Cajanus cajan e Bauhinia forficata sobre espécie bioindicadora (Solanum lycopersicum - tomate); e o efeito alelopático destes mesmos exsudatos sobre espécies florestais (Bauhinia forficata e Parapiptadenia rigida). O experimento foi conduzido em laboratório, e os tratamentos foram: Testemunha; Exsudatos das Fases I e II da curva de embebição das sementes de C. cajan e B. forficata, que foram submetidos a testes de pH, condutividade elétrica e prospecção fitoquímica. A espécie bioindicadora submetida aos tratamentos foi avaliada quanto à germinação, desenvolvimento inicial, atividade enzimática antioxidante e peroxidação lipídica. As espécies florestais submetidas aos tratamentos foram avaliadas quanto à germinação e desenvolvimento inicial. Segundo a condutividade elétrica, houve maior liberação de exsudatos das espécies precursoras na fase II de embebição. Todos os exsudatos apresentaram aleloquímicos em sua composição. Quanto ao potencial alelopático, conclui-se, que os exsudatos das sementes de C. cajan e B. forficata não afetaram negativamente a germinação, desenvolvimento inicial e atividade enzimática antioxidante da planta bioindicadora, pelo contrário, beneficiou o desempenho das variáveis avaliadas do tomate. Quanto ao efeito alelopático, o exsudato da fase I de embebição de C. cajan, e das fases I e II das sementes de B. forficata estimularam o comprimento da parte aérea de P. rigida. Porém, o exsudato da fase II de embebição das sementes de C. cajan, influenciou negativamente a germinação e desenvolvimento inicial de B. forficata. E ainda retardou a germinação de P. rigida.

To date, there has been little research into the role of microbial community structure in the functioning of the soil ecosystem and on the links between microbial biomass size, microbial activity and key soil processes that drive nutrient availability. The maintenance of structural and functional diversity of the soil microbial community is essential to ensure the sustainability of agricultural production systems. Soils of the same type with similar fertility that had been under long-term organic and conventional crop management in Canterbury, New Zealand, were selected to investigate relationships between microbial community composition, function and potential environmental impacts. The effects of different fertilisation strategies on soil biology and nitrogen (N) dynamics were investigated under field (farm site comparison), semi-controlled (lysimeter study) and controlled (incubation experiments) conditions by determining soil microbial biomass carbon (C) and N, enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, arginine deaminase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis), microbial community structure (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis following PCR amplification of 16S and 18S rDNA fragments using selected primer sets) and N dynamics (mineralisation and leaching). The farm site comparison revealed distinct differences between the soils in microbial community structure, microbial biomass C (conventional > organic) and arginine deaminase activity (organic > conventional). In the lysimeter study, the soils were subjected to the same crop rotation (barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), maize (Zea mays L.), rape (Brassica napus L. ssp. oleifera (Moench)) plus a lupin green manure (Lupinus angustifolius L.) and two fertiliser regimes (following common organic and conventional practice). Soil biological properties, microbial community structure and mineral N leaching losses were determined over 2½ years. Differences in mineral leaching losses were not significant between treatments (total organic management: 24.2 kg N per ha; conventional management: 28.6 kg N per ha). Crop rotation and plant type had a larger influence on the microbial biomass, activity and community structure than fertilisation. Initial differences between soils decreased over time for most biological soil properties, while they persisted for the enzyme activities (e.g. dehydrogenase activity: 4.0 and 2.9 µg per g and h for organic and conventional management history, respectively). A lack of consistent positive links between enzyme activities and microbial biomass size indicated that similarly sized and structured microbial communities can express varying rates of activity. In two successive incubation experiments, the soils were amended with different rates of a lupin green manure (4 or 8t dry matter per ha), and different forms of N at 100 kg per ha (urea and lupin) and incubated for 3 months. Samples were taken periodically, and in addition to soil biological properties and community structure, gross N mineralisation was determined. The form of N had a strong effect on microbial soil properties. Organic amendment resulted in a 2 to 5-fold increase in microbial biomass and enzyme activities, while microbial community structure was influenced by the addition or lack of C or N substrate. Correlation analyses suggested treatment-related differences in nutrient availability, microbial structural diversity (species richness or evenness) and physiological properties of the microbial community. The findings of this thesis showed that using green manures and crop rotations improved soil biology in both production systems, that no relationships existed between microbial structure, enzyme activities and N mineralisation, and that enzyme activities and microbial community structure are more closely associated with inherent soil and environmental factors, which makes them less useful as early indicators of changes in soil quality.

This thesis presents two interrelated studies that consider nutrient management and seasonal changes in recharge on agricultural lands within the context of source water protection. The research focuses first on the management of the risk to groundwater quality through the implementation of various nutrient management practices and secondly considers the dynamic nature of the transport pathway to the groundwater system associated with seasonal changes in climate and hydrology. The combined results provide insight into several of the key factors influencing the protection of groundwater sources within the agricultural landscape. Field work was completed between 2009 and 2010 on an agricultural field near the City of Woodstock, Ontario. The site is located within a source water protection area; the two-year travel time zone of the Thornton Well Field which represents the primary water supply for the City of Woodstock and which has experienced chronic increases in nitrate concentrations over the last few decades. The wells are completed in glacial overburden consisting of intermingling sand and gravel till aquifers which overly a limestone bedrock aquifer. Agricultural best or beneficial management practices (BMPs) field have been implemented and monitored since 2004. The BMPs were adopted in order to reduce nitrogen losses to the aquifer, and consisted of a reduction in nitrogen fertilizer application rates over a series of agricultural fields located near the well The first study is a one year experiment designed to compare alternative nutrient management practices for corn. Combinations of fertilizer treatments with or without a legume cover crop (red clover) were assessed. The fertilizer treatments studied were: a polymer coated urea (slow-release fertilizer) applied at planting, a conventional urea applied at planting, side-dress treatment of a solution of urea and ammonium nitrate in water containing 28% nitrogen with two different application rates applied in the early summer, and a control. The legume cover crop was incorporated in the soil in the previous fall, and acts as a slow release fertilizer as nitrogen is made available to the following crop as the plants decompose. Treatments were compared based on crop yield, overall economic return, and the potential for nitrate leaching. The potential for nitrate leaching was evaluated with bi-weekly shallow soil core during the growing season, and deep soil cores taken before planting, after harvest and the following spring. The deep cores allowed changes in nitrate storage below the rooting zone to be assessed. The results of this study highlight the importance of timing of fertilizer applications and rate of fertilizer applications. Treatments which provide a delay in the release or application of fertilizer, the polymer-coated urea, the calculator-rate side-dress and the clover cover crop, were found to be advantageous. The polymer-coated urea treatments and side-dress treatments were found to reduce leaching compared to the conventional urea treatment. Treatments with the clover cover crops were not found to reduce crop yields or increase leaching potential, and lower fertilizer costs associated to this practice were found to have a positive economic effect. Plots treated with the high-rate side-dress fertilizer application lost more nitrate to the subsurface compared to the other treatment options, and an economic disadvantage was observed as yields did not compensate for higher fertilizer costs. The study highlights the advantages of the different treatments under study, which may be used to inform policy makers and farmers in the selection of economically and environmentally sustainable nutrient management BMP options. Groundwater monitoring at the site over the years has indentified interesting recharge dynamics, particularly in the vicinity of an ephemeral stream which develops annually during spring and winter melt events in a low lying area of the study site. It was hypothesized that rapid recharge could occur beneath the stream allowing for surface water to quickly reach groundwater, posing a threat to municipal water wells. The current framework of source water protection does not take into account the potential risk posed by this type recharge event. At this field site, rapid infiltration associated with this type of event may pose a risk to drinking water quality due to the proximity of the stream to the pumping wells and the nature of the aquifer. The second study examines rapid groundwater recharge processes beneath the ephemeral stream during the course of a spring melt in 2010. The goals of the study were to quantify recharge at one location beneath the stream and to assess whether temperature variations above the water table can be used as a tracer to reasonably estimate recharge during a short live recharge event. A novel housing for the temperature sensors was designed in order to deploy and position them into gravelly materials within the vadose zone, which reduced the potential for the formation of preferential pathways and permitted the retrieval of the sensors at a later date. Field data were collected during the course of the spring melt period from a network of groundwater monitoring wells and subsurface temperature sensors. Spatial and temporal changes in groundwater geochemistry, hydraulic head and temperature were were used to characterize recharge dynamics at the field site. Recharge beneath a segment of the ephemeral stream was quantified through the numerical analysis of the field data using Hydrus 1-D, a one-dimensional numerical model designed to simulate soil water flow and heat transport in variably saturated porous media. Site specific data were used to create the model domain, provide estimates of physical parameters, and to define initial and time variable boundary conditions. Model parameters were first calibrated by simulating periods where it was expected that soils would be gravity drained with minimal soil water flow, and then further refined by simulating the period when the ephemeral stream was present. A final set of parameters was determined, and the initial gravity drained conditions were re-simulated. The model was able to reproduce field observations under different flow scenarios using the final set of parameters, suggesting that the conceptual model and final model domain representative of the actual field conditions. The successful simulation of the field data sets under the different flow scenarios also increases confidence in the uniqueness of the model results. The model estimated that 0.15 m of recharge occurred beneath the instrumented site during the period between March 9th and March 22nd of 2010 when the ephemeral stream was present. This represents approximately a third of the expected total annual recharge for this location. Regional changes in hydraulic head, groundwater temperature and groundwater chemistry provided additional insight into the dynamic nature of the recharge process during the spring meld period and further illustrated the spatial variability of the aquifers’ response to the stream. The study found that the use of temperature as a tracer provided useful and quantifiable insight into recharge phenomena. The results of this study suggest that high rates of rapid recharge occur beneath the ephemeral stream, and are spatially variable. This type of focused infiltration that occurs during the spring melt may represent a risk to municipal water quality if the infiltrating waters are carrying contaminants.