A população de plantas é um dos fatores que impacta fortemente na produtividade da cultura do milho (Zea mays); justá-la localmente é uma das estratégias para gerenciar a variabilidade das lavouras e otimizar o uso de recursos do ambiente que não estão sob o controle do produtor rural, como o tipo de solo e a capacidade de retenção de água. O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar a produtividade de híbridos de milho submetidos à semeadura em taxas variáveis (STV) em unidades de gestão diferenciada (UGD). Foi utilizado o total de dez híbridos de milho testados em cinco níveis de populações de plantas a partir da população regularmente recomendada (60%, 80%, 100%, 120% e 140%). Foram conduzidos cinco experimentos em talhões comerciais entre os anos de 2012 e 2015, no Brasil, na região Centro-Oeste (Maracajú -MS), durante a segunda safra de verão (safrinha) e na região Sul (Piraí do Sul - PR), durante a safra de verão. A pesquisa foi dividida em duas etapas principais: (1) delimitação das UGD e (2) implantação dos experimentos em faixas variando híbridos e população de plantas ao longo das UGD. Foram utilizados mapas históricos de produtividade (MP), mapa de condutividade elétrica do solo (CE) e mapa de altitude como atributos que deram origem às UGD. Dois métodos distintos de agrupamentos foram analisados: o método de \"cluster\" por \"K-means\" e o método pela média normalizada. As análises das UGD foram realizadas com base na estatística descritiva. Os experimentos em faixas tiveram os dados de produtividade referentes aos híbridos, população e UGD submetidos às análises de variância pelo F-teste e ANOVA e análise de regressão em função dos níveis de população de plantas por área. Foi possível discriminar, através das UGD, diferentes níveis de produtividade, CE do solo e concentração de nutrientes (CE, pH, CTC Efetiva, Argila, Areia, V%, M.O, e K), indicando que os procedimentos utilizados nesse estudo para a definição de UGD foram eficientes. O método de formação de UGD pela média normalizada proporcionou maior homogeneidade interna das UGD comparativamente ao método de \"Cluster K-means\". A qualidade da distribuição longitudinal medida pelo espaçamento entre plantas (indicador da efetividade dos níveis de população) variou de 81% a 90% de espaçamentos aceitáveis entre os locais avaliados. A análise de variância foi significativa (P<0,05) para interação tripla entre híbridos, população de plantas e UGD assim com as regressões foram significativas e os melhores modelos tiveram ajuste quadrático para população e produtividade na área da região Centro-Oeste - MS. Nas áreas da região Sul os experimentos não foram significativos. A população de plantas ótima pode diferir em até 5743 pl ha-1 entre as diferentes UGD dentro de um mesmo talhão. Quanto menor a média de produtividade do talhão, mais restritiva é a faixa de população ótima. No entanto, não há uma recomendação simples a respeito da população de plantas ótima para cada UGD. / Plant population per unit area is one of the most important aspects under the farmer\'s control that can influence maize grain yield. As the availability of resources for the growth of plants (like water availability and soil attributes) are not uniform along the fields, and considering the unfeasibility to change the environment setting, plant population per area is a key aspect under the farmer\'s control to optimize the use of these resources. This study aims to carry a comprehensive study of the strategy of variable rate seeding (VRS) within zones of distinct resource availability (management zones - MZ). A seasonal experimental design was set consisting in selecting ten different hybrids and five ranks of plant populations starting with a local recommended seeding rate and offsetting it in 40% and 20% below and above this reference. Five field experiments were conducted in commercial fields from 2012 to 2015 in two regions with distinct growing seasons in Brazil. In the Midwest region (Maracaju - MS) where corn is grown as a secondary crop following soybean within one season, and in the Southern region (Piraí do Sul - PR) where corn is grown as primary crop during the summer season; both under rain fed and no-tillage system. This research was split into two main stages: (1) definition of management zones (MZ) within agricultural fields and (2) implementation of strip tests varying hybrids and plant populations across MZ. The attributes used to delineate MZ were soil electrical conductivity (EC), yield maps (YM) and elevation. Two methods were analyzed to delineate MZ: cluster K-means and standardized average. MZ were analyzed by descriptive statistics. On the experimental data gathered from each seasonexperiment, yield of the hybrids, plant density and MZ were submitted to analysis of variance by F-test, ANOVA and regression analysis. MZ were able to differentiate levels of yield, and soil properties (EC, pH, Effective CTC, clay, sand, V%, MO, and K), suggesting that the procedures to define MZ used in this study were efficient. The standardized average provides greater internal homogeneity of MZ compared with the Cluster K-means. The quality of regular spacing between plants (indicator of seed rate quality) was 90% to 81% at all locations. The analyses of variance were significant (P < 0.05) for triple interaction between hybrids, plant population, and for the MZ at the Midwest region. For fields studied in the South the tests were not significant. The optimal plant population at the Midwest region can vary by up to 5743 pl ha-1 across MZ within the same field. Lower yield averages have a narrow optimal plant population interval. However, there is no simple recommendation regarding the optimal plant population across MZ.

Precision management of cotton production can increase profitability by decreasing inputs. The overall objective of this project is to improve cotton production by minimizing seeding rates while still maximizing yields and lint quality in water-limited soils. The research for this study was conducted at the Texas AgriLife Research IMPACT Center located in the Brazos River floodplain. In 2008 and 2009, 27 measurement locations were selected in production-sized center-pivot irrigated fields and planted in cotton variety Deltapine 164 roundup ready flex / bollgard II. Sites were selected based on soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) values, in a low, medium, and high ECa zones. Three seeding rates (74,100; 98,800; and 123,500 seeds ha-1) were established in each of the three ECa zones with three replications. In 2009, an additional seeding rate was added at 49,400 seeds ha-1. At each measurement location, soil texture, soil moisture (weekly), lint quantity and quality (High Volume Instrument) were measured. An additional replication for each ECa zone and seeding rate was selected for lint quantity and quality (HVI) measurements. Results indicated that cotton lint yield increased as ECa values, clay content, and water holding capacity of the soil increased. The seeding rates did not consistently affect cotton lint yield or quality. Seeding rates of 74,100 and 49,400 seeds ha-1 in a low and medium ECa zone for IMPACT-08 and -09 yielded more lint (300 kg ha-1), respectively. HVI lint quality parameters, such as, micronaire, fiber length, strength, uniformity, and elongation were significantly better in ECa zone 3. While the seeding rates did not affect the amount of soil water used throughout the season, lint yield variations between ECa zones can be explained by the rate at which soil water was used. Lower rates at which soil water was used within ECa zone 3 resulted in higher lint yields when compared to ECa zones 1 and 2, which used soil water faster and at greater depths. The findings suggest that irrigation applied to the low ECa zone was not sufficient to meet the plants demand, while in a high ECa zone, irrigation could have been reduced, resulting in cost savings through reduced inputs.

A população de plantas é um dos fatores que impacta fortemente na produtividade da cultura do milho (Zea mays); justá-la localmente é uma das estratégias para gerenciar a variabilidade das lavouras e otimizar o uso de recursos do ambiente que não estão sob o controle do produtor rural, como o tipo de solo e a capacidade de retenção de água. O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar a produtividade de híbridos de milho submetidos à semeadura em taxas variáveis (STV) em unidades de gestão diferenciada (UGD). Foi utilizado o total de dez híbridos de milho testados em cinco níveis de populações de plantas a partir da população regularmente recomendada (60%, 80%, 100%, 120% e 140%). Foram conduzidos cinco experimentos em talhões comerciais entre os anos de 2012 e 2015, no Brasil, na região Centro-Oeste (Maracajú -MS), durante a segunda safra de verão (safrinha) e na região Sul (Piraí do Sul - PR), durante a safra de verão. A pesquisa foi dividida em duas etapas principais: (1) delimitação das UGD e (2) implantação dos experimentos em faixas variando híbridos e população de plantas ao longo das UGD. Foram utilizados mapas históricos de produtividade (MP), mapa de condutividade elétrica do solo (CE) e mapa de altitude como atributos que deram origem às UGD. Dois métodos distintos de agrupamentos foram analisados: o método de \"cluster\" por \"K-means\" e o método pela média normalizada. As análises das UGD foram realizadas com base na estatística descritiva. Os experimentos em faixas tiveram os dados de produtividade referentes aos híbridos, população e UGD submetidos às análises de variância pelo F-teste e ANOVA e análise de regressão em função dos níveis de população de plantas por área. Foi possível discriminar, através das UGD, diferentes níveis de produtividade, CE do solo e concentração de nutrientes (CE, pH, CTC Efetiva, Argila, Areia, V%, M.O, e K), indicando que os procedimentos utilizados nesse estudo para a definição de UGD foram eficientes. O método de formação de UGD pela média normalizada proporcionou maior homogeneidade interna das UGD comparativamente ao método de \"Cluster K-means\". A qualidade da distribuição longitudinal medida pelo espaçamento entre plantas (indicador da efetividade dos níveis de população) variou de 81% a 90% de espaçamentos aceitáveis entre os locais avaliados. A análise de variância foi significativa (P<0,05) para interação tripla entre híbridos, população de plantas e UGD assim com as regressões foram significativas e os melhores modelos tiveram ajuste quadrático para população e produtividade na área da região Centro-Oeste - MS. Nas áreas da região Sul os experimentos não foram significativos. A população de plantas ótima pode diferir em até 5743 pl ha-1 entre as diferentes UGD dentro de um mesmo talhão. Quanto menor a média de produtividade do talhão, mais restritiva é a faixa de população ótima. No entanto, não há uma recomendação simples a respeito da população de plantas ótima para cada UGD. / Plant population per unit area is one of the most important aspects under the farmer\'s control that can influence maize grain yield. As the availability of resources for the growth of plants (like water availability and soil attributes) are not uniform along the fields, and considering the unfeasibility to change the environment setting, plant population per area is a key aspect under the farmer\'s control to optimize the use of these resources. This study aims to carry a comprehensive study of the strategy of variable rate seeding (VRS) within zones of distinct resource availability (management zones - MZ). A seasonal experimental design was set consisting in selecting ten different hybrids and five ranks of plant populations starting with a local recommended seeding rate and offsetting it in 40% and 20% below and above this reference. Five field experiments were conducted in commercial fields from 2012 to 2015 in two regions with distinct growing seasons in Brazil. In the Midwest region (Maracaju - MS) where corn is grown as a secondary crop following soybean within one season, and in the Southern region (Piraí do Sul - PR) where corn is grown as primary crop during the summer season; both under rain fed and no-tillage system. This research was split into two main stages: (1) definition of management zones (MZ) within agricultural fields and (2) implementation of strip tests varying hybrids and plant populations across MZ. The attributes used to delineate MZ were soil electrical conductivity (EC), yield maps (YM) and elevation. Two methods were analyzed to delineate MZ: cluster K-means and standardized average. MZ were analyzed by descriptive statistics. On the experimental data gathered from each seasonexperiment, yield of the hybrids, plant density and MZ were submitted to analysis of variance by F-test, ANOVA and regression analysis. MZ were able to differentiate levels of yield, and soil properties (EC, pH, Effective CTC, clay, sand, V%, MO, and K), suggesting that the procedures to define MZ used in this study were efficient. The standardized average provides greater internal homogeneity of MZ compared with the Cluster K-means. The quality of regular spacing between plants (indicator of seed rate quality) was 90% to 81% at all locations. The analyses of variance were significant (P < 0.05) for triple interaction between hybrids, plant population, and for the MZ at the Midwest region. For fields studied in the South the tests were not significant. The optimal plant population at the Midwest region can vary by up to 5743 pl ha-1 across MZ within the same field. Lower yield averages have a narrow optimal plant population interval. However, there is no simple recommendation regarding the optimal plant population across MZ.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Scott A. Staggenborg / Spatial variability in plant available water can be caused by uncontrollable factors such as topography and soil texture as well as controllable factors such as residue management. Research located on the High Plains evaluated the impact of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) stubble height on snow catch, plant available water at seeding, and optimal corn seeding rates. Treatments consisted of stripper harvest height of 71 cm (28 in.), cut heights of 25 cm (10 in.), and 10 cm (4 in.) Measured snow depths were significantly different among treatments (p<0.0001) with equivalent precipitation of 5.77 (2.27), 3.25 (1.28), and 1.73 cm (0.68 in.) for the stripped, 25 cm, and 10 cm heights respectively. Available soil water at planting increased 24% as stubble height increased from 10 to 71 cm (4 to 28 in) in one year of the study. Two corn hybrids of varying maturity (97 and 108 days) were planted into the stubble treatments at seeding rates ranging from 2.47 to 5.43 plants m[superscript]-2 (10 to 22 000 plants ac[superscript]-1). In the dry year, the long season hybrid responded positively to increasing population in tall stubble and negatively in short stubble. Yield of the short season hybrid increased with increasing stubble height and was mostly unresponsive to population. Grain yields of both hybrids responded positively to increasing plant population in a wet year. Treatments also affected the yield components of yield plant[superscript]-1, kernel weight, and kernels plant[superscript]-1. Managing seeding rates for uncontrollable factors was attempted with small-plot and field scale research across 3 fields in northeast Kansas. A relationship between soil electro-conductivity (EC) and measured water holding capacity values was developed for one study field. This quadratic relationship was significant (p<0.0001) and explained variability in water holding capacity with respect to EC quite well (R[superscript]2=0.6239). Responses from small plots showed that sites differing in population response characteristics could be identified. Field scale data was used to derive a function describing optimal seeding rate with respect to soil EC. In the field under study, optimal seeding rates varied from 3.08 to 8.74 plants m[superscript]-2 (12 500 to 35 375 plants ac-1).

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