Derblai Casaroli

A split-pot experiment with sorghum to test a root water uptake partitioning model

Correct modeling of root water uptake partitioning over depth is an important issue in hydrological and crop growth models. Recently a physically based model to describe root water uptake was developed at single root scale and upscaled to the root system scale considering a homogeneous distribution of roots per soil layer. Root water uptake partitioning is calculated over soil layers or compartments as a function of respective soil hydraulic conditions, specifically the soil matric flux potential, root characteristics and a root system efficiency factor to compensate for within-layer root system heterogeneities. The performance of this model was tested in an experiment performed in two-compartment split-pot lysimeters with sorghum plants. The compartments were submitted to different irrigation cycles resulting in contrasting water contents over time. The root system efficiency factor was determined to be about 0.05. Release of water from roots to soil was predicted and observed on several occasions during the experiment; however, model predictions suggested root water release to occur more often and at a higher rate than observed. This may be due to not considering internal root system resistances, thus overestimating the ease with which roots can act as conductors of water. Excluding these erroneous predictions from the dataset, statistical indices show model performance to be of good quality.

Testes para determinação do potencial fisiológico de sementes de abóbora

This work aimed to determine the efficiency of different tests to access the physiological potential of squash seed lots. Six seed lots were submitted to germination and vigor tests (germination first count; speed of germination; cool germination; accelerated aging; seedling emergence; seedlings growth and dry biomass (root, hypocotyl and total) and plants (root, stem and total length, root, stem, root plus stem, leaves and total). A completely randomized design was used with four replicates. The averages were compared by the Tukey test (p < 0.05). Pearsons correlation test was also performed. The germination first count, speed of germination, accelerated aging, root plus stem and leaves dry biomass from plants evaluated in the 21st day after sowing can be used to determine the physiological potential of squash seeds.

O teste de frio sem solo em sementes de abóbora

This research was aimed at determining the exposition period at low temperature in the modified cold germination test, to evaluate physiological potential of squash seed lots. Six seed lots of squash, variety Menina Brasileira (Cucurbita moschata Duch.), produced in 2003/2004, were submitted at different exposition times for the development of the cold test. The modified cold gernation test was carried out at 10°C of constant temperature, during exposition time of three, five, seven and nine days. A completely randomized desing was used to the cold test, 0 constituting a factorial 6x4, corresponding to the six seed lots and four exposition time (3, 5, 7, and 9 days), with four repetitions. The averages were compared by the Tukey test, at 5% of probability. The correlation test of Person (r) was used too. For the modified cold germination test, the period of three days was the most indicated to evaluate the physiological potential of squash seeds.