Fernando César Bachiega Zambrosi

Liming and Ionic speciation of an Oxisol under no-till system

The chemical speciation of the soil solution is an important tool for evaluating nutrient availability and aluminum phytotoxicity. The effect of liming in the composition of the soil solution under the no-till (NT) system is still not well known. We evaluated the chemical speciation of Al and nutrients in the soil solution (water extract 1:1), five years after liming at the moment of the establishment of NT in a native pasture, in Ponta Grossa, Parana State, Brazil. Dolomitic lime was applied at a rate of 4.5 t ha -1 (either incorporated or surface-applied), or split in three annual rates of 1.5 t ha -1 . Soil samples from a dystrophic clayey Rhodic Hapludox were collected at the 0 - 0.05; 0.05 - 0.1; 0.1 - 0.2; 0.2 - 0.4; 0.4 - 0.6; and 0.6 - 0.8 m layers, in May, 2003. Aluminum was mainly complexed to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and fluoride, while the free form Al 3+ was present in fewer amounts even under acidic conditions. Calcium and magnesium were found as free forms (Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ ) and complexed by organic anions. Phosphorus was found as free forms (HPO 4 2- , H 2 PO 4 - ) and complexed with aluminum (ionic pair Al-H x PO 4 x ) up to 0.1 m. Complexation of Al by DOC was not influenced by surface-applied or incorporated liming. Liming did not change Ca and Mg speciation in the soil solution under NT system. The presence of free forms HPO 4 2- and H 2 PO 4 - , however, was influenced by liming, because of the increase in cation associated forms.

Contribution of phosphorus ( 32 P) absorption and remobilization for citrus growth

Background and aimsPhosphorus (P) is a mobile nutrient in the plant so growth depends on its internal remobilization and a plant’s ability to respond to its availability in the growing media. This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of P status and rootstocks on the patterns of P uptake and remobilization in orange trees.MethodsSweet orange trees on Cleopatra mandarin (CM) or Rangpur lime (RL) rootstocks were grown for nine months in nutrient solution (NS) that was either P-deficient (DNS) or was P-sufficient (SNS). After this period, half of the trees were reciprocally transferred between DNS and SNS (from D to S and S to D), while the others remained in their initial P availability.ResultsTrees on RL had more shoot and root growth, accumulated more P and had greater efficiency of P absorption and transport to the shoot (PAE) than those on CM. The major source of P for growth was previously stored P even with an adequate current P supply to the roots. This suggested the dominance of P remobilization over P uptake and the requirement that trees had sufficient stored P to meet P demand of new growth. Trees on CM had greater concentrations of remobilized P in new shoots than trees on RL.ConclusionTrees grafted on rootstocks less able to take up P (CM) were more dependent on the internal reserves of P for new growth than rootstocks with higher PAE (RL).

Anatomical and Physiological Responses of Citrus Trees to Varying Boron Availability Are Dependent on Rootstock.

In Citrus, water, nutrient transport and thereby fruit production, are influenced among other factors, by the interaction between rootstock and boron (B) nutrition. This study aimed to investigate how B affects the anatomical structure of roots and leaves as well as leaf gas exchange in sweet orange trees grafted on two contrasting rootstocks in response to B supply. Plants grafted on Swingle citrumelo or Sunki mandarin were grown in a nutrient solution of varying B concentration (deficient, adequate, and excessive). Those grafted on Swingle were more tolerant to both B deficiency and toxicity than those on Sunki, as revealed by higher shoot and root growth. In addition, plants grafted on Sunki exhibited more severe anatomical and physiological damages under B deficiency, showing thickening of xylem cell walls and impairments in whole-plant leaf-specific hydraulic conductance and leaf CO2 assimilation. Our data revealed that trees grafted on Swingle sustain better growth under low B availablitlity in the root medium and still respond positively to increased B levels by combining higher B absorption and root growth as well as better organization of xylem vessels. Taken together, those traits improved water and B transport to the plant canopy. Under B toxicity, Swingle rootstock would also favor plant growth by reducing anatomical and ultrastructural damage to leaf tissue and improving water transport compared with plants grafted on Sunki. From a practical point of view, our results highlight that B management in citrus orchards shall take into account rootstock varieties, of which the Swingle rootstock was characterized by its performance on regulating anatomical and ultrastructural damages, improving water transport and limiting negative impacts of B stress conditions on plant growth.

Cadmium Accumulation by Jack-Bean and Sorghum in Hydroponic Culture

Among the technologies used to recuperate cadmium (Cd) contaminated soils, phytoextraction are particularly important, where the selection of suitable plants is critical to the success of the soil remediation. Thus, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the responses of jack-bean and sorghum to Cd supply and to quantify Cd accumulation by these species grown in hydroponic culture. The plants were subjected to 0, 15, 30, or 60 μmol Cd L−1 in the nutrient solution, and gas exchange, plant growth and Cd accumulation were measured at 25 days after starting Cd treatments. The Cd supply severely reduced growth of shoots and roots in both species. In jack-bean, Cd decreased photosynthesis by 56–86%, stomatal conductance by 59–85% and transpiration by 48–80%. The concentrations and amounts of Cd accumulated in the plant tissues were proportional to the metal supply in the nutrient solution. Sorghum was more tolerant than jack-bean to Cd toxicity, but the latter showed a greater metal concentration and accumulation in the shoot. Therefore, jack-bean would be more suitable than sorghum for use in Cd phytoremediation programs based on phytoextraction.

O alto teor de silício no solo inibe o crescimento radicular de cafeeiros sem afetar as trocas gasosas foliares

Several studies have confirmed the benefits of silicon (Si) for crop growth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Si on the initial growth of coffee plants cv. Catuai Vermelho. This study was carried out with potted plants grown in a greenhouse, without water deficiency. Dry matter partitioning of roots, stems and leaves as well as the chemical composition of plant tissues and soil and leaf gas exchange were evaluated in plants treated with 0 (control), 1.5 and 6 Mg ha-1 of calcium silicate. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design, with three treatments, and 3, 4 or 18 replications, depending on the evaluated variable. Each plot consisted of one plant. Regarding height and total dry matter, the plant growth was satisfactory in all treatments, with daily increases similar to the expected for well-fertilized coffee plants. The treatments resulted in increased soil and plant Ca and Si concentrations. Considering that only leaf Ca concentration was affected by treatments and its concentration was not deleterious, the observed responses are consequences of the high soil Si concentrations. Root dry matter of plants treated with 6 Mg ha-1 of calcium silicate decreased and the ratio between shoot and root dry matter increased 130 days after the beginning of the experiment. Despite the decreases in root growth and in Ca use efficiency, leaf CO2 assimilation and stomatal conductance of the coffee plants were not affected. In summary, high soil concentrations of calcium silicate decrease the root growth of Arabica coffee plants cv. Catuai Vermelho; however, the functionality and development of shoots in well-nourished plants growing under well-watered conditions are not affected.

Adubação com fósforo em cana-soca e sua interação com magnésio

There are still doubts with regard to the efficiency of P fertilization in the sugarcane ratoon and the interaction between P and other nutrients that could affect the responses to P reapplication. An experiment was set up to evaluate the effects of P rates (45 and 90 kg ha -1 of P 2 O 5 ) applied either in the absence or presence of Mg fertilizer (50 kg ha -1 of Mg) on the stalk yield, of sugarcane ratoon. P fertilization increased stalk yield in 17% compared to the control treatment (no P fertilizer). However, such response did not depend on Mg fertilization, suggesting that Mg was not critical to the occurrence of P response. The P nutritional status of sugarcane was not also affected by Mg application, being altered exclusively by P fertilization. P content in the leaves varied significantly (p<0.05) from 1.4 g kg -1 in the control to 1.7 g kg -1 and 1.9 g kg -1 in the treatments with application of 45 and 90 kg ha -1 of P 2 O 5 , respectively. P fertilization increased in 21% and 16%, the efficiency in the use of N and K fertilizers, respectively, compared to the control. The results suggest that increases in the yield of sugarcane ratoon cultivated in a low-P soil can be obtained with P reapplication, what might be related to the improvements on the P nutritional status of the plants.

Teores de alumínio trocável e não trocável após calagem e gessagem em Latossolo sob plantio direto

No-tillage (NT) system contributes for the increase of soil organic matter (OM) contents, changing the ratio between exchangeable and non-exchangeable Al due to cation complexation. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of lime and gypsum application in the contents of exchangeable aluminum (Al-KCl), exchangeable + non-exchangeable aluminum (Al-CuCl2), and non-exchangeable Al from samples of a dystrophic clayey Rhodic Hapludox under NT for 55 months, in Ponta Grossa - PR. The NT system was implemented on a native pasture between July and October of 1998. Three methods of lime application were evaluated: a single application of 4.5 t ha-1, either incorporated down to 20 cm or surface applied, and 1.5 t ha-1 applied in each of three years. In the subplots, 3, 6 or 9 t ha-1 of gypsum were applied. The liming decreased contents of Al-KCl, Al-CuCl2 and non-exchangeable Al. Both Al forms related negatively with soil pH. Even with large soil acidity, exchangeable Al contents were low, and non-exchangeable Al was the predominant form, representing 98, 95, 91, and 89 % of total Al, at 0-0.05; 0.05-0.1; 0.1-0.2, and 0.2-0.4 m, respectively. Gypsum application did not affected Al-KCl, Al-CuCl2 and non-exchangeable contents.

PHOSPHORUS DEFICIENCY IMPAIRS SHOOT REGROWTH OF SUGARCANE VARIETIES

The shoot regrowth vigour of sugarcane varieties having contrasting phosphorus (P) efficiency was evaluated under varying soil P availability. The P-inefficient (IAC91–1099 and IACSP94–2101) and -efficient (IACSP94–2094 and IACSP95–5000) sugarcane varieties were grown under low (25 mg P kg −1 soil) or high (400 mg P kg −1 soil) P supply at planting. After 90 days (first cycle of growth), the shoots were harvested and regrowth was studied 70–75 days later by evaluating photosynthesis, leaf area formation, biomass production and P uptake. The shoot dry matter (DM) of sugarcane regrowth subjected to a low P supply was genotype-dependent, with the P-efficient varieties exhibiting greater values than the inefficient ones. This result was explained by the greater efficiency of IACSP94–2094 and IACSP95–5000 in acquiring P rather than P utilization efficiency for shoot biomass production. The root P stored during the first cycle of growth would represent only a minor fraction ( 2 assimilation per leaf area was not associated with differential performance among varieties under P deficiency, suggesting a more critical role of total leaf area in photosynthate supply for sugarcane regrowth. In conclusion, sugarcane regrowth is improved in P-efficient varieties under P deficiency conditions, a finding of practical relevance as such ability might benefit the productivity and the longevity of sugarcane ratoons in low P tropical soils.

Phosphite and Phosphate Have Contrasting Effects on Nutrient Status of Plants

ABSTRACT A comprehensive knowledge of the factors underlying the performance of plants under phosphite (Phi) nutrition is critical for its rational use in agriculture. Therefore, the effects of Phi on nutrient status of plants were evaluated by growing oat (Avena sativa) for 60 days in nutrient solutions containing three P treatments: 0.5 mmol L−1 of phosphate (Pi sufficient, Pi-S), 0.05 mmol L−1 of Pi (Pi deficient, Pi-D), and 0.5 mmol L−1 of Phi. In comparison with Pi-S, the Phi impaired plant growth in a more pronounced manner than Pi-D, suggesting toxic effects. Phi plants did not show any variation in N, P, and Ca concentrations in the shoot, but there were reductions in the concentrations of Mg and S and increased concentrations of K, B, Mn, and Zn compared with Pi-S plants. In the root, the Phi decreased the concentrations of P, Ca, Mg, S, and B but increased N, K, Fe, and Mn. In conclusion, Phi and Pi had distinct influence on nutrient status of oat, which contributes to explaining the contrasting performance of plants under Pi or Phi nutrition. These results might also suggest the need for a differential nutritional management in plants under frequent Phi applications.

Micronutrient supply through granular-coated single superphosphate under field conditions

ABSTRACT The lack of efficient methods for soil-based micronutrient fertilization in field crops at sowing remains an important limiting factor for agricultural production in low fertility soils. Therefore, we evaluated the efficiency of single superphosphate (SSP) coated with either finely ground zinc (Zn) oxide or manganese (Mn) carbonate to supply Zn to corn (Zea mays L.), and Mn to soybean (Glycine max L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) versus traditional sources (oxide and sulfate). One experiment for each micronutrient was performed under field conditions in two sequential growing cycles: rainy season (corn and soybean) and off-season (corn and oat). Treatments were combination of Zn or Mn fertilizers (oxide, sulfate, and SSP coated with Zn oxide or Mn carbonate) at rates of 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 kg ha−1 of Zn or Mn, plus a control. Micronutrient fertilization showed, relative to the unfertilized control, significant increases in shoot biomass at flowering, crop yield (corn silage and soybean grain), and leaf concentration and shoot uptake of Zn and Mn during the rainy season. Residual effect of Zn on off-season corn crop represented a 43% increase in grain yield over the control. However, oat did not respond to residual Mn. The positive effects of Zn and Mn application on crop performance did not depend on fertilizer material, suggesting similar fertilizer-use efficiency. We concluded that banded application of SSP coated with either finely ground Zn oxide or Mn carbonate would be a viable option to supply these micronutrients at the time of sowing in micronutrient-deficient soils.