Junia Maria Clemente

Effect of N and K doses in nutritive solution on growth, production and coffee bean size

O suprimento adequado de nutrientes ao cafeeiro e essencial para obtencao de alta produtividade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do nitrogenio, do potassio e da relacao N:K no crescimento vegetativo e reprodutivo do cafeeiro. Para isto, plantas de cafe receberam solucao nutritiva, contendo K nas concentracoes de 1,08; 2,15; 3,23 e 5,38 mmol L-1, combinadas com a dose de 6 mmol L-1 de N, obtendo-se as relacoes N:K (p/p):1,0:0,5; 1,0:1,0; 1,0:1,5; 1,0:2,5. O tratamento controle continha as doses de 3 e 1,61 mmol L-1 de N e K, respectivamente, resultando na relacao N:K (p/ p) de 1,0:1,5. Avaliaram-se a altura, o diâmetro do caule, numero de nos do oitavo ramo plagiotropico (ramo indice), o numero de pares de ramos plagiotropicos e o numero de nos do ramo ortotropico a cada tres semanas apos o inicio do experimento. Realizaram-se tambem analises da composicao quimica dos graos beneficiados e folhas, no periodo entre a floracao e expansao rapida dos frutos, producao de cafe cereja por planta e classificacao dos graos quanto ao tamanho. O N influenciou principalmente as caracteristicas de crescimento vegetativo e o K influenciou principalmente as caracteristicas de crescimento reprodutivo, avaliadas pela producao. A menor producao resultou em percentagens mais elevadas de graos retidos nas peneiras com crivos maiores que 16/64 polegadas, enquanto a maior producao promoveu aumento na percentagem de graos retidos nas peneiras com crivos menores que 16/64 polegadas.

Foliar Diagnosis Indexes for Corn by the Methods Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) and Nutritional Composition (CND)

ABSTRACT Foliar analysis has been an important method for diagnosing the nutritional status of plants. Therefore, this work aimed to determine benchmarks (norms) for interpretation of results of foliar analysis by the methods of Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) and Nutritional Composition (CND) and to determine the order of nutritional limitation and the potential response to fertilization (PRA) of corn cultivations. Leaves were sampled and the productivity was determined in 64 different sites in the crop season 2011/2012, and 66 sites were sampled in the crop season 2012/2013. The yields were divided in two sub-populations: high productivity (equal or above 11.795 kg ha−1) and low productivity (less than 11.795 kg ha−1). The normal ranges obtained by DRIS and CND methods were similar. The amplitudes of ideal ranges were smaller when compared to the sufficiency ranges found in the Brazilian literature. The development of benchmarks (norms) at regional levels increases reliability in diagnoses.

Boron, Copper, and Zinc Affect the Productivity, Cup Quality, and Chemical Compounds in Coffee Beans

Micronutrients perform specific and essential functions in plant metabolism, and their deficiency may lead to metabolic disturbances that affect coffee production and quality beverage. In Brazil, the B, Cu, and Zn are the main micronutrients, and these are provided by soil or foliar fertilization, frequently with low recovery efficiency. This work objected verifying the feasibility of supplying of B, Cu, and Zn via insertion of tablets in the orthotropic branch of Coffea arabica, as well as to evaluate the coffee plant response in terms of productivity and quality of the beverage. Adult plants received B, Cu, and Zn, each micronutrient alone or combined with the other two, by foliar fertilization or by tablets inserted in the trunk base. The productivity, cupping quality, and some chemical indicators of beans quality were evaluated in two crop seasons. Boron, copper, and zinc supplied by foliar spray or solid injections in the trunk influenced the chemical composition and quality of the coffee beans, characterized by the cupping test and the levels of caffeine, trigonelline, sucrose, glucose, arabinose, mannose, 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, polyphenol oxidase activity, and total phenolic compounds. Copper and zinc were equivalent in either form of supply regarding the production and quality of coffee.

Early foliar diagnosis of carrot by univariate methods

ABSTRACT Foliar diagnosis enables early identification of nutritional needs. Objectives of this study were to determine diagnostic indexes by univariate methods: critical level (CL), sufficiency range (SR) and Kenworth Balanced Indexes (IBK) in three phenological stages of carrot in order to interpret results of foliar analysis and verify if limitations of end cycle can be diagnosed at the beginning of the cycle. A database was obtained from leaf sampling, root productivity, and leaf contents of macronutrients and boron (B), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn). Critical levels were determined by linear mathematical models. Order of limitation was generated according to the optimum range of the foliar contents in the SR and IBK. The most limiting nutrients in the region for carrot were Mg, Mn, and N by SR and Cu, Mn, and Zn by IBK. There was no concordance between methods; however, it is possible to anticipate foliar diagnosis for the most limiting nutrients within each method.

Recovery efficiencies of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium of the garlic crop

ABSTRACT Garlic plants demand high quantities of nutrients, and fertilizers recommendations are necessarily evaluated for the availability of attributes such as recovery efficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate the recovery efficiencies of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) by micropopagated and conventionally propagated garlic plants. Two experiments were conducted in a greenhouse containing a sample of a Red Yellow Latosol, arranged in randomized blocks with five replications. Treatments consisted of four combinations of nutrients (kg per hectare): complete NPK (240-1200-550), without N (0-1200-550), without P (240-0-550) and without K (240-1200-0). Micropopagated plants maintained adequate contents of N, P, and K, as well as good growth and development even without nutrients application; however, the depletion of N and K impaired the productivity of these plants. In both cultivations, recovery efficiencies of N, P and K were low and closely related to the garlic propagation.