Enhancing Soil Properties and Maize Yield through Organic and Inorganic Nitrogen and Diazotrophic Bacteria

In arid and semiarid ecosystems, low organic matter is an important threat to soil fertility, crop productivity, and economic returns. Sustainable approaches are required to build organic matter in such soils to improve nutrient use efficiency and food security. Therefore, we conducted an experiment on spring maize to test with and without diazotrophic bacteria (BM) (Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum brasilense) on crop productivity and soil properties when applied with organic (farm yard manure FYM) and inorganic (commercial fertilizer) nitrogen (N) sources (with percentile of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) in 2014. The analysis of the study showed that the application of BM and organic and inorganic N ratio were significant and have a positive effect in crop yield and soil properties. BM with a 50:50 ratio of organic and inorganic N was improved biological yield (kg ha−1), grain yield (kg ha−1), stover nitrogen (%), and grain nitrogen (%). However, soil organic matter (%) and soil total nitrogen (%) were enhanced with the application of BM with 100% organic source. Soil bulk density (g cm−3) was significantly reduced by BM with 100% organic. From overall results, it is concluded that the application of beneficial microbes and organic and inorganic N positively improved maize yield and quality and soil health in Peshawar valley

The Effect of N Fertilization on Wheat under Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense

The biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) process in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) occurs by diazotrophic bacteria, particularly Azospirillum brasilense. However, researches are lacking on BNF efficiency to define how much mineral nitrogen (N) can be applied to achieve more sustainable high yields, and if urea with the urease enzyme inhibitor is less harmful, benefiting BNF in grasses (cereals). Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the effect of N sources (urea and Super N, urea with urease enzyme inhibitor N‐(n‐butyl thiophosphoric triamide) (NBPT) and N rates (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha−1) applied in topdressing associated with inoculation with A. brasilense, regarding the leaf N concentration, leaf chlorophyll index (LCI), accumulation of N in the straw and grains, the nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE), recovery of the applied nitrogen (RAN), physiological efficiency (FE), agronomic efficiency (AE), and wheat grain yield in the Brazilian Cerrado (tropical savanna) region. The N sources provide similar N accumulations in straw and grains, and wheat grain yield. Inoculation with A. brasilense afforded higher N grain concentration (increase in protein content more sustainably) by applying less N fertilizer in topdressing. Inoculation with A. brasilense increased the AE, RAN, and NUE

Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. and Azospirillum brasilense Associated with Application of Cobalt and Molybdenum on Nutrition and Soybean Yield

Considering the main current limitations and potential of biological fixation of N2 (BNF) in soybean crop and benefits attributed to various crops by inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense (diazotrophic bacteria with free life), with emphasis on larger development of the root system and consequently greater absorption of water and nutrients, we can infer that co‐inoculation with both microorganisms of Bradyrhizobium sp. and A. brasilense can improve the crop performance in an approach that meets the current demands of agricultural, economic, and environmental sustainability. Thus, important researches are needed to evaluate the nutritional status, production components, and the soybean yield affected by cobalt and molybdenum application mode and co‐inoculating seeds with bradyrhizobia and A. brasilense. We found that seed inoculated with A. brasilense and application of cobalt and molybdenum provided higher N concentration in leaf and mass of 100 grains, with a positive impact on the grain yield of soybean, with an increase of 1007 kg ha‐1 of grain, equivalent to 18.4% more than the control (only inoculated with rhizobia). This research demonstrated that co‐inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. and A. brasilense associated with the application of cobalt and molybdenum is beneficial for nutrition and soybean yields

Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense Improves Nutrition and Increases Wheat Yield in Association with Nitrogen Fertilization

The management of nitrogen fertilization is performed in order to ensure adequate productivity, and depending on the N dynamics in the soil, large amount of N is added to the soil, raising production cost for the farmers. Considering the benefits attributed by seed inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense (diazotrophic bacteria), with emphasis on biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), greater development of the root system, and, consequently, greater absorption of water and nutrients, it infers that inoculation can improve crop performance allowing greater efficiency of nitrogen fertilization. Thus, the research that evaluates nutritional status and wheat yield, in terms of nitrogen rates in association with inoculation with A. brasilense is important. We found that increment of N rates in association with A. brasilense inoculation increases the wheat yield up to 139 kg ha−1 N, whereas without this inoculation linear increase occurred with lower maximum yield of wheat. That is, the inoculation afforded higher grain yield applying less nitrogen fertilizer in topdressing. This research demonstrated that inoculation with A. brasilense associated with nitrogen fertilization in topdressing is beneficial to nutrition and wheat yield. Therefore, inoculation is a low-cost technique, easy to apply and use, and nonpolluting, which fall within the desired sustainable context in actuality

Resposta de cultivares de trigo irrigado a diferentes doses e fontes de nitrogênio

High wheat yields require good N fertilization management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different N applications at sowing using Entec (N source with nitrification inhibitor) and urea (traditional N source) at covering, on four wheat cultivars. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design in a factorial scheme, with four replications, at the Experimental Station of the Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira - UNESP, on a dystrophic, epi-eutrophic alic Red Latosol with loamy texture, formerly under savannah vegetation. Four N rates (0, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha-1) were tested, applied at sowing in the case of Entec and top-dressed 40 days after plant emergence in the case of urea, and the four wheat cultivars E 21, E 22, E 42, and IAC 370. The yield of the wheat cultivars E 21 and E 42 was highest. Plant height and lodging index of cultivar E 22 were greatest, with consequently lowest grain yield. There was no significant difference between Entec (applied at sowing) and urea (top-dressed) in terms of grain yield and yield components. Nevertheless, urea resulted in a higher N leaf content, and Entec in a larger number of undeveloped spikelets. High nitrogen rates influenced the hectoliter mass negatively, affecting wheat grain quality. Grain yield increased under N rates of up to 82 kg ha-1 N, through Entec applied at sowing or top-dressed urea.Altas produtividades de trigo requerem um bom manejo da adubação nitrogenada. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de diferentes doses de nitrogênio na semeadura usando o Entec (fonte de N com inibidor de nitrificação), ou em cobertura, utilizando a ureia, em quatro cultivares de trigo. O experimento foi desenvolvido em área experimental pertencente à Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira - UNESP, em um Latossolo Vermelho distrófico epieutrófico álico textura argilosa, o qual foi nativamente ocupado por vegetação de Cerrado. O delineamento estatístico foi o de blocos ao acaso, com quatro doses de N (0, 60, 120 e 180 kg ha-1) na semeadura, usando o Entec, ou em cobertura aos 40 dias (início do alongamento), empregando a ureia e os cultivares E 21, E 22, E 42 e IAC 370, em quatro repetições. Os cultivares de trigo mais produtivos foram o E 21 e o E 42. O cultivar E 22 apresentou maior altura de plantas e altas notas de acamamento, com consequente menor produtividade de grãos. Não houve diferença significativa entre o Entec (aplicado na semeadura) e a ureia (aplicada em cobertura) para produtividade de grãos e para nenhuma das outras avaliações, porém a ureia proporcionou maior teor de N foliar, e o Entec, maior número de espiguetas não desenvolvidas. O incremento das doses de N influenciou negativamente a massa hectolítrica, alterando assim a qualidade dos grãos de trigo. O N aumentou a produtividade de grãos de trigo até a dose de 82 kg ha-1 de N, usando Entec aplicado na semeadura ou ureia aplicada em cobertura

GLIFOSATO E MANGANÊS NA CONCENTRAÇÃO DE NUTRIENTES FOLIAR E CARACTERÍSTICAS AGRONÔMICAS DA SOJA

Objetivou-se estudar os efeitos da aplicação de glifosato e manganês (Mn) em estádios de desenvolvimento na nutrição e características agronômicas da cultura da soja, no município de Selvíria-MS, Brasil, na safra 2012/13, utilizando-se a variedade de soja BRS Valiosa RR em um Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico, de textura argilosa. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições, distribuídos em esquema fatorial 6x2, sendo: seis doses de aplicação de glifosato (0 g i.a. ha-1, aplicação de 720 g i.a. ha-1 no estádio V3, 1440 g i.a. ha-1 em V3, 720+720 g i.a. ha-1 em V3 e V7, 1440 g i.a. ha-1 em V7, e aplicação de 720+1440 g i.a. ha-1 em V3 e V7; com ou sem aplicação de Mn (0 g ha-1 e 350 g ha-1), no estádio V5. A aplicação foliar de Mn e de glifosato não influenciou as concentrações dos macro e micronutrientes foliar da cultura da soja. O glifosato nas doses de 720+1440 g i.a. ha-1, aplicado nos estádios V3 e V7, associado a adubação foliar com 350 g ha-1 de Mn no estádio V5, reduz a altura de inserção da primeira vagem, porém aumenta o número de grão por vagem. A produtividade de grãos de soja foi reduzida com a aplicação de glifosato na dose de 720+1440 g i.a. ha-1, nos estádios V3 e V7, independentemente da aplicação foliar com Mn

Identification of fractional-order transfer functions using a step excitation

This brief proposes a new method for the identification of fractional order transfer functions based on the time response resulting from a single step excitation. The proposed method is applied to the identification of a three-dimensional RC network, which can be tailored in terms of topology and composition to emulate real time systems governed by fractional order dynamics. The results are in excellent agreement with the actual network response, yet the identification procedure only requires a small number of coefficients to be determined, demonstrating that the fractional order modelling approach leads to very parsimonious model formulations

Robust Control of the Knee Joint Angle of Paraplegic Patients considering Norm-Bounded Uncertainties

A proposal for the knee position control design of paraplegic patients with functional electrical stimulation (FES) using control systems and considering norm-bounded uncertainties is presented. A state-space representation of the knee joint model of the paraplegic patient with its nonlinearity is also demonstrated. The use of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) in control systems with norm-bounded uncertainties for asymptotic stability is analyzed. The model was simulated in the Matlab environment. The matrix K of state space feedback was obtained through LMIs

ACÚMULO DE MATÉRIA SECA E NUTRIENTES NO CAPIM-MOMBAÇA EM FUNÇÃO DO MANEJO DA ADUBAÇÃO NITROGENADA

O nitrogênio é um elemento de extrema importância na cultura de forrageiras, sendo o nutriente que mais influencia na produtividade e na qualidade das pastagens. Objetivou-se estudar a condução de uma pastagem com alto potencial produtivo utilizando fontes e doses de nitrogênio. As fontes de N foram nitrato de amônio (N.A.) e ureia aplicadas nas doses de N: 0, 50, 100, 150 e 200 kg ha-1 por corte, na espécie forrageira Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça, avaliando o acúmulo de nitrogênio (N), fósforo (P) e potássio (K) e a taxa de acúmulo de matéria seca (MS). As fontes de N não influenciaram o acúmulo de N, P e K e taxa de acúmulo de MS. As doses influenciaram positivamente no acúmulo de N, K e a taxa de acúmulo de MS, ocorrendo incremento com o aumento das doses de N. Como as fontes de N não influenciaram os atributos analisados recomenda-se o uso da ureia por ser o fertilizante de maior concentração de N e de menor relação custo por unidade de nutriente, na dose de 100 kg ha-1, propiciando maior acúmulo de nutrientes e ganho na MS, além da manutenção do capim-mombaça

Yield, yield components and nutrients uptake in Zuri Guinea grass inoculated with plant growth-promoting bacteria

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of strains of Azospirillum brasilense, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Rhizobium tropici on biomass yield and nutrients uptake of shoots and roots of Megathyrsus (syn. Panicum) maximus cultivar BRS Zuri (Zuri Guinea grass) inoculated with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Treatments consisted of inoculation and re-inoculation with A. brasilense strains Ab-V5 and Ab-V6, P. fluorescens strain CCTB 03 and of co-inoculation with R. tropici strain CIAT 899 + A. brasilense Ab-V6, with or without N-fertilizer (100 mg dm-3). Evaluations were performed on three cuts for the determination of root and shoot dry weight yield, morphological compositions, tiller mass, number of tillers, and nutrient uptake. Inoculation with bacteria in association with N-fertilizer increased N, NH4+, Ca, Fe, Mn and Zn accumulation in shoots and P and K uptake in roots. P. fluorescens and co-inoculation with R. tropici CIAT 899 + A. brasilense Ab-V6 increased the relative chlorophyll index in relation to the non-inoculated control. As expected, PGPB were not able to fully replace N-fertilization. However, when combined with N-fertilizer, the PGPB increased yield, the relative chlorophyll index, and the uptake of N, NH4+, Ca, Zn, Mn and Fe of Zuri Guinea grass. The results indicate that PGPB can represent a sustainable alternative for reducing the use of N-fertilizers. There were no effects of re-inoculation with PGPB on the nutrition or yield of Zuri Guinea grass, demonstrating that the determination of the method of application and periodicity of inoculation still require investigation