Relações entre a matéria orgânica e os nematoides em área cultivada com cana-de-açúcar

Sugarcane plays an important socio-economic role in northeastern Brazil. However, the low yield in this region is associated with several factors (e.g. frequent occurrence of plant-parasitic nematodes). In order to observe the influence of soil organic matter on the nematodes, this study aimed to characterize the spatial nematode distribution in a sugarcane field. The study was carried out in Goiana - Pernambuco State (Brazil), fifty days after sugarcane cutting (10 days after vinasse application). The sampling scheme consisted of a regular 60 × 50-m grid, 10 m spaced, through 0 to 0.2 m depth. Spatial distribution was evaluated by semivariograms fit and performed by ordinary kriging interpolation for mapping. Exponential and spherical models promoted the best fit to semivariograms, resulting in ranges from 16 to 19 m. There was a strong negative correlation between soil organic matter and plant-parasitic nematode population density. Free-living nematodes had a similar distribution pattern as soil organic matter content. These results indicated that soil organic matter had important effects on spatial distribution of both plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes.A cana-de-açúcar desempenha importante papel socioeconômico para o Nordeste Brasileiro. Por outro lado, a baixa produtividade nesta região está associada a diversos fatores, dentre estes, a relevante presença de nematoides fitoparasitas. A fim de verificar a influência da matéria orgânica sobre os nematoides, o objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar a distribuição espacial da matéria orgânica e da nematofauna em área cultivada com cana-de-açúcar fertirrigada com vinhaça. O estudo foi realizado no município de Goiana, Zona da Mata Norte de Pernambuco, 50 dias após corte da cana (10 dias após aplicação da vinhaça). Utilizou-se um sistema de amostragem em malha regular de 60 × 50 m, com espaçamento de 10 m, na profundidade de 0-0,2 m. A distribuição espacial foi avaliada por meio de ajustes de semivariogramas e realizada interpolação por krigagem ordinária para mapeamento. O modelo esférico e o exponencial proporcionaram melhor ajuste aos semivariogramas, com alcances de 16 a 19 m. A matéria orgânica correlacionou-se negativamente com a população dos nematoides fitoparasitas. O mapeamento permitiu observar padrões de distribuição espacial similares entre as comunidades de nematoides de vida livre e a matéria orgânica. Esses resultados indicam que a matéria orgânica tem um papel importante na distribuição espacial dos nematoides fitoparasitas e de vida livre

GROWTH AND SEED YIELD OF SUNFLOWER ON SOIL FERTILIZED WITH CASSAVA WASTEWATER

Cassava wastewater is the liquid residue of the cassava flour processing and its application to the soil as fertilizer for agricultural crops is a good alternative to sources of nutrients for plants. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the growth and seed yield of sunflower on soil fertilized with cassava wastewater. A randomized block experimental design with four replications was used, with six cassava wastewater rates (0, 8.5, 17, 34, 68 and 136 m3 ha-1) and six plant sampling times (15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after sowing), using the sunflower cultivar Helio-250. The evaluated variables were total leaf area, leaf area index, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, leaf weight ratio, shoot dry mass and sunflower seed yield. The use of cassava wastewater rate of 136 m3 ha-1 increases the seed yield, leaf area, leaf area index and shoot dry mass, and results in lower leaf area ratio, specific leaf area and leaf weight ratio of sunflower (cv. Helio-250) crops

Spatial Dependence of Physical Attributes and Mechanical Properties of Ultisol in a Sugarcane Field

This study investigates the effect of conventional tillage and application of the monoculture of sugar cane on soil health. Variables like density, moisture, texture, consistency limits, and preconsolidation stress were taken as indicators of soil quality. The measurements were made at a 120 × 120 m field cropped with sugar cane under conventional tillage. The objective of this work was to characterize the soil and to study the spatial dependence of the physical and mechanical attributes. Then, undisturbed soil samples were collected to measure bulk density, moisture content and preconsolidation stress and disturbed soil samples for classification of soil texture, and consistency limits. The soil texture indicated that soil can be characterized as sandy clay soil and a sandy clay loam soil, and the consistency limits indicated that the soil presents an inorganic low plasticity clay. The preconsolidation tests tillage in soil moisture content around 19% should be avoided or should be chosen a management of soil with lighter vehicles in this moisture content, to avoid risk of compaction. Using geostatistical techniques mapping was possible to identify areas of greatest conservation soil and greater disturbance of the ground

PRODUCTION COMPONENTS OF Vigna unguiculata (L. Walp) IRRIGATED WITH BRACKISH WATER UNDER DIFFERENT LEACHING FRACTIONS

The objective of this work was to evaluate the production components of cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) subjected to irrigation with brackish water and different leaching fractions. The experiment was conducted in a lysimeter system of the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife campus. The treatments, consisting of two water salinity levels (ECw) (1.2 and 3.3 dS m - 1 ) and five leaching fractions (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%), were evaluated using a completely randomized design in a 2x5 factorial arrangement with four replications. The variables evaluated were: number of pods per plant, 100 - grain weight, number of grains per pod, grain and shoot dry weight, grain yield and harvest index. The soil salinity increased with increasing salinity of the water used for irrigation, and reduced with increasing leaching fraction. The salinity of the water used for irrigation influenced only the variables number of pods per plant and grain yield. The estimated leaching fractions of 9.1% and 9.6% inhibited the damage caused by salinity on the number of pods per plant and grain yield, respectively. Therefore, the production of V. unguiculata irrigated with brackish water, leaching salts from the plant root environment, is possible under the conditions evaluated

Interactions between an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Scutellospora heterogama) and the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) on sweet passion fruit (Passiflora alata)

The effects of inoculation of sweet passion fruit plants with the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Scutellospora heterogama on the symptoms produced by Meloidogyne incognita race 1 and its reproduction were evaluated in two greenhouse experiments. In the 1st, the M. incognita (5000 eggs/plant) and S. heterogama (200 spores/plant) inoculations were simultaneous; in the 2nd, the nematodes were inoculated 120 days after the fungal inoculation. In both the experiments, 220 days after AM fungal inoculation, plant growth was stimulated by the fungus. In disinfested soil, control seedlings (without S. heterogama) were intolerant to parasitism of M. incognita, while the growth of mycorrhized seedlings was not affected. Sporulation of S. heterogama was negatively affected by the nematodes that did not impair the colonization. M. incognita did not affect mycorrhizal seedling growth. The establishment of mycorrhiza prior to the nematode infection contributed for the reduction of symptoms severity and reproduction of M. incognita in disinfested soil

Coupling Water Resources and Agricultural Practices for Sorghum in a Semiarid Environment

Water scarcity and changing rainfall distribution have caused uncertainties in relation to agricultural production in semiarid areas. In this context, water reuse for irrigation is a promising alternative, although requiring irrigation and agricultural management. Production of forage plants is strategic for semiarid areas due to their high tolerance to stresses and use as animal fodder. The objective of this work was to evaluate the combined performance of treated wastewater irrigation and mulching on forage sorghum and on soil attributes in Northeast Brazil. Sorghum was cropped in November 2018, three months before the beginning of the hydrologic year, and cultivated over three cycles until April 2019. The experiment was designed with five irrigation depths (60%, 80%, 100%, 120%, and 140% of crop evapotranspiration), and with four soil cover conditions (0% (witness), soil covered with native vegetation, with coconut coir, and with macerated moringa seeds), adopting four replications. Irrigation with treated wastewater promoted linear increases in forage sorghum yield at irrigation depths of up to 140% of crop evapotranspiration. Mulch promoted a 24% increase in productivity in relation to the area where conservation was not practiced, being able to control salinity while also contributing to the higher incorporation of organic matter. Irrigation with treated wastewater had no negative agronomic impacts on soil, once natural rainfall events typical of the Brazilian semiarid region allowed effective salt leaching from shallow sandy soils. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development—CNPq (151969/2020-5); the Brazilian Funding Authority for Studies and Projects—FINEP; the Foundation of Science and Technology Support for Pernambuco State—FACEPE (IBPG-1758-5.03/15 Scholarship and “Tecnologias Hídricas para o semiárido” Project—Grant APQ 0300-5.03/17); the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, Finance code 001; the CAPES/PrInt–UFRPE Programme for internationalization) to the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco—IPA; and also the Federal Rural University Postgraduate Programme in Agricultural Engineering