THE INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZER TYPE AND Trichoderma harzianum INOCULATION ON THE GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGY OF YOUNG PLANTS OF Cordia americana

In this study, we sought to determine the influence of combined treatments with different types of fertilizer and inoculation of the fungus Trichoderma harzianum on the growth and physiological characteristics of young plants of Cordia americana. To this end, we adopted a completely randomized experimental design, comprising six replications in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme, to assess the effects of five different types of fertilizer applied with or without T. harzianum inoculation. At 180 days post-planting, we performed measurements of plant height, stem diameter, leaf dry mass, root dry mass, stem dry mass, total dry mass, leaf area, Falker’s chlorophyll index, and chlorophyll fluorescence. It was found that the combined application of T. harzianum and a controlled-release fertilizer or manure-based organominerals was effective in enhancing the growth of C. americana plants under conditions similar to those in the field. The use of controlled-release fertilizer as a base fertilization was found to have a positive influence on all evaluated variables and was effective in maximizing the initial development of C. americana plants. Granulated fertilizers derived from swine manure were established to promote plant growth and photosynthetic efficiency, thereby confirming their efficacy as a fertilizer for the cultivation of C. americana

Agronomic performance of colored cotton influenced by irrigation with treated domestic sewage and potassium fertilization in semi-arid region of Brazil

This study evaluated the contribution of potassium (K) nutrition and application of wastewater depths to the agronomic performance of colored cotton. Treatments consisted of five irrigation depths (50, 75, 100, 125 and 150% of crop evapotranspiration - ETC) and five K doses (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200% of the recommendation for the crop) and an absolute control irrigated with 100% ETC water depth and fertilized with 100% N-P-K recommendation. Each treatment and the control had four replicates. Plant height, stem diameter, leaf area and shoot dry matter accumulation of cotton were evaluated at 130 days after emergence (DAE), whereas seed cotton weight was evaluated at 135 DAE. Our findings indicate that the use of treated domestic sewage for 100% ETC replacement promotes greater gains of weight and growth in colored cotton without the need for K fertilization, evidencing the potential of wastewater for colored cotton for sustainable agricultureEste estudio evaluó la contribución de la nutrición con potasio (K) y la aplicación de las láminas de las aguas residuales al rendimiento agronómico del algodón colorido. Los tratamientos consistieron en cinco láminas de riego (50, 75, 100, 125 y 150% de la evapotranspiración del cultivo - ETC) y cinco dosis de K (0, 50, 100, 150 y 200% de la recomendación del cultivo). Fue también utilizado un control absoluto de riego con lámina 100% de la ETC y fertilizado con una recomendación de 100% N-P-K. Así como los tratamientos el control también tuvo cuatro repeticiones. La altura de la planta, el diámetro del tallo, el área de la hoja y la acumulación de materia seca del algodón en los brotes se evaluaron a los 130 días después de la emergencia (DAE), mientras que el peso del algodón semilla, se evaluó a 135 DAE. Los resultados indican que el uso de aguas residuales domésticas tratadas para compensación del 100% de ETC promueve un mayor aumento de peso y crecimiento del algodón colorido sin la necesidad de fertilización con K, lo que evidencia el potencial de las aguas residuales para el algodón colorido para una agricultura sostenibl