2020-08-09
Coltri, Priscila Pereira, Arantes, Caio Simplicio
Coltri, Priscila Pereira ; Arantes, Caio Simplicio ; ABSTRACT Climate data is essential for agriculture, supporting resilience, decision-making and food security under both current conditions and climate change scenarios. It is also essential for research, education, and applied sciences. However, its use is often limited by sparse monitoring networks, time series that are not continuous, platforms that handle immense volumes of data, and technical barriers that require programming and statistical expertise. These challenges are particularly pronounced in developing countries. To address these issues, we have developed ClimaPlots: an open-source QGIS plugin that simplifies the access to, and analysis of, temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, and relative humidity data from NASA’s POWER database. The tool enables users to extract data from any location, generate interactive visualisations, analyse trends and calculate climate extremes. While not a complete solution to all limitations in accessing data, ClimaPlots reduces technical and economic barriers, thus improving the usability of global climate data for agriculture, research, education, and planning in regions where data is scarce. ClimaPlots is freely available in the QGIS repository, promoting open and reproducible science by transforming large datasets into actionable knowledge.
2020-08-09
Zielinski, Erica Camila, Biernaski, Franciele, Gomes, Marcelo Pedrosa, Zeviani, Walmes Marques, Rodrigues, Fabrício de Ávila, May De Mio, Louise Larissa
Zielinski, Erica Camila ; Biernaski, Franciele ; Gomes, Marcelo Pedrosa ; Zeviani, Walmes Marques ; Rodrigues, Fabrício De Ávila ; May De Mio, Louise Larissa ; ABSTRACT White mold, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a major challenge in soybean production due to its persistent survival structures and limited chemical control options. This study evaluated the effect of glufosinate-ammonium on the carpogenic germination of S. sclerotiorum sclerotia in vitro and on white mold development in herbicide-tolerant soybean plants grown in a greenhouse. The application of commercial doses of glufosinate significantly reduced carpogenic germination, with 97% of treated sclerotia failing to produce stipes. In glufosinate-tolerant soybean cultivars (Enlist and Conkesta), herbicide application reduced lesion size on stems when applied at the R1 stage (39% control) and decreased white mold severity on leaves when applied at the V4 stage (83% control). These results suggested that glufosinate-ammonium has the potential to suppress both primary inoculum and disease development, offering a novel approach to integrated white mold management. Field validation is recommended to optimize application timing and assess its effectiveness under commercial production conditions.
2020-08-09
Bonea, Dorina, Dunăreanu, Ioana-Claudia, Constantinescu, Emilia, Botu, Mihai
Bonea, Dorina ; Dunăreanu, Ioana-Claudia ; Constantinescu, Emilia ; Botu, Mihai ; ABSTRACT The demand for triticale is increasing due to its good production potential, tolerance to abiotic stress, and nutritional value. One of the most important strategies for increasing the yield and quality of triticale grains is the choice of the most suitable cultivars for various management and environmental conditions. This study was conducted in a semi-arid area of Romania (Oltenia Plain) with eight Romanian triticale cultivars over three growing seasons, following two cropping systems (conventional and organic). It was observed that the response of the triticale crop was strongly influenced by the crop management, with a decrease of -52.4% in yield, -17.2% in thousand-grain weight, -26.7% in protein content and -10.8% in test weight for the organic system. On average, for conventional system, Zvelt (8.25 t·ha-1) followed by Zori (7.73 t·ha-1) and Pisc (7.61 t·ha-1) obtained the highest yields. In organic system, Zori (3.87 t•ha-1) and Zvelt (3.75 t·ha-1) obtained the highest yields, but statistically insignificant compared to the other cultivars. Good grain quality in conventional system was shown by Tulnic, which obtained the highest protein content (16.1%) and the highest test weight (73.1 kg·hl-1), and in organic system by Zvelt which obtained a high protein content (11.3%) and the highest test weight (64.8 kg·hl-1).The 2022/2023 growing season had high temperatures during grain-filling period, favoring a higher protein content.
2020-08-09
Cecílio Filho, Arthur Bernardes, Pereira, Breno de Jesus, La Scala Junior, Newton
Cecílio Filho, Arthur Bernardes ; Pereira, Breno De Jesus ; La Scala Junior, Newton ; ABSTRACT Carrot is among the main vegetables produced in Brazil, and evaluating the impact of its production systems is essential for decision making aimed at the sustainable development of agriculture and combating global warming. Thus, the objective of this study was to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint of carrot production in conventional system, in two seasons, and in an organic system. The life cycle analysis methodology was employed, and two functional units were defined: 1 ha of cultivation and 1 kg of carrot produced. The limits of the systems contemplated the agricultural phase of production and the manufacture of inputs, materials and fuels used. In the conventional system, the emissions were 3,850.1 and 5,412.5 kg CO2eq.ha-1 in summer and winter, respectively. The lowest emissions occured in the organic production system, 2287.6 kg CO2eq.ha-1. The use of fertilizers and diesel were the largest contributors in both systems. Although the emissions associated with the use of fertilizer in the organic system represented more than 40% of the total emitted, the origin of these fertilizers was organic. Carbon footprint for carrot production in an organic system was 1 to 8% lower than that of the conventional system, mainly due to the difference in yield between the two systems, indicating the need to combine the more sustainable practices of the organic system with higher yields.
2020-08-09
Oliveira, Thainá Caroline Casavechia de, Ceccon, Gessi, Tomazi, Michely, Bayer, Cimélio
Oliveira, Thainá Caroline Casavechia De ; Ceccon, Gessi ; Tomazi, Michely ; Bayer, Cimélio ; ABSTRACT Maize-brachiaria intercropping has become adopted as a sustainable agricultural practice, capable of improving soil quality, optimizing nitrogen (N) use, and increasing the productive resilience of cropping systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different N sources on the agronomic performance of maize. The experiment was conducted at Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste (Dourados, MS, Brazil). The experimental design was a randomized block design with a 2 × 4 factorial scheme, with three replications. The treatments included two maize cropping systems (monoculture and intercropped with brachiaria) and four N sources applied as topdressing: urea (45% N), urea with urease inhibitor (45% N), ammonium nitrate (27% N), and a control (no N). Plant height, biomass, grain yield, 100-grain weight, and nutrient content in the straw, and grains were evaluated. Maize monoculture showed greater accumulation of N and S in the grains, while maize-brachiaria intercropping increased C input in the straw and intensified nutrient cycling. N sources did not alter total biomass, but urea and urea with inhibitors increased N and Cu in the straw, and all increased N in the grains. It was concluded that intercropping combined with proper N management favors more sustainable systems for potential soil conservation.
2020-08-09
Castilhos, Rodolfo Vargas, Bueno, Nádia Maebara, Baldin, Edson Luiz Lopes, Ribeiro, Leandro do Prado
Castilhos, Rodolfo Vargas ; Bueno, Nádia Maebara ; Baldin, Edson Luiz Lopes ; Ribeiro, Leandro Do Prado ; ABSTRACT Identifying resistance sources using fast, sensitive, and standardized methods is key to initiating a breeding program or even a germplasm characterization. To establish the infestation density, the coexistence period, and discriminatory parameters for determining maize tolerance-type resistance to the green-belly stink bug, Diceraeus melacanthus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), greenhouse, and field trials were conducted using four maize genotypes (SCS154 Fortuna, SCS155 Catarina, 2B512 PW, and 2B610 PW). In both greenhouse and field trials, plants infested with a density of two adult stink bugs per plant for a coexistence period of seven days was determined to be the optimal conditions for evaluating maize genotypes tolerance. In addition, plant height and fresh weight were significantly reduced in infested plants on greenhouse trial. Conversely, D. melacanthus reduced plant height at the V5 stage and weight of thousand seeds in field trials, but plant height up to tassel, height of cob insertion, and grain yield were not affected, indicating a recovery potential of the tested genotypes. No difference in damage score was verified in the genotypes in both greenhouse and field trials. Biochemical responses of plants infested and non-infested with D. melacanthus from field trial indicated that chlorophyll and carotenoid content were reduced due to stink bug infestation. Moreover, infested plants expressed higher amounts of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase enzymes. In field, the reduction in phenotypic and productive parameters was similar among the evaluated genotypes, and in general, the tested genotypes exhibited similar response to D. melacanthus attack.
2020-08-09
Campos, Leonardo José Motta, Heinemann, Alexandre Bryan, Matta, David Henriques, Costa, Rodrigo Véras da, Evaristo, Anderson Barbosa, Viotto, Gabriel Senosien, Justino, Ludmilla Ferreira, Feliciano, Joelmir Divino Carlos, Almeida, Rodrigo Estevam Munhoz de
Campos, Leonardo José Motta ; Heinemann, Alexandre Bryan ; Matta, David Henriques ; Costa, Rodrigo Véras Da ; Evaristo, Anderson Barbosa ; Viotto, Gabriel Senosien ; Justino, Ludmilla Ferreira ; Feliciano, Joelmir Divino Carlos ; Almeida, Rodrigo Estevam Munhoz De ; ABSTRACT Soybean production in central Brazil predominantly occurs on ferralsols. However, increasing global demand has driven expansion into marginal areas with less suitable soils, particularly petric plinthosols. These soils present significant agronomic challenges, especially their heightened vulnerability to climatic variability. Nevertheless, some regions with petric plinthosols, such as parts of Tocantins state, have achieved surprisingly high soybean yields. Despite this production potential, research on soybean cultivation in petric plinthosols are still limited. Our study addresses this knowledge gap by evaluating how environmental conditions and management practices, particularly sowing dates, affect soybean yields in petric plinthosols compared to ferralsols. We also developed economic indicators to support sustainable production decisions. The results demonstrated that while high yields are achievable in petric plinthosols, these soils exhibit greater climate sensitivity than ferralsols. Environmental factor such as air humidity, mainly in the reproductive phase, is a limiting factor for higher yields. Notably, our economic analysis revealed that cost management impacts profitability more substantially than yield improvements, even under unfavourable conditions. This finding suggests that strategic farm management could make petric plinthosol cultivation economically viable despite their agronomic constraints.
2020-08-09
Sobierajski, Graciela da Rocha, Blain, Gabriel Constantino, Mayer, Newton Alex
Sobierajski, Graciela Da Rocha ; Blain, Gabriel Constantino ; Mayer, Newton Alex ; ABSTRACT Low air temperature during the dormancy period promotes uniform flowering in peach trees, while the heat after the full bloom is necessary for fruit development. Rootstock cultivars affect the timing of scion phenological stages, either advancing or delaying their occurrence from bud break to harvest. Given the expansion of stone fruit cultivation in areas with suboptimal chill accumulation and the ongoing climate changes, this research aimed to evaluate effects of 17 clonal rootstocks on chill requirement for full blooming and heat accumulation for fruit development of ‘BRS-Kampai’ and ‘BRS-Rubimel’ cultivars, as well as two own-rooted scion trees. Field trials were conducted in two locations in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Under the edaphoclimatic conditions of the study, rootstocks affected chill portions accumulated until bud break, number of days from the autumn equinox to break dormant bud stage, number of days from autumn equinox to full bloom stage, length of the fruit development period, and harvest date. Growing degree hours accumulated 30 days after full bloom stage was the single feature that showed no statistical differences among the tested rootstocks. Pearson correlations between degree days accumulated 30 days after full bloom and fruit development period were significant and more stable for ‘BRS-Rubimel’ than for ‘BRS-Kampai’, suggesting that this parameter can be used to estimate the harvest time with precision. Therefore, we concluded that rootstocks significantly influence chill accumulation required for breaking bud dormancy and reach the full bloom stage, as well as the heat accumulation for reach the harvest season.
2020-08-09
Finger, Anderson Carlos, Caires, Eduardo Fávero, Ohse, Silvana, Matiello, Rodrigo Rodrigues
Finger, Anderson Carlos ; Caires, Eduardo Fávero ; Ohse, Silvana ; Matiello, Rodrigo Rodrigues ; ABSTRACT Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is highly sensitive to aluminum (Al), an abiotic factor that limits productivity in acidic soils. In this way, the use of Al-tolerant cultivars associated with liming could increase the productive potential in these unfavorable growing environments. The objectives of this study were to determine the effective concentration of Al in a minimum solution and to identify sources of Al tolerance. Initially, an experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with three replicates, evaluating five concentrations of Al in minimum solution (calcium + Al) on eight wheat genotypes. The experiment had a split-plot design, analyzing the effect of Al concentrations in plots and the effect of genotypes in subplots. To select sources of tolerance, a second experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with three replicates, evaluating 88 inbred lines, six commercial cultivars, and the Anahuac and BH 1146 controls (sensitive and tolerant, respectively). Al tolerance was assessed through the root growth difference of the main root. Results showed that a concentration of 4 mg.L-1 of Al was effective for discriminating between sensitive and tolerant genotypes. The wheat germplasm demonstrated wide genetic variability for tolerance to Al, with the L34 and L72 inbred lines standing out as excellent sources of tolerance. These lines could be used in future crosses in breeding programs to obtain progeny with greater tolerance to Al, improving wheat productivity under acid soil conditions.