In flood plains, cover crops are able to alter soil properties and significantly affect rice nutrition and yield. The aims of this study were to determine soil properties, plant nutrition, and yield of tropical rice cultivated on flood plains after cover crop cultivation with conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage system (NTS) at low and high nitrogen (N) fertilization levels. The experimental design was a randomized block in a split-split-plot scheme with four replications. In the main plots were cover crops sunhemp (Crotalaria juncea and C. spectabilis), velvet bean (Mucuna aterrima), jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), Japanese radish (Raphanus sativus), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and a fallow field. In the subplots were the tillage systems (CT or NTS). The nitrogen fertilization levels in the sub-subplots were (10 kg N ha-1 and 45 kg N ha-1). All cover crops except Japanese radish significantly increased mineral soil nitrogen and nitrate concentrations. Sunhemp, velvet bean, and cowpea significantly increased soil ammonium content. The NTS provides higher mineral nitrogen and ammonium content than that by CT. Overall, cover crops provided higher levels of nutrients to rice plants in NTS than in CT. Cover crops provide greater yield than fallow treatments. Rice yield was higher in NTS than in CT, and greater at a higher rather than lower nitrogen fertilization level.

Demarcating soil management zones can be useful, for instance, delimiting homogeneous areas and selecting attributes that are generally correlated with plant productivity, but doing so involves several different steps. The objective of this study was to identify the chemical and physical attributes of soil and soybean plants that explain crop productivity, in addition to suggesting and testing a methodological procedure for defining soil management zones. The procedure consisted of six steps: sample collection, data filtering, variable selection, interpolation, grouping, and evaluation of management zones. The samples were collected in an experimental area of 12.5 ha cultivated with soybean during the 2013/14 crop in Dystrophic Red Latosol, in Mato Grosso, Brazil. A total of 117 pairs of plant and soil samples were collected. Student’s t - test was used ( α = 0.02) to verify that the number of samples was adequate for correlation analysis. Results showed that only the P and Mn content in the grains explained (based on R 2 values) the variation in soybean grain productivity the area. Based on the interpolation of these contents by ordinary kriging, the fuzzy C - means algorithm was used to separate them into groups by similarity. Division into two groups was the best option, which could be differentiated by Mann – Whitney test (P < 0.05), resulting in a map with 10 management zones.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the growth and yield of cowpea grains in different intercropping systems with millet, in wet and dry seasons. The experiments were performed in the experimental field of the Department of Plant Science of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using a randomized block design with three replications and five treatments: T1- sole crop of millet; T2- sole crop of cowpea; T3- intercrop of millet (1 row) and cowpea (1 row) with 0.5 m between rows (1Mx1C-0.50); T4 - intercrop of millet (1 row) and cowpea (1 row) with 0.75 m between rows (1Mx1C-0.75); and T5 - intercrop of millet (1 row) and cowpea (2 rows) with 0.5 m between rows (1Mx2C-0.50). The cowpea shoot dry weight, root dry weight, number and dry weight of nodules, grain yield and 1000-grain weight, and the millet fresh weight, shoot dry weight, grain yield and 1000-grain weight were evaluated. The land-use efficiency index (LUE) showed significant differences in yield between the sole crop of cowpea and the intercropping system, with greater grain weight in the intercrop 1Mx2C-0.50. On the other hand, the intercrop 1Mx1C-0.75 was not recommended for the study conditions.

Salinity problems are increasing in the semi-arid regions of northeastern Brazil. Thus, detailed studies of the region’s cultured crops, primarily salt-tolerant species, are important. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the salt stress tolerance of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) seeds at different temperatures. This study was conducted in the Seed Analysis Laboratory, Agricultural Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraíba (Areia, PB, Brazil) by using seeds of four lima bean cultivars (Branca, Orelha de Vó, Rosinha, and Roxinha) in a randomized experimental design. Sodium chloride (NaCl) was used as a solute for salt-stress simulation at the following concentrations: 0.0 (control), 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 7.5, and 9.0 dS m-1; temperatures were maintained constant at 25°C, 30°C, and 35°C. Germination and vigor tests were performed to evaluate the treatment effects (first count, germination rate index, seedling length, and dry matter). Germination rate of lima bean seeds increased in salt concentrations up to 9 dS m-1, and seeds of Roxinha cultivar exhibited the highest salinity tolerance. The development of lima bean cultivar seedlings was negatively affected at 35°C under high-salinity conditions.

High temperatures and low rainfall characterize the Brazilian semiarid regions. This regional climate demands the adoption of practices that increase the efficiency and sustainability of local farming. This study aimed to assess the ability of two perennial herbaceous leguminous species, calopo and tropical kudzu, to provide permanent soil cover in banana plantations in Jequitinhonha Valley, northeast Minas Gerais state, Brazil. To this end, we evaluated the differences of calopo and tropical kudzu in soil cover capacity and the amount of senescent phytomass deposited on the soil surface, nutrient content in senescent phytomass, as well as their effects on temperature and soil moisture, compared with bare soil in two experimental sites. The results showed that, compared with tropical kudzu, calopo had a higher soil cover capacity and was more effective at increasing organic material and nutrients in the soil owing to the relatively higher amount of senescent phytomass deposited on the soil surface. However, both calopo and tropical kudzu reduced soil temperature and increase soil moisture compared with bare soil. Overall, we concluded that these species can deposit high levels of senescence in the soil, providing several benefits to the cultivation system of banana plants in the semiarid regions.

Uncontrolled weed growth interferes with the growth eggplants and crop yields. To control weeds, the main weed species must be identified in crop growing areas and during weed control periods, as weed species might vary in relation to management practices. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the main weed species and determine the periods of weed interference in the eggplant cultivar Nápoli when grown under certain cultural practices, including plant staking and sprout thinning. The experiment was carried out in 2014 using a randomized complete block design, with 3 replications. The treatments consisted of 11 periods of (1) increasing weed control and (2) increasing coexistence of eggplant with weeds from the first day of transplanting (0-14, 0-28, 0-42, 0-56, 0-70, 0-84, 0-98, 0-112, 0-126, 0-140, and up do day 154). Eggplant staking and sprout thinning were performed 42 days after transplanting (DAT). Weed identification and crop yield assessments were performed to determine the Period Before Interference (PBI), Total Period of Interference Prevention (TPIP), and the Critical Period of Interference Prevention (CPIP). The major weeds found in the eggplant cultivar Nápoli were Eleusine indica, Portulaca oleracea, and Cyperus rotundus. Coexistence between the weed community and the eggplant throughout the entire crop production cycle reduced eggplant fruit yield by 78%. The PBI was 29 DAT and the TPIP was 48 DAT, resulting in 19 days of CPIP.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics, antioxidant capacity and phenolic compounds of organic cherry tomatoes grown under fertigation with organic dairy cattle wastewater (DCW) with different nitrogen rates. Tomato plants, grown in an agroecological farm in Seropédica, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were subjected to four different nitrogen rates (T1=0, T2=50, T3=100 and T4=150% of N). The moisture, lipids, ashes, protein and total fiber contents, soluble solids (ºBrix), reducing and total sugars (%), pH and total titratable acidity (mg NaOH per 100 g) were evaluated. The total phenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant capacity was determined by the DPPH and FRAP methods. The different nitrogen rates (%N) affected the pH, protein and soluble solids contents. The increase in %N increased the antioxidant capacities, according to the DPPH assay, and TPC. On the other hand, the tomatoes under fertigation with the highest %N presented lower antioxidant capacities according to the FRAP assay. The fertigation did not affect the microbiological characteristics of the tomatoes, which presented fecal coliforms count <3 NMP g-1 and absence of Salmonella in 25 g.

Knowledge of the interactions between soil physical properties and yield performance in agricultural crops is very important for the adoption of appropriate management practices. This study aimed to evaluate the linear and spatial correlations between some soil physical attributes, straw production in the palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha), and grain yield of winter common bean in succession to the grass under an irrigated no-till system in an Oxisol Haplorthox in the Cerrado lowlands region of Brazil. The plant attributes determined were dry matter yield of U. brizantha (DMY), and grain yield (GY) and final plant population (PP) of winter common bean. The soil physical attributes, evaluated at 0.0-0.10 m and 0.10-0.20 m, were soil bulk density (BD), macroporosity (MA), microporosity (MI), total porosity (TP), penetration resistance (PR), gravimetric water content (GW), and volumetric water content (VW). A geostatistical grid with 124 sampling points was installed to collect the soil and plant data in an area of 4000 m2. The remaining straw amount of palisade grass exhibited an inverse linear correlation with bean yield and bean plant population when the bean was cultivated in succession. However, no spatial correlations were observed among the attributes. The common bean yield had a direct linear correlation with gravimetric water content in the 0.10-0.20 m soil layer. From a spatial point of view, winter bean yield showed a strong dependence on the distribution of the volumetric water content in the 0-0.10 m soil layer.

This study aimed to assess the foam-mat drying kinetics of mango pulp (cv. Keitt) adding 1% Emustab® and 1% Super Liga Neutra®, for a whipping time of 20 minutes, dried in a forced-air convection oven at different temperatures (50, 60 and 70oC) and foam layer thicknesses (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 cm). Drying kinetic data were used to build drying curves and then fit to Page, Henderson, Henderson and Pabis, Logarithmic and two-term Exponential models. Both temperature and foam layer thickness influenced drying time, which reached the shortest value at the highest temperature and smallest thickness. The Page model provided the best fit to the experimental drying curve data.

The objective of this work was to assess the pulp resistance, soluble solids and yield of watermelon fruits grown under different irrigation managements (determined by the ISAREG model) and mulches, and their interactions. After a survey carried out on local producers, two experiments were conducted, using a completely randomized block design in split - plot arrangement with four replications, in the Teaching, Research and Extension Unit (UEPE) of the Federal Institute of Ceara (IFCE), Jaguaribe - Apodi Irrigation District (DIJA), State of Ceara, Brazil. The treatments consisted of four irrigation managements in the plots, M1 (100% of the available - water capacity (AWC) of the soil), M2 (80%), M3 (60%) and M4 (average water depth used by local producers) and four mulch types in the sub - plots, without mulching (C0) with rice husk (C1), white plastic (C2) and black plastic (C3) as mulches. The results were subjected to analysis of variance, and significant results were subjected to regression (irrigation managements), average test (mulches) and trend graphs (interaction between the factors). The irrigation management practiced during the watermelon crop cycle by the local producers of the Irrigation District of Jaguaribe - Apodi (DIJA) in the State of Ceara, Brazil, is not appropriated, since they usually apply more water than the highest water depth determined by the ISAREG model (100% of the AWC). The plants grown under irrigation water depth of 365.20 mm (M1) and soils with mulches of rice husk or white plastic had the highest yields and fruits with better quality of soluble solids and pulp resistance.