The present study aimed to assess the variations in the parameters of the exudate pH and flooding tests to evaluate the physiological quality of soybean seeds. We subjected the lots of soybean seeds to germination, emergence, exudate pH, and flooding tests. Further, water content of the seeds, first count of germination, and emergence speed index were also determined. The exudate pH test studied the variations in the soaking period and temperature, while the flooding test assessed the variations in the amount of water and temperature at different periods of immersion. The experiment design was completely randomized. The results were presented as means and were compared using the Scott-Knott test at 5% probability. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient between the exudate pH and emergence of seedlings, and also between the flooding test result and emergence of seedlings were calculated. The results of the study indicated that the exudate pH test can be used to evaluate the physiological quality of soybean seeds after 30 min of imbibition at 20 °C. Further, the flooding test was efficient in evaluating the vigor of soybean seeds after 4 h of immersion either in 50 mL of distilled water at 25 °C or in 75 mL of distilled water at 30 °C.

Drip irrigation with diluted sanitary landfill leachate favors the development of grasses on the landfill surface, however, the clogging of emitters of the irrigation systems is the major obstacle for this practice. The objective of this study was to select empirical models of the Christiansen's uniformity coefficient, distribution uniformity coefficient, and statistical uniformity coefficient of drip irrigation sets applying sanitary landfill leachate diluted in water as a function of time of operation, and quality of the effluent. An experiment was conducted in a completely randomized experimental design with three replicates, using a split-split plot arrangement, with operating pressures (70, 140, 210, and 280 kPa) in the plots, types of drippers (G1, 1.65 L h-1; G2, 2.0 L h-1; and G3, 4.0 L h-1) in the subplots, and operating time of the drip irrigation sets (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, and 160 hours) in the sub-subplots. Data regarding hydraulic performance and effluent quality were acquired every 20 hours during 160 hours of operation and subjected to simple and multiple regression analyses. The G3 dripper operating at pressures of 70 and 140 kPa were the combinations that best attenuated biofilm clogging. The linear regression and square root were the models that best represented the reduction in the uniformity of the effluent application as a function of the operating time of the drip irrigation sets. The linear correlations denoted that calcium contents and total coliform population rates were the characteristics of the sanitary landfill leachate that most affected the drip clogging process.

The genetic variability within the crop species Ipomoea batatas is broad, hence, in order to support future breeding programs it is of the utmost importance that germplasm banks be created, conserved, and characterized. Therefore, the objective of this work was to rescue and evaluate the genetic divergence in sweet potato accessions collected in traditional communities of Vale do Ribeira Paulista. Sweet potato samples were collected from quilombos, indigenous villages, caiçaras communities, and small farms. The study was conducted between February 2013 and August 2014 in a randomized block design with three replications. Genetic material included 95 collected accessions and two commercial cultivars. Morphological characteristics of the accessions were evaluated and distances in the genetic distance matrix were estimated by means of multi-category variables, the data being subsequently clustered by the Tocher method. Analysis of the relative contribution of each characteristic and phenotypic correlation of descriptors was also performed. Results evidenced wide genetic diversity among the sweet potato accessions collected in Vale do Ribeira, which were not grouped according to the collection point. The descriptors that contributed more than 60% of genetic diversity included: leaf size, general leaf profile, immature leaf color, petiole pigmentation, predominant branch color, branch secondary color, stem length, cortical thickness, predominant periderm color, and periderm color intensity. Correlations between morphological descriptors was observed in 22.26% of the paired traits.

New hybrid onions that are more productive are currently being cultivated. Information on growth and nutrient accumulation must thus be updated to assist in the refinement of existing recommendations, enabling the better exploitation of the productive potential of these new genotypes. We determined the growth of plants and the accumulation and export of nutrients of the short-day onion ‘Soberana’ established by direct seeding. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replicates and the treatments were evaluation times. Leaf number, tissue dry weight, nutrient accumulation, and the maximum daily rate of accumulation were evaluated throughout the growing cycle. The order of nutrient accumulation was (g plant-1) K (0.72) > Ca (0.38) > N (0.32) > S (0.14) > P (0.08) > Mg (0.06) and (mg plant-1) Fe (2.26) > Mn (1.43) > Cu (0.93) > Zn (0.91) > B (0.85). Macronutrient demand was highest between 61 and 148 days after sowing (DAS), and micronutrient demand was highest between 70 and 148 DAS.

In Brazil, studies on chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) have demonstrated the high productive potential of this crop, especially in the Cerrado areas of Cristalina, GO, and Brasília, DF. Due to dry winter climatic conditions, the North of Minas Gerais may be very suitable for the production of this crop. However, more information on chickpea sowing dates is needed. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate different chickpea sowing times in two municipalities of Minas Gerais State in Brazil: Montes Claros and Januária. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design, comprising three sowing dates (12 May, 23 June, and 22 July, 2015), and seven replications. The cultivar used was BRS Aleppo, and the chickpeas were harvested 121 days after sowing. The variables evaluated included plant height, productivity, number of pods with one grain, and number of pods with two grains. The data were submitted to analysis of variance, and joint analysis of the experiments was performed. The highest yields were obtained when chickpeas were sown in May in Montes Claros, with a yield of 5.3 t ha-1. In Januária, chickpeas sown in May and June produced yields greater than 3.0 t ha-1. The plants sown in July, considered late for planting, were harvested during the rainy season, which compromised the quality and yield of the grains. In addition, maximum temperatures above 30ºC were recorded from September onwards in both locations, which also resulted in a reduction in the number of grains per plant. Thus, this sowing season is not recommended in the studied region.

No-tillage cotton systems require soil coverage with cover crop residue for a longer time due to the late cycle of cotton. However, decomposition rates may vary between cover crops, and the adjustment of models to describe it is critical to no-tillage cotton management. Two non-linear regression models, exponential (EM) and Michaelis-Menten (MM), were adjusted to dry matter decomposition of cover crops in a cotton no-tillage system, in Brazil. Three field trials were performed in 2012 for the cover crops Urochloa ruziziensis (brachiaria), Pennisetum glaucum (pearl millet), and Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea). Samples of cover crop were collected at 20, 50, 70, 110, 140, and 170 days after sowing upland cotton to measure dry matter decomposition. MM showed better adjustment than EM for all cover crops. The estimations of half-life parameters were different between the cover crops, suggesting that each cover crop has its own rate of decomposition. For pearl millet, brachiaria, and pigeon pea, the half-life estimation by exponential model was over the MM in 9, 12, and 12 days.

Sesame is a plant with high morphological and physiological complexity, with great variability in growth habit. Quantitative growth analysis is an accessible and accurate tool for evaluating plant development and the contribution of different physiological processes to plant performance. In view of this, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the growth of sesame cultivars in two cropping seasons in the conditions of Mossoró-RN. Two experiments were conducted in Horta Didactics of UFERSA. The experimental delineation in each time was a randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments were arranged in split plots where each experimental plot contained different sesame cultivars, CNPA G2, CNPA G3 and CNPA G4, and the subplots represented seven collection times, 21, 35, 49, 63, 77, 91 and 105 days after sowing (DAS). The growth of the sesame cultivars was slow at the beginning of the crop cycle, intensifying at the beginning of flowering (after 35 DAS). Among the physiological indexes studied, CNPA G4 cultivar was more efficient in relation to growth and varied depending on the cropping season.

The aim of this study was to apply optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques to identify and assess dripper clogging of an irrigation system. Three dripper models (Taldrip, Streamline, and Tiran) underwent 1200 hours of irrigation with three types of effluents: treated domestic wastewater, water with a high calcium content, and urban water supply. Samples of the material adhered to the inside of drippers were analyzed by means of the smear method aiming at their biological identification. Other samples were taken to obtain SEM images. The presence of algae, bacteria, and biological components of biofilm was observed in drippers operating with wastewater and water with calcium, this latter in a low number. The formation of biofilm and chemical precipitates of calcium were observed in SEM images, leading to emitter clogging. Optical microscopy and SEM analyses allowed identifying the degree of fouling by biofilm and chemical precipitates in dripper clogging.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chemical treatment of seeds with fungicide and insecticide on the seed physiological quality of Brachiaria brizantha cultivar MG5. Two experiments with four replicates were carried out in a completely randomized design. In the first experiment, the seeds were treated with the fungicide pyraclostrobin + fipronil + thiophanate-methyl and in the second, with the insecticide thiamethoxam, both at doses of 0, 150, 300, 450, and 600 mL of commercial product (CP)/100 kg of seeds. Physiological characterization was done on the basis of the first germination count, germination (%), emergence (%), emergence speed index, and length and dry mass of shoot and root. The treatment of B. brizantha seeds with the fungicide pyraclostrobin + fipronil + thiophanate-methyl benefits the physiological quality of seeds, improving germination and root development, with no phytotoxic effect up to the dose of 600 mL of CP/100 kg of seeds. The insecticide thiamethoxam has a biostimulating effect on B. brizantha cultivar MG5 up to the dose of 270 mL of CP/100 kg of seeds, but is phytotoxic in larger doses.

The northeastern semiarid region faces some of the droughts of the last centuries, resulting in serious reductions of agriculture yields. The water scarcity for agricultural requires rational use practices and reuse of water, such as use of domestic effluent sewage. Alternatively, the use of treated domestic sewage effluent utilizing for irrigation of forage species, such as the forage cactus, can be highlighted. In order to evaluate the effects of fertirrigation with treated sewage effluent on mineral nutrient composition of forage cactus (Opuntia Tuna L. Mill, Mexican elephant ear), an experiment was carried out utilizing a split plot 3 x (4 + 1) with a randomized complete block design randomized block and four replications, being three planting density (66,667.00, 52,282.00 and 33,333.00 plants ha-1) and two water sources associated with irrigation frequency of plates fixed on 3.5 mm per irrigation (Frequencies of 2.3 days with water tap and 7, 14 and 21 days with Sewage Effluent) and cactus cultivated in Rainfed agriculturerainfed (control). The analyze of the nutritional contents of cladodes indicated that there was a significant effect of the intervals from irrigation events only for Ca and Mg concentrations. The highest levels of Ca and Mg were found with the irrigation frequency of 2.3 using tap water. The macronutrients concentration in greater quantity by the forage cactus were N e, K followed by, Ca, Mg and P. The nutritional balance indicated excess of K and P and deficiency of N, Ca and Mg, in this order.