ABSTRACT Information about the response of onion to different potassium doses may contribute to optimizing the use of fertilizers and, consequently, make the activity more profitable and environmentally sustainable. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of doses of potassium on onion yields. Two field experiments were carried out in the periods of September to December 2012 and April to July 2013. The experimental design used was completely randomized blocks with four replications. The treatments corresponded to the potassium doses (0, 36, 72, 108, 144 and 180 kg ha-1 of K2O). Potassium fertilization promoted an increase in the content of K in the leaf, commercial and total yield, with the maximum obtained in the dose of 180 kg ha-1 of K2O. The maximum overall and commercial yields were respectively 54.69 and 54.12 t ha-1 in the experiment of September to December 2012 and 47.39 and 46.39 t ha-1 in that of April to July 2013. | RESUMO Informações sobre a reposta da cebola a diferentes doses de potássio podem contribuir para a otimização do uso de fertilizantes e, consequentemente, tornar a atividade mais rentável e ambientalmente sustentável. Nesse contexto, o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de doses de potássio na produtividade da cebola. Para isso dois experimentos de campo foram realizados nos períodos de setembro a dezembro de 2012 e abril a julho de 2013 O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados completos com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos corresponderam às doses de potássio (0, 36, 72, 108, 144 e 180 kg ha-1 de K2O). A adubação potássica promoveu aumento do teor de K na folha, produtividade comercial total, com o máximo obtido na dose de 180 kg ha-1 de K2O. As produtividades máximas totais e comerciais foram respectivamente de 54,69 e 54,12 t ha-1 no experimento de setembro a dezembro de 2012 e 47,39 e 46,39 t ha-1 de abril a julho de 2013.

Information about the response of onion to different potassium doses may contribute to optimizing the use of fertilizers and, consequently, make the activity more profitable and environmentally sustainable. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of doses of potassium on onion yields. Two field experiments were carried out in the periods of September to December 2012 and April to July 2013. The experimental design used was completely randomized blocks with four replications. The treatments corresponded to the potassium doses (0, 36, 72, 108, 144 and 180 kg ha-1 of K2O). Potassium fertilization promoted an increase in the content of K in the leaf, commercial and total yield, with the maximum obtained in the dose of 180 kg ha-1 of K2O. The maximum overall and commercial yields were respectively 54.69 and 54.12 t ha-1 in the experiment of September to December 2012 and 47.39 and 46.39 t ha-1 in that of April to July 2013.

RESUMO O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho de linhagens elite de feijão-caupi de porte ereto e semiereto em ambientes de Mato Grosso e Minas Gerais. Os ensaios foram conduzidos em Jaíba, Janaúba e Sete Lagoas em Minas Gerais, e em Primavera do Leste e Nova Ubiratã em Mato Grosso. Foram avaliados 20 genótipos de feijão-caupi. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos a análises de variância individuais e conjunta e as médias agrupadas pelo teste de Scott-Knott (P<0,05). Foram avaliados os caracteres porte da planta, acamamento, valor de cultivo, comprimento de vagem e rendimento de grãos. Nos ambientes do Mato Grosso, destacaram-se as linhagens MNC04-768F-21 e MNC04F-795F-168 como as mais produtivas e com características de porte da planta, acamamento e valor de cultivo semelhantes às da cultivar BRS Guariba. Nos ambientes de Minas Gerais, especialmente na região Norte do Estado, representada pelos ambientes de Jaíba e Janaúba, destacaram-se como mais produtivas as linhagens MNC04-769F-30, MNC05-795F-154, MNC04-769F-49 e a cultivar BRS Tumucumaque. Entretanto, as cultivares BRS Guariba, BRS Tumucumaque, BRS Novaera, BRS Itaim e BRS Cauamé, e as linhagens MNC04-792F-143 e MNC04-792F-144 apresentam produtividades satisfatórias e boas características de porte, acamamento e valor de cultivo, representando boas alternativas para recomendação de cultivo nesta região. | ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic performance of erect and semi-erect cowpea elite lines grown in the States of Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso, Brazil. The experiments were conducted in Jaíba, Janaúba, Sete Lagoas (Minas Gerais), Primavera do Leste and Nova Ubiratã (Mato Grosso), with 20 genotypes of cowpea, arranged in a randomized block design with four replications. The data were subjected to individual and joint analyses of variance and means grouped by the Scott-Knott test (p<0.05). The plant growth habit, lodging, cultivation value, pod length and bean yield were evaluated. The lines MNC04-768F-21 and MNC04F-795F-168 had the highest bean yield in the experiments conducted in Mato Grosso, and their growth habit, lodging and cultivation value were similar to those of the cultivar BRS-Guariba. The lines MNC04-769F-30, MNC05-795F-154 and MNC04-769F-49 and the cultivar BRS-Tumucumaque had the highest bean yield in the experiments conducted in Minas Gerais. However, the cultivars BRS-Guariba, BRS-Tumucumaque, BRS-Novaera, BRS-Itaim and BRS-Cauamé and the lines MNC04-792F-143 and MNC04-792F-144 showed satisfactory bean yield and good growth habit, plant lodging and cultivation value in the State of Minas Gerais, especially in the northern region of the state (Jaíba and Janaúba), representing good alternatives for the genotypes recommended for this region.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic performance of erect and semi-erect cowpea elite lines grown in the States of Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso, Brazil. The experiments were conducted in Jaíba, Janaúba, Sete Lagoas (Minas Gerais), Primavera do Leste and Nova Ubiratã (Mato Grosso), with 20 genotypes of cowpea, arranged in a randomized block design with four replications. The data were subjected to individual and joint analyses of variance and means grouped by the Scott-Knott test (p<0.05). The plant growth habit, lodging, cultivation value, pod length and bean yield were evaluated. The lines MNC04-768F-21 and MNC04F-795F-168 had the highest bean yield in the experiments conducted in Mato Grosso, and their growth habit, lodging and cultivation value were similar to those of the cultivar BRS-Guariba. The lines MNC04-769F-30, MNC05-795F-154 and MNC04-769F-49 and the cultivar BRS-Tumucumaque had the highest bean yield in the experiments conducted in Minas Gerais. However, the cultivars BRS-Guariba, BRS-Tumucumaque, BRS-Novaera, BRS-Itaim and BRS-Cauamé and the lines MNC04-792F-143 and MNC04-792F-144 showed satisfactory bean yield and good growth habit, plant lodging and cultivation value in the State of Minas Gerais, especially in the northern region of the state (Jaíba and Janaúba), representing good alternatives for the genotypes recommended for this region.

ABSTRACT Sweet corn is an important crop because of its seeds with high total sugar and low starch contents. As common corn, this group requires an adequate amount of nitrogen to reach high yields. However, the studies on nitrogen and sweet corn are performed for ear yield instead of seed yield. As seeds are the main propagation method for this species, we proposed to evaluate the effects of nitrogen rates as side-dressing at different plant stages of a sweet corn seed production. Sweet corn seeds (variety BR 400) were sown in Latosol (Oxisol), and a 3×2+1 factorial scheme was designed with three nitrogen rates (40, 80, and 120 kg ha-1) at two plant stages (V6 and R1) plus the control (no nitrogen side-dressing). The evaluated variables were seed yield, protein content, P and Zn contents, germination, and vigor rates. We concluded that nitrogen applied at a rate of 120 kg ha-1 at V6 increases seed yield and maintains unaltered the protein content in seeds of sweet corn (BR 400 variety). Neither germination nor seed vigor increases when nitrogen rates are increased or administered at different stages of plant development. We also noted a slight decrease in P content or an increase in Zn content of seeds at low nitrogen rates; however, they are insufficient to promote changes in the physiological potential of sweet corn seeds. | RESUMO O milho doce é uma cultura importante por causa do seu tipo de sementes com índice elevado dos açúcares totais e baixo índice do amido. Como o milho comum, este necessita de quantidade adequada de nitrogênio para atingir altas produtividades, no entanto, os estudos que envolvem nitrogênio e milho doce são realizados para o rendimento das espigas e não para a produção de sementes. Como a semente é o principal método de propagação dessa espécie, foi avaliado os efeitos das doses de nitrogênio em cobertura em diferentes estádios fenológicos para produção e potencial fisiológico de sementes de milho doce. As sementes de milho doce (variedade BR 400) foram semeadas em Latossolo e um esquema fatorial de tratamento 3 × 2 + 1 foi instalado com três doses de nitrogênio 40, 80 e 120 kg ha-1 e dois estádios fenológicos (V6 e R1) mais o controle (sem nitrogênio em cobertura). Foram avaliadas a produtividade de sementes, teores de proteína, P e Zn, germinação e vigor. Como conclusão, o nitrogênio fornecido em V6 a 120 kg ha-1 aumenta a produtividade de sementes e mantém os teores de proteína inalterados. A germinação da semente e o vigor não aumentam quando as taxas de nitrogênio são acrescidas ou fornecidas em diferentes estádios fenológicos. Diminuição ligeira do teor de P ou o aumento do teor de Zn nas sementes são observados a uma dose baixa de nitrogênio entretanto não suficientes para promover alterações no potencial fisiológico das sementes do milho doce.

Sweet corn is an important crop because of its seeds with high total sugar and low starch contents. As common corn, this group requires an adequate amount of nitrogen to reach high yields. However, the studies on nitrogen and sweet corn are performed for ear yield instead of seed yield. As seeds are the main propagation method for this species, we proposed to evaluate the effects of nitrogen rates as side-dressing at different plant stages of a sweet corn seed production. Sweet corn seeds (variety BR 400) were sown in Latosol (Oxisol), and a 3×2+1 factorial scheme was designed with three nitrogen rates (40, 80, and 120 kg ha-1) at two plant stages (V6 and R1) plus the control (no nitrogen side-dressing). The evaluated variables were seed yield, protein content, P and Zn contents, germination, and vigor rates. We concluded that nitrogen applied at a rate of 120 kg ha-1 at V6 increases seed yield and maintains unaltered the protein content in seeds of sweet corn (BR 400 variety). Neither germination nor seed vigor increases when nitrogen rates are increased or administered at different stages of plant development. We also noted a slight decrease in P content or an increase in Zn content of seeds at low nitrogen rates; however, they are insufficient to promote changes in the physiological potential of sweet corn seeds.