Soil Science, Agronomy and Crop Science, Nature and Landscape Conservation, Environmental Chemistry
16
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Productive, Morphological and Nutritional Indicators of Cactus Pear in a Semiarid Region Daniel Bezerra do Nascimento, André Luiz Rodrigues Magalhães, Gherman Garcia Leal de Araújo, Alexandre Tavares da Rocha, Getúlio Figueiredo de Oliveira, Amélia de Macedo, Cleyton de Almeida Araújo, Hideo de Jesus Nagahama, Thieres George Freire da Silva, Silvia Helena Nogueira Turco, Rayanne Thalita de Almeida Souza, Glayciane Costa Gois, Fleming Sena Campos Agronomy, 2024 This study aimed to evaluate the effect of irrigation depths (IDs) with brackish water and levels of organic fertilizer (OF) on the morphological aspects, production, chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of cactus pear grown in a semiarid region. This experiment was conducted in an area already established for 2 years with cactus pear [Opuntia stricta (Haw.)] and started 18 months after the standardization cut. This was a 5 × 4 factorial design of five irrigation depths (0, 12.5, 25, 37.5 and 50% evapotranspiration—ETo) and four levels of organic fertilizer (0, 15, 30, and 45 megagram per hectare—Mg/ha), with four replications. The water used in the experiment was classified with high salinity and low sodium content (C3S1), and presented an electrical conductivity of 1.73 dS/m. There was no effect of the ID × OF interaction on the morphological and productive characteristics of cactus pear (p > 0.05); however, the ID × OF interaction promoted effects on ether extract, crude protein, neutral detergent insoluble protein, neutral detergent insoluble ash, total carbohydrates and non-fiber carbohydrates (p < 0.05). The ID and OF levels separately influenced the productive, morphological and nutritional characteristics of cactus pear. Under experimental conditions, we recommend the use of organic fertilizer at a level up to 45 Mg/ha, which is associated with the use of lower brackish water levels for the cultivation of cactus pear. This study’s findings provide new insights into reducing the use of potable water in crop irrigation for dryland regions and other regions.
Soil microbiological attributes under the cultivation of Pennisetum purpureum genotypes Euzanyr Gomes da Silva, Wellington Leal dos Santos, João Tiago Correia Oliveira, Alexandre Tavares da Rocha, Keila Aparecida Moreira Revista Ceres, 2024 This study aimed to evaluate the biological quality of soil under the influence of different genotypes of elephant grass in the agreste region, which has a climate that marks the transition between a humid climate with a dry season and the semi-arid climate of the north-eastern hinterland. The study was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Garanhuns, PE, Brazil. The treatments comprised a combination of two elephant grass cultivars (Elefante B and Mott), two irrigation regimes (with and without irrigation), and two climatic periods (dry and rainy). Biological indicators, microbial biomass carbon, soil basal respiration, metabolic quotient, enzymatic activity of soil β-glucosidase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, urease, and the hydrolytic determination of fluorescein diacetate were evaluated. The Mott genotype showed superior results, attributed to the biological indicators studied at different times and irrigation management, even during periods of drought, and Mott grass had significant effects microbial activities. This genotype constitutes one of the alternatives for soil quality in semiarid regions, with advantageous biomass and soil microbial activity, thus presenting the greatest complexity in biological attributes with microorganisms tolerant to climate change.
Yield and Quality of Naturally Colored Cotton Fiber Fertilized with Phosphorus Rates in the Brazilian Semiarid Manoel Galdino dos Santos, Gisele Lopes dos Santos, Laura Raissa Fagundes Costa Bezerra, Aurélio Paes Barros Júnior, Lindomar Maria da Silveira, Francilene de Lima Tartaglia, Hamurábi Anizio Lins, Welder de Araújo Rangel Lopes, Ênio Gomes Flôr Souza, Alexandre Tavares da Rocha, Ester dos Santos Coêlho, João Everthon da Silva Ribeiro Journal of Natural Fibers, 2023 Cultivating naturally colored fiber cotton has excellent potential for the Northeast of Brazil. However, its cultivation in the semiarid occurs with low use of technology and inputs in soils with the low phosphorus content. This work evaluated the productivity and fiber quality of naturally colored cotton cultivars under phosphorus fertilization in the Brazilian semiarid region. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with treatments arranged in split plots and four replications. The five P doses were allocated in the main plot, and four cotton cultivars were in the subplots. Variance analyses were performed for the characteristics evaluated in each agricultural harvest. Tukey test was used to compare the averages for cultivars and agricultural harvests. Increased P availability increased productivity and fiber quality of naturally colored cotton cultivars. Maximum fiber yield was obtained at 240; 240; 199.11, and 60 kg ha−1 in the first crop, respectively. The maximum fiber length was reached at 80.86 kg ha−1 in the BRS Verde cultivar. The maximum uniformity was obtained with the 138.49 kg ha−1, and the cultivar BRS Topázio obtained greater uniformity. Fiber strength increased with the application of P2O5.
Reclamation of Saline Soil under Association between Atriplex nummularia L. and Glycophytes Plants Monaliza Alves dos Santos, Maria Betânia Galvão Santos Freire, Fernando José Freire, Alexandre Tavares da Rocha, Pedro Gabriel de Lucena, Cinthya Mirella Pacheco Ladislau, Hidelblandi Farias de Melo Agriculture Switzerland, 2022 Phytoremediation is an efficient technique for the reclamation of salt-affected soils by growing plants. The present study aims to evaluate the intercropping of halophyte Atriplex nummularia Lindl. with naturally occurring species (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit and Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) adapted to semiarid regions as a management capable of enhancing the phytoremediation capacity of these species. A field experiment was conducted in a randomized block and contained four replicates. Species were cultivated alone and in association with A. nummularia to evaluate their potential uses in the reclamation of soils. Exchangeable Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+, as well as salinity and sodicity variables, were evaluated. The evaluations were performed at 9 and 18 months of plant growth. The results indicated that A. nummularia individualized was the treatment most efficient; with reductions of 80%, 63%, and 84% in electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, and exchangeable sodium percentage values, respectively at 18 months compared to starting of the experiment. However, the use of A. nummularia and species adapted to the semiarid in association, or even alone, promoted beneficial effects on the soil quality after the establishment of the plants.
Corrective phosphate application as a practice for reducing oxidative stress and increasing productivity in sugarcane Ariane Márcia de Sousa Silva, Emídio Cantídio Almeida de Oliveira, Lilia Gomes Willadino, Fernando José Freire, Alexandre Tavares da Rocha Revista Ciencia Agronomica, 2019 ABSTRACT Corrective phosphate application increases the levels of phosphorus (P) in the surface layer of the soil, stimulates plant root growth and increases the volume of soil exploited for water and nutrient uptake, which may reduce abiotic oxidative stress in sugarcane. The aim of this study was to evaluate the productivity and the response of the antioxidant enzyme system in sugarcane when grown in soil that received corrective phosphate application, using doses and sources of P of varying solubility. The experiment was conducted under field conditions in the southern Forest Zone of the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. The treatments were arranged in a randomised block design, in a (4 × 3) +1 factorial scheme with four replications. The factors consisted of a control (with no phosphate application) and the doses (50, 100, 200 and 300 kg P2O5 ha-1 ) and sources (reactive natural phosphate, triple superphosphate and sugarcane press mud) of P applied during the pre-planting stage of the plant cane cycle. The P content of the leaf tissue was considered adequate, and was not influenced by the phosphate application. Phosphate application at an estimated dose of 150 kg P2O5 ha-1 reduced antioxidant enzyme activity and increased shoot dry matter (SDM) by 25.0% and stalk productivity by 8.5%. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed the highest positive correlation coefficient with the other antioxidant enzymes, and a negative correlation with SDM, and can be used to evaluate abiotic stress that promotes reductions in sugarcane productivity.
Physiological Effect of Kinetin on the Photosynthetic Apparatus and Antioxidant Enzymes Activities During Production of Anthurium Fabiana B. de MOURA, Marcos R. da S. VIEIRA, Adriano do N. SIMÕES, Sérgio L. FERREIRA-SILVA, Carlos A.V. de SOUZA, Eduardo S. de SOUZA, Alexandre T. da ROCHA, Luzia F. da SILVA, Miguel A. JÚNIOR Horticultural Plant Journal, 2018 The results observed in the literature raise the hypothesis according to which cytokinin plays important roles in photosynthetic metabolisms and antioxidant enzymes. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate the effect of foliar application of the isolated cytokinin kinetin at the production cycle, seeking to analyze its effects on enzyme activity and photosynthetic parameters. The plants treated with CK presented reduction of leaf CO2 assimilation rate (Pn) and stomatal conductance (Gs), while that transpiration rate (Tr) was unaffected. The internal CO2 concentrations decreased with the increase in cytokinin levels, but were maintained under CK 50 mg·L−1. The plants treated with CK 75 mg·L−1 was verified higher carboxylation efficiency (Pn/Ci), which was associated to values of CO2 assimilation and transpiration unaltered. Apparent electron transport rate showed variations in the concentration of 25 mg·L−1. Considering the study of enzyme activity, on the other hand, it cannot be stated that kinetin has an effective action in delaying oxidative damage. It presents mixed results, since an efficiency in the application of cytokinin was not observed, presenting induction levels of ascorbate peroxidase activity. Thus, further research is needed to determine more precisely the effects of kinetin on gas exchange and antioxidant enzymes in anthurium plants. Keywords: anthurium, kinetin, photosynthesis, senescence, plant hormone, oxidative stress
Phosphorus fertilization for sugarcane in representative soils for cultivating this species in the Brazilian Northeast Djalma Euzébio Simões Neto, Alexandre Campelo de Oliveira, Fernando José Freire, Maria Betânia Galvão dos Santos Freire, Emídio Cantídio Almeida de Oliveira, Alexandre Tavares da Rocha Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, 2015 O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a disponibilidade de P em solos representativos para o cultivo da cana-planta no Nordeste brasileiro, e estabelecer uma nova recomendação de adubação com o nutriente para a cultura nestes solos. O estudo foi realizado em cinco solos da Zona da Mata de Pernambuco: Argissolo Amarelo distrocoeso, Argissolo Amarelo distrófico, Latossolo Amarelo distrófico, Gleissolo Háplico eutrófico e Espodossolo Humilúvico órtico. Avaliaram-se sete doses de P, determinadas quanto à capacidade máxima de adsorção de P de cada solo (fósforo remanescente, P-rem). Aos 30 dias após a fertilização, os teores de P nos solos foram determinados com os extratores Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3, Bray-1 e resina de troca aniônica. Os níveis críticos de P foram calculados para cada solo e extrator. A partir dos intervalos de disponibilidade de P, foram definidas cinco classes de fertilidade para diferentes conteúdos de argila nos solos: muito baixa, baixa, média, alta e muito alta. Mehlich-1 e a resina de troca aniônica são os extratores capazes de representar adequadamente a disponibilidade P, para o cultivo de cana-planta nos solos avaliados.
Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) biomass production as promising alternative source of energy in Brazil's semiarid area using gypsum Australian Journal of Crop Science, 2015
Phosphorus critical levels in corn in soils with different mineralogy Revista Caatinga, 2014
Yield of elephant grass and movement of cations as a function of mined gypsum Renato L. dos Santos, Fernando J. Freire, Vinícius M. de Azevedo, Alexandre T. da Rocha, José A. Tavares Revista Brasileira De Engenharia Agricola E Ambiental, 2013 O uso de gesso na correção da acidez trocável em subsuperfície tem proporcionado melhoria do ambiente radicular, influenciando positivamente na produtividade das culturas. Portanto, o objetivo foi avaliar o potencial do gesso de origem mineral da região do Araripe, em Pernambuco, na elevação dos teores de Ca trocável e na redução dos teores de Al trocável em subsuperfície e no aumento da produção de biomassa de variedades de capim elefante. Para isto foram cultivadas em campo três variedades de capim elefante: Cameroon, Gramafante e Roxo, na presença e na ausência de gesso mineral em arranjo fatorial (3 x 2) com os tratamentos distribuídos casualmente em 4 blocos. Os teores de Ca2+, S-SO4(2-), Al3+ e sua saturação não foram influenciados pela aplicação de gesso mineral na camada subsuperficial. A aplicação de gesso mineral reduziu o pH do solo na camada subsuperficial. O cultivo da variedade de capim Cameroon promoveu aumento do pH do solo, redução do teor e da saturação por Al. Os capins elefantes Cameroon e Gramafante apresentaram elevadas produções de matéria seca porém apenas a variedade Cameroon apresentou resposta à aplicação de gesso mineral, que alcançou 33 Mg ha-1.
Critical levels of phosphorus in sugarcane soils of Pernambuco state, Brazil Revista Ceres, 2012
