The low availability of phosphorus in most Brazilian soils causes a heavy dependence of agricultural production on phosphate fertilizers, which are generally agronomically inefficient in tropical soils. Breeding for increased longevity of sugarcane ratoons is extremely important, but understanding how the efficiency of phosphate fertilization can be improved is equally necessary. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of phosphate fertilizers with and without polymer coating on the productivity and nutritional status of sugarcane ratoons and phosphorus availability in the soil. The experiment was carried out on a commercial sugarcane field on a dystrophic Ultisol over two growing seasons in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Two phosphorus sources (monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and MAP + Policote) were tested at four rates (20, 40, 60 and 80 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) in addition to the control (no P fertilization). The Policote-coated phosphate fertilizer induced higher stalk and TRS yields in the first experimental year, while the same effect was not observed in the second year. Nevertheless, with the reapplication of the treatments in the second study year, the mean stalk yield was high in response to the application of 20 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ of coated fertilizer and very different from that of the higher rates of the same fertilizer, which yielded 88 Mg ha⁻¹, i.e., 8 Mg ha⁻¹ more than the mean of the other rates.

The objective of this study was to evaluate dry matter (DM) production of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu and ammonia volatilization in response to rates and sources of enhanced-efficiency N fertilizers. The experiment was took place in a pasture area, two growing seasons. A randomized block design with four replications was used, in a 4 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement, consisting of four N sources (Urea—Ur_Conv; Ammonium nitrate—AN; Urea + NBPT—Ur_NBPT; Urea + Duromide—Ur_Duromide) and two nitrogen rates (100 and 200 kg ha⁻¹ year), plus a treatment without nitrogen fertilization (control). At both N rates, ammonia volatilization from Ur_Conv100/200 was greatest. Ammonia volatilization was less after Ur_NBPT and Ur_Duromide application, with values similar to AN. Ammonia losses from Ur_Duromide tend to be lower than from Ur_NBPT. The N use efficiency in dry matter production of Marandu was influenced by the N sources and rates. At both N rates, the efficiency of Ur_Duromide and Ur_NBPT was greater than that of Ur_Conv. With regard to total DM and leaf percentage in response to N rates, DM production increased after 200 kg N ha⁻¹ rates in response to all sources, in both years. The Ur_Duromide reduce N losses by volatilization compared to Ur_NBPT and Ur_conv, and resulted in greater total DM production and relative leaf production of Marandu, in comparison to Ur_NBPT, AN and Ur_conv.

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) stands out in the context of sustainable agricultural production due to its versatility and energy potential. However, management challenges, such as nitrogen (N) fertilization associated with microbiological action, require improvement. In this context, the use of the bacterium Azospirillum brasilense has been studied as an alternative to reducing the use of mineral fertilizers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the application of Azospirillum brasilense in the planting furrow of sugarcane in terms of leaf diagnosis, nutrient uptake, yield and technological quality of the stalks, and total fresh and dry biomass of the aerial parts of the plants. The experiment was conducted under field conditions at two locations during the 2022/2023 growing season. The soils in Areas 1 and 2 were classified as medium-textured oxisol and sandy-textured oxisol, respectively. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments were as follows: (T1) 28 kg ha⁻¹ of N; (T2) 14 kg ha⁻¹ of N; (T3) T2 + 0.2 L ha⁻¹ of inoculant; (T4) T2 + 0.4 L ha⁻¹ of inoculant; (T5) T2 + 0.6 L ha⁻¹ of inoculant; (T6) T2 + 0.8 L ha⁻¹ of inoculant. In Area 1, treatment T5 showed a total fresh biomass yield of the aerial parts that was 34% higher than T2. Total dry biomass, tillering, stalk yield, and technological parameters did not differ significantly between treatments in either area. In terms of nutrient uptake, treatment T5 consistently ranked among those with the highest averages for P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, and Zn in both experimental areas. The dendrogram showed similar results between treatments T1 and T5. The application of 0.6 L ha⁻¹ of the solution containing Azospirillum brasilense, combined with 50% of the recommended N dose, increased total fresh biomass production. Total dry biomass, stalk yield, tillering, and technological variables of the crop were not affected by the presence of the bacterium.

With the increasing global demand for food, new pathways have emerged to drive the development and manipulation of crops with desired traits to ensure food security. CRISPR technology has enabled genome editing, allowing the addition or destruction of specific DNA sequences to modify a function, technology stands out as an exceptionally versatile tool. The components of the CRISPR system include the Cas9 enzyme, responsible for double-strand DNA cuts, and the guide RNA (gRNA), forming part of the spacer RNA. Through a systematic review, we searched, identifying 30 articles related to the CRISPR technique and its application in agriculture. The CRISPR-Cas9 system has been widely employed to understand transcriptional regulation, make epigenetic modifications, and microscopically visualize specific genome loci. The results support the specificity of genome editing with the CRISPR/Cas9 system, demonstrating efficiency in enhancing crop performance, enabling the generation of plants free of foreign DNA, and avoiding off-target mutations. Overall, the technique has increased productivity, water stress resistance, and weed control in various crops evaluated. It plays a pivotal role in boosting agricultural productivity, enabling the creation of crops adapted to adverse environments, and significantly enhancing food security. CRISPR/Cas9 thus represents a fundamental tool in genetic engineering, propelling significant innovations to address global agricultural challenges.