The objective of this study was to develop and calibrate a photovoltaic-powered soil moisture sensor (SMS) for irrigation management. Soil moisture readings obtained from the sensor were compared with gravimetric measurements. An automated SMS was used in two trials: (i) okra crop (Abelmoschus esculentus) and (ii) chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens). All sensors were calibrated and automated using an Arduino Mega board with C++. The soil moisture data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. The data recorded by the equipment was correlated with the gravimetric method. The determination coefficient (R²), Pearson correlation (r), and root mean square error (RMSE) were adopted as criteria for equipment validation. The results show that our SMS achieved an R² value of 0.70 and an r value of 0.84. Notably, there was a striking similarity observed between SMS and gravimetric data, with RMSE values of 3.95 and 4.01, respectively. The global model developed exhibited highly efficient outcomes with R² (0.98) and r (0.99) values. The applicability of the developed SMS facilitates irrigation management with accuracy and real-time monitoring using digital data. The automation of the SMS emerges as a real-time and precise alternative for performing irrigation at the right moment and in the correct amount, thus avoiding water losses.

An important source of greenhouse gases in Brazil is the nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission from pasture, and microorganisms play an important role in nitrogen transformations in the soil. This study aimed to evaluate N₂O emission and NH₃ volatilization from bovine excreta in pasture in an integrated crop–livestock system (ICL) in the Brazilian Cerrado. Three treatments (urine, dung and control) were performed in two pastures (Area 1—three-year pasture of Urochloa ruziziensis and Area 2—one-year pasture of Urochloa brizantha cv. Piatã), with two application times of the excreta (dry and rainy season), during two successive years of application. Compared to the control, the excreta deposition on ICL increased soil N₂O and NH₃ fluxes. In the dry season, N₂O fluxes were associated with higher ammonium (NH₄⁺) availability. In the rainy season, these fluxes were related to NO₃⁻ availability and water-filled pore space (WFPS). In both areas, NH₃ volatilization was higher after urine than dung application, especially in the dry season. The highest N₂O emission factors were obtained for urine (0.32%), the rainy season (0.36%), and older pasture (Area 1: 0.24%). All these values were below the mean IPCC default values (0.77%). These results indicate that N₂O emissions in pasture should be evaluated in regional conditions.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a dinâmica dos fluxos de óxido nitroso (N₂O) em solo sob pastagem, em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária, e sob cerrado nativo usado como referência, bem como identificar os atributos físicos e químicos do solo que influenciam esses fluxos. O estudo foi realizado na Fazenda Capivara, da Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, de 5 de fevereiro a 30 de setembro de 2013. As amostragens de gás foram realizadas com uso de câmaras estáticas manuais. O solo sob pastagem apresentou os maiores fluxos de N₂O, com média de 14,12 ng m^-2 s^-1. Essa área também apresentou maior espaço poroso preenchido por água (EPPA), que, associado à temperatura e ao teor de nitrato no solo, influenciou a produção de N₂O. Na época chuvosa, os fluxos apresentaram correlação positiva com o EPPA do solo e, na época seca, com seu teor de amônio e nitrato. A emissão total de N₂O na área da pastagem foi de 1.644,19 gha¹. No cerrado nativo, não houve emissão de N₂O do solo para a atmosfera.

Lettuce is among the 10 most valued vegetables for fresh consumption in Brazil. The use of rock powder in lettuce crops for soil acidity correction or fertilization is an option for reducing production costs. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of rock powder rates mica schist and irrigation water depths on the development and production characteristics of lettuce crops. The study was conducted in the experimental area of the State University of Goiás, using pelletized seeds of the lettuce cultivar Crespa Vanda. A randomized block experimental design with four replications was used, in a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement composed of four irrigation water depths: 50%, 75%, 100%, 125% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and four rock powder rates: 6, 8, 10, and 12 tons per hectare (t ha⁻¹), associated with mineral soil fertilizer application, totaling 16 treatments and 64 experimental plots. The variables evaluated were plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, head diameter, total fresh weight, commercial fresh weight, leaf area index, useful leaf area, estimated yield, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and water use efficiency. The data were subjected to regression analysis and principal component analysis. The variables studied exhibited predominantly low to medium coefficients of variation in all treatments, confirming the homogeneous conditions and precision of the study. The treatment with the highest rock powder rate (12 t ha⁻¹) provided the best results regarding agronomic effects for all lettuce crop variables evaluated. This rate provided better plant growth and development, resulting in improved response for production variables that are agronomically and economically relevant. The highest water use efficiency was found for the water depth of 50% ETc; however, the best lettuce production results were found for the irrigation water depth of 100% ETc. This water depth highlighted the strong correlation of commercial and total fresh weights with commercial and total production, as they are production components of the crop.