A baixa disponibilidade de fósforo em solos ácidos, como os do Cerrado, exige um manejo eficiente da adubação fosfatada. O uso de tecnologias que aumentem a eficiência de uso do fósforo é uma alternativa que pode ser adotada, desde que se considere a realidade dos solos brasileiros. Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da aplicação de adubo fosfatado revestido com polímero, associada à calagem, na produção e parâmetros morfológicos da cultura do milho. O estudo foi conduzido em campo, em Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, arranjados em esquema fatorial 2 x 4, com três repetições. Os tratamentos resultaram da combinação de duas fontes de fósforo (MAP convencional e MAP revestido com polímero - Kimcoat®) com quatro níveis de saturação por bases (27; 40; 50 e 60%). As fontes de fósforo apresentaram diferenças dependentes dos níveis de saturação por bases. O MAP revestido com polímero promoveu melhor desempenho do milho, quanto à produtividade, produção de matéria seca total e altura de planta, em relação ao MAP convencional. As maiores diferenças foram verificadas nas saturações por bases de 40 e 50%, nas quais o MAP revestido promoveu o incremento na produtividade de grãos de 3,40 e 3,48 t ha-1, respectivamente, em relação ao MAP convencional.

Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito de diferentes lâminas de água e doses de nitrogênio e a interação dos dois fatores sobre a produtividade e qualidade de grãos do trigo BRS 254 instalou-se, em 2009, um experimento em Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas e quatro repetições. Nas parcelas foram estabelecidas cinco doses de nitrogênio (N): 20, 50, 100, 200 e 400 kg ha-1 e nas subparcelas as lâminas de água: 120; 264; 342 e 392 mm. A produtividade média e a maioria de seus componentes diferiram significativamente em função da lâmina de água e da dose de N; a exceção foi o número de espiguetas por espiga, não influenciado por nitrogênio. A produtividade mínima e máxima observada foi de 1.136 e 5.209 kg ha-1, respectivamente, para 120 mm e 50 kg ha-1 de N e 392 mm e 200 kg ha-1 de N. O teor de proteína bruta foi influenciado significativamente pela interação lâmina de água e dose de nitrogênio. A massa do hectolitro, a energia de deformação da massa e o número de queda, foram influenciados significativamente apenas por lâmina de água. Lâminas menores que 365 mm proporcionaram massa do hectolitro abaixo de 78 kg hL-1. Por outro lado, lâminas de água maiores que 340 mm proporcionaram número de queda abaixo de 250 s, sugerindo cautela no manejo da água em agrossistemas de trigo. A field experiment was carried out in a Red-Yellow Latosol in 2009 in order to assess the effects of different doses of nitrogen fertilization and water depth and their interaction on the grain yield and quality of wheat BRS 254. The experimental design was a completely randomized block with split plot on water level and four replications. Nitrogen doses in the plot were: 20, 50, 100, 200, and 400 kg ha-1. In the split plot water depths were: 120, 264, 342 and 392 mm. Mean yield and the majority of its components differed significantly with water depth and nitrogen dose. The exception occurred on the number of grains per spikelet which was not affected by nitrogen level. Minimum and maximum yield were 1,135 kg ha-1 and 5,209 kg ha-1, respectively for 120 mm and 50 kg ha-1 of N; and 392 mm and 200 kg ha-1 of N. In all of them, the highest yields were achieved by nitrogen doses over 220 kg ha-1. Crude protein content was significantly affected by water and nitrogen level interaction. The hectoliter mass, the strength of gluten and the falling number were significantly affected by water level. Water depths lower than 365 mm provided hectoliter weight below 78 kg hL-1. On the other hand water depths higher than 340 mm provided falling number below 250 s, suggesting caution on wheat agrossystems water management

The objective of this work was to quantify the genetic variability of 213 conilon coffee accessions of the Robusta Tropical cultivar, based on chemical characteristics related to the quality of green coffee beans, as well as to identify promising accessions for the breeding program of irrigated conilon coffee in the Brazilian Cerrado. The chemical characteristics evaluated were: protein and caffeine contents, total soluble solids and total lipids, ether extract, pH, and total titratable acidity. The data were subjected to the principal component analysis and cluster analysis based on the similarities observed within the first two principal components using the minimum variance method (Wards) and, as a measure of similarity, the Euclidean distance. The three main components explained 72.64% of the total variation of the data. All characteristics, except pH, were correlated with the first three components. It was possible to separate the genotypes in three clusters, according to the similarities observed in the behavior of the variables. The evaluated accessions present genetic variability regarding the assessed quality characteristics of green coffee beans, and CPAC 160 and CPAC 32 are the most promising for the breeding program of conilon coffee for cultivation under irrigation in the Cerrado.

The objective of this work was to present a methodological alternative for studies of the characterization and selection of corn (Zea mays) genotypes, through the joint analysis of variance of an augmented block design, using Scott-Knott’s test, and to present the hybrids selected from the adopted strategy, to show its efficiency. For the application of the methodology, a case study was used: the selection of superior corn hybrids for the Brazilian Cerrado. In four locations, 70 experimental hybrids were evaluated in an augmented block design without replicates, with three controls replicated once in each block. The analysis of experimental groups applied to the augmented block design, followed by genotype classifications by Scott-Knott’s multiple comparison test, is a viable alternative for studies with a low number of replicates and a large number of genotypes. Based on the tested methodology, the following experimental hybrids are selected for grain yield: HT007, HT008, HT018, HT004, HT024, HT005, and HT071.

Desiccating herbicides can promote uniformity of maturation, and early harvest and provide improvements in the physical, physiological, and sanitary seeds quality. The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of herbicides in early harvest and in the physiological quality of chickpea seeds. The experimental design was of randomized blocks with four replications, considering a complete factorial design with one control (no application) + two factors (four herbicides x three different doses): glufosinate-ammonium (200, 400 and 500 g a.i./ha); diquat (200, 400 and 500 g a.i./ha); carfentrazoneethyl (15, 30 and 37.5 g a.i./ha) and saflufenacil (49, 98 and 122.5 g a.i./ha). Saflufenacil (49 g a.i./ha) showed the lowest harvest anticipation (4 days) and a low percentage of vigor (50.25%). Glufosinate (400 g a.i./ha), was the most promising as it increased germination to 83.75% and vigor to 78.25%, in addition to promoting the anticipation of harvest by up to 17 days, while the normal cycle of the crop, observed in the control, was 154 days.

The sustainability of agricultural production can be improved through the use of cover crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the Model Identity Method in the verification of equality of linear regressions resulting from the calibration of a neutron probe for different layers, as a function of signalgrass management as a cover crop between rows of soil coffee crop in the Brazilian Central Cerrado. Aluminum tubes were installed to access the probe and two saturation basins were built in a coffee area, irrigated by a central pivot, in an Oxisol, with two management systems, T (Traditional with bare soil) and B (Signalgrass in the row). Samples were taken at depths of 0-0.20; 0.20-0.40; 0.40-0.60; and 0.60-0.80 m for the determination of physical and water properties and monitoring of soil drying; concomitant measurements were taken with the neutron probe in these layers. Two calibration curves were constructed for each layer, which were compared by the above method. It was observed that treatment B yielded differences in soil water storage in the 0.20-0.40 m layer, differing from treatment T. The statistical method allowed the observation of equality of regressions between treatments B and T at depths 0-0.20, 0.40-0.60, and 0.60-0.80 m; it also showed the need for different regression curves per layer, besides justifying the need for neutron probe calibration for each specific local condition.