This study aimed to evaluate the production and mineral nutrition of Piatã grass as a function of nitrogen and potassium fertilization in Oxisol collected in the Cerrado. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, the experimental design was completely randomized, in a 5 x 5 factorial scheme, corresponding to five nitrogen doses (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg dm^-3 of N) and five potassium doses (0, 90, 180, 270 and 360 mg dm^-3 of K₂O), with four replicates. Three cuts of the shoots were performed every 30 days. Chlorophyll index, dry mass of shoots and roots, and nitrogen and potassium contents in the leaves were evaluated. The dry mass of shoots showed interaction between nitrogen and potassium in the three cuts; in the second and third cuts, it had maximum production at the nitrogen and potassium doses of 254 and 158 mg dm^-3, in the second, and 250 and 306 mg dm^-3 in the third, respectively. The nitrogen and potassium contents are influenced as a function of nitrogen and potassium fertilization isolated by factor. The nitrogen and potassium ratio in the Piatã grass crop was around 1:1.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a cereal used in food and feed for its nutritional properties. For nitrogen and potassium management, efficient use of water is required for greater availability and transportation of these nutrients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of combinations of nitrogen and potassium doses in production, nutrition and water use efficiency in wheat. The experiment was held in a greenhouse with 8-dm3 pots using Oxisol collected at a depth of 0-0.2 m under Cerrado vegetation. Base saturation was raised to 60%. The experimental design was a randomized block in a 5x5 factorial arrangement with five doses of nitrogen (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg dm-3) and potassium (0, 90, 180, 270, 360 mg dm-3) with four replications. Soil moisture was maintained by an auto-irrigation system (3 kPa pressure). The experiment was collected at 95 days after plant emergence. We evaluated the dry mass of ears, shoots and roots, the total dry matter, nitrogen and potassium in grains, and the consumption and efficiency in water use. An analysis of variance and regression test at 5% probability was conducted using SAS statistical software (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, North Carolina). The nitrogen and potassium alone increased the dry mass of ears by 31.47% and 20.91%, respectively. There was an interaction of nutrients on the dry mass of the shoots and the total dry matter. Potassium increases the concentration of nitrogen. Nitrogen and potassium promote gains in production, nutrition and water use efficiency.

Safflower crops is usually intended for production of seeds to oil extraction. The objective of this work was to evaluate the chlorophyll index, biometric characteristics and water use efficiency of safflower plants grown under different nitrogen and potassium rates and controlled soil water tension. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in pots containing 8 dm³ of a Oxisol. A complete randomized block experimental design in a 5x5 factorial arrangement was used, with four replications, consisting of five nitrogen rates (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 mg dm^-3) and five potassium rates (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg dm^-3). The safflower number of leaves, stem diameter, chlorophyll index, number of capitula, shoot, root and total dry weights, water consumption and water use efficiency were evaluated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (F test) at 5% of probability and to polynomial regression. The nitrogen and potassium fertilization, as independent factors, affected the safflower plants. The chlorophyll index, biometric characteristics and water use efficiency of safflower showed better responses under nitrogen rates of 82 to 168 mg dm^-3. The responses of chlorophyll index, biometric characteristics and water use efficiency of safflower increased 10 to 60% with potassium fertilization.

: Accurate measurements of soil moisture content can contribute to resource conservation in irrigated systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate various soil moisture sensors (a porous cup tensiometer, Diviner 2000, PR2, XH300, PM100, and ML3; the mention of model names does not constitute an implied endorsement) used in four different soil types. The experiment was conducted inside a greenhouse using a specially constructed box that contained the soil samples. The soil samples were first saturated and subsequently drained before starting the measurements. The soil moisture content was determined by the oven-drying method. Using the standard deviation of the sensor readings, regression analyses were performed, resulting in calibration equations and coefficient of determination (R²) values for each sensor and soil type combination. The porous cup tensiometer, Diviner 2000, PR2, and ML3 measurements resulted in excellent R² values that exceeded 0.95 for the four soils. However, measurements with the XH300 and PM100 sensors resulted in R² values of 0.37 to 0.86 and 0.61 to 0.94, respectively, limiting their scientific applicability for the studied soils. Therefore, the porous cup tensiometer, Diviner 2000, PR2, and ML3 estimated the soil moisture content with greater confidence than did the other sensors and with an error of less than 5%. Keywords: Calibration, Tensiometer, Volumetric water content.

PRODUÇÃO E EFICIÊNCIA NO USO DA ÁGUA DO CAPIM PAIAGUÁS SOB TENSÕES DE ÁGUA NO SOLO - DOI: 10.7127/rbai.v11n100571