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RESUMO: Em experimento de casa de vegetação, cultivou-se Brachiaria brizantha Stapf. cv. Marandu em solução nutritiva, tendo como tratamentos a solução completa, as omissões individuais de N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S e a testemunha (com omissão dos macronutrientes). Fez-se o acompanhamento da manifestação dos sintomas visuais de deficiência e, 50 dias após o transplante, avaliou-se a produção de matéria seca (MS), número de perfilhos (NP), a altura das plantas (H), bem como a composição mineral da parte aérea e das raízes. As omissões de N e P limitaram o crescimento, ao passo que a omissão de K não afetou a produção de MS e NP. A omissão de Ca não trouxe, para o período considerado, restrições na produção de MS, NP e H. Nas omissões de Mg e S as plantas tiveram fraco desempenho, superando apenas os tratamentos onde foram omitidos o N e o P. A composição mineral da parte aérea só apresentou diferenças acentuadas nos teores para os nutrientes omitidos. Sintomas visuais de deficiência foram observados para todas as omissões, sendo os primeiros manifestados através da omissão do N e do P e os últimos, através da omissão do Ca. São sugeridos estudos para melhor definição do balanço entre formas e fontes de nutrientes para a solução nutritiva quando utilizada no cultivo de plantas de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. Descritores: Brachiaria brizantha, nutrição mineral, macronutrientes, solução nutritiva, gramínea forrageira GROWTH OF Brachiaria brizantha Stapf. Cv. MARANDU IN NUTRIENT SOLUTION WITH MACRONUTRIENT OMISSIONSABSTRACT: In a greenhouse experiment Brachiaria brizantha Stapf, cv. Marandu was grown in a nutrient solution. The treatments were a complete nutrient solution, nutrient solutions with the omissions of each macronutrient (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) and a control (with the omission of all macronutrients). Plants were harvested 50 days after transplanting. Dry matter yield, tiller number and plant height were recorded, and nutrient concentrations in shoot and root were determined. Omissions of N and P were the most limiting for plant growth, whereas K and Ca did not affect grass growth and tillering. Mg and S omissions resulted in significant decreases in the plant parameters. Great decreases in plant nutrient concentrations were verified in the treatments with nutrient omissions in solution. Visual symptoms of deficiencies were observed for each nutrient omission treatment, with those of N and P being the first and that of Ca being the latest shown by the plants. Studies on forms and sources of nutrients for nutrient solution to be used with this grass are suggested. Key Words: Brachiaria brizantha, mineral nutrition, macronutrients, nutrient solution, forage grass INTRODUÇÃODiversas são as espécies de gramíneas forrageiras tropicais que apresentam-se como opções para a formação de pastagens no Brasil. As do gênero Brachiaria têm-se firmado pela capacidade de adaptação às diversas condições ambientais e de manejo da pastagem.A Brachiaria brizantha Stapf. cv. Marandu apareceu como mais uma opção para os pecuaristas...

The increasing cost of commercial fertilizers and environmental problems associated with improper fertilization management have prompted the need to re-examine commercial N sources that can effectively supply N to pastures while minimizing N losses. This 3-year study evaluated the effects of selected N sources on bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Fl€ ugge) responses, soil properties and N losses. Treatments consisted of a factorial combination of 6 N sources [(i) ammonium nitrate (AN), (ii) ammonium sulphate (AS), (iii) urea (U), (iv) urea treated with Agrotain (U + Agrotain), (v) SuperU and (vi) ammonium sulphate nitrate] and 3 N levels (0, 60 or 120 kg ha À1 year À1 ), replicated three times. Bahiagrass dry-matter yield (DMY), crude protein (CP) concentration, N uptake and recovery were not affected by N source, with the exception of AN that resulted in reduced DMY in 2010 compared with the other sources. Bahiagrass DMY, CP concentration, N uptake and recovery increased linearly as N levels increased. Nitrogen fertilization showed no effect on soil pH or soil N accumulation. Soil pore-water N concentrations from treatments fertilized with N were similar to the control plots indicating no threat to the environment. At the N levels evaluated in this study, selection of N source should be based on the fertilizer cost.

Tropical and subtropical soils are usually acidic and have high concentrations of aluminum (Al). Aluminum toxicity in plants is caused by the high affinity of the Al cation for cell walls, membranes, and metabolites. In this study, the response of the antioxidant-enzymatic system to Al was examined in two tomato genotypes: Solanum lycopersicum var. esculentum (Calabash Rouge) and Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme (CNPH 0082) grown in tropical soils with varying levels of Al. Plant growth; activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), and glutathione reductase (GR) enzymes; stress-indicating compounds (malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide); and morphology (root length and surface area) were analyzed. Increased levels of Al in soils were correlated with reduced shoot and root biomass and with reduced root length and surface area. Calabash Rouge exhibited low Al concentrations and increased growth in soils with the highest levels of Al. Plants grown in soils with high availability of Al exhibited higher levels of stress indicators (MDA and hydrogen peroxide) and higher enzyme activity (CAT, APX, GPOX, and GR). Calabash Rouge absorbed less Al from soils than CNPH 0082, which suggests that the genotype may possess mechanisms for Al tolerance.

Silicon (Si) accumulation in organs and cells is one of the most prominent characteristics of plants of the family Poaceae. Many species from this family are used as forage plants for animal feeding. The present study investigates in Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf. cv. Marandu: (1) the dry matter production and Si content in shoot due to soil Si fertilizations; (2) the Si distribution among shoot parts; and (3) the silica deposition and localization in leaves. Plants of B. brizantha cv. Marandu were grown under contrasting Si supplies in soil and nutrient solution. Silica deposition and distribution in grass leaf blades were observed using light microscope and scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDXS). Silicon concentration in the B. brizantha shoot increased according to the Si supply. Silicon in grass leaves decreased following the order: mature leaf blades > recently expanded leaf blades > nonexpanded leaf blades. Silicon accumulates mainly on the upper (adaxial) epidermis of the grass leaf blades and, especially, on the bulliform cells. The Si distribution on adaxial leaf blade surface is non uniform and reflects a silica deposition exclusively on the cell wall of bulliform cells.

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RESUMO -Avaliaram-se os efeitos de combinações de doses de nitrogênio com doses de enxofre nas respostas morfológicas e produtivas de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu cultivada em solução nutritiva, utilizando-se sílica como substrato, em um experimento em casa de vegetação no período da primavera. Utilizou-se o esquema fatorial 5 2 fracionado, com 13 combinações para nitrogênio e enxofre na solução nutritiva, em mg L -1 : 14 e 3,2; 14 e 32; 14 e 80; 126 e 12,8; 126 e 64; 210 e 3,2; 210 e 32; 210 e 80; 336 e 12,8; 336 e 64; 462 e 3,2; 462 e 32; e 462 e 80, as quais foram distribuídas segundo o delineamento estatístico de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. As avaliações foram realizadas em dois estádios de crescimento das plantas. Os resultados demonstraram que o fornecimento de enxofre é fundamental quando se aplica o nitrogênio. Para a maximização do número de perfilhos e de folhas, da produção de massa seca de folhas, de colmos+bainhas e da parte aérea, da área foliar e da taxa de aparecimento de folhas do capim-marandu, a combinação deve ser, no mínimo, de 358 mg L -1 para nitrogênio com 56 mg L -1 de enxofre. A taxa máxima de aparecimento de folhas para o capim-marandu ocorreu na dose de enxofre de 42 mg L -1 .Palavras-chave: área foliar, Brachiaria brizantha, folhas, massa seca, perfilhos Morphological and productive responses of marandugrass to combined rates of nitrogen and sulphurABSTRACT -This experiment was carried out in a greenhouse during the spring to study combinations of nitrogen and sulphur rates on Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu growing in nutrient solution and using ground quartz as substrate. It was set in a fractionated 5 2 factorial arrangement, with five rates of nitrogen and five rates of sulphur. The resulting 13 combinations were, in mg L -1 : 14 and 3. 2, 14 and 32, 14 and 80, 126 and 12.8, 126 and 64, 210 and 3.2, 210 and 32, 210 and 80, 336 and 12.8, 336 and 64, 462 and 3.2, 462 and 32, and 462 and 80. The experimental units were set in randomized blocks design, with four replications. Plants had two growth periods. The results showed that high availability of sulphur is required when nitrogen is supplied for total tiller number, leaf number, leaf dry matter yield, stems plus sheaths and plant tops, leaf area and leaf appearance rate. In order to maximize these variables for the marandugrass, it is necessary the minimum combination of 358 mg L -1 of nitrogen with 56 mg L -1 of sulphur. The highest leaf appearance rate for marandugrass occurred in the sulphur rate of 42 mg L -1 .

RESUMOUm sistema radicular bem desenvolvido na gramínea forrageira é necessário para a formação e sustentação da planta e, como conseqüência, para a boa produtividade da pastagem. Objetivou-se avaliar características radiculares da Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, em resposta a combinações