Chickpea is the third most cultivated legume in the world. In Brazil, cropping of this legume is recent and definitions of fertilizer management techniques are scarce. In this study, the objective was to evaluate chickpea (BRS Aleppo) production and soil chemical attributes with and without phosphorus fertilization and leaf-applied molybdenum. A randomized block experimental design was used, with four replications. A 2 x 5 factorial arrangement was used to evaluate production, consisting of two molybdenum fertilization management practices (with and without molybdenum) and five application rates of P2O5 (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg ha-1) in the form of single superphosphate. Soil sampling for evaluation of soil chemical attributes in the crop row and between rows was also considered. Molybdenum fertilization brought about greater stem and aboveground dry matter. Phosphorus fertilization increased stem, leaf, and seed yield, yielding a maximum of 2.83 t ha-1 seed at the rate of 200 kg ha-1 P2O5. However, maximum agronomic efficiency (8.30) was observed with the addition of 150 kg ha-1 P. Soil in the crop row attained higher concentrations of P, K, H+Al, and P-rem and reduction in pH, Ca concentration, SB, T, and V compared to between rows. Phosphorus rates reduced soil pH and increased T and the P concentrations, though only in the plant row. Between the rows, no changes were observed in soil chemical attributes, indicating low mobility of P and the acidification capacity of superphosphate in alkaline soils.

Knowledge of appropriate conditions of water and temperature is very important for the metabolic activities involved in the germination process. However, the Rules for Testing Seeds do not indicate the volume of water and the ideal temperature for pitaya germination. The study was carried out to evaluate different water volumes in the substrate and temperatures on seeds germination and vigor of pitaya. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial 5 x 3, with treatments consisted of five water volumes in the substrate and three temperatures. The used water volumes was equivalent to 1.5; 2.0; 2.5; 3.0 and 3.5 times the dry weight of the substrate. Were tested at constant temperatures of 20, 25 and 30 °C. The parameters evaluated were: germination, first count of germination, emergence speed index, length and dry mass of plantlets. The temperature of 25 °C and a water volume in the range of 2.5 to 3.5 times the weight of substrate is the most suitable combination for doing germination tests and evaluating the vigor of pitaya seeds. The temperature of 20 °C and the volume of water 1.5 times the weight of the substrate inhibited germination of seeds

Chickpea cultivation in Brazil has not yet been consolidated, and studies aiming at the adequate nutritional management for this crop are necessary. This work aimed to evaluate the production of chickpea plants (cultivar BRS Aleppo) subjected to fertilization with zinc and P doses. The experimental was completely randomized, with four replications, in a 3 x 5 factorial scheme, corresponding to three fertilization treatments with Zn (without Zn addition; 50% of Zn applied at sowing, via soil + 50% applied at flowering, via leaves; and 100% applied at sowing, via soil) and five doses of phosphorus (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg ha-1 of P2O5). The 100-grain mass (M100), pod mass (MV), number of pods (NV), number of grains (NG), total grain mass (MGT), yield (PROD), dry matter of the shoot part (MSPA) and plant residues (MSRV), and agronomic efficiency (EA) were characterized. There was an isolated effect of the P doses on the M100, MGT, PROD, MSPA, and MSRV characteristics. The application of 240 kg ha-1 resulted in an increase in the production components and a maximum yield of 3,018 kg ha-1, indicating the need to adopt higher doses of P2O5 to increase chickpea production in tropical soils. However, the highest agronomic efficiency was obtained after the application of 60 kg ha-1 of P2O5, along with Zn at sowing.

The adoption of conservationist systems can improve the protection of soil organic matter (SOM) and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, we aimed to quantify the soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks, C content in the SOM fractions and microbial C (Cmic) in the topsoil of an Acrisol under traditional and agrisilvicultural systems in the Southeast of Brazil. The evaluated treatments were native vegetation of Cerrado (NV), pasture of Urochloa brizantha (PAST), monoculture of pigeon pea (MCP), and agrisilvicultural system (Eucalyptus+pigeon pea; AGS). Soil samples were collected at depths of 0–5, 5–10, and 10–20cm to determine the soil C and N contents and stocks, C associated with granulometric and humic fractions of SOM, and soil Cmic. The C contents in AGS and MCP systems were similar to NV at 5–10 and 10–20cm, and soil C stocks in AGS were similar to NV and higher than in PAST system at 0–20cm. We found a higher percentage of protected C in the silt+clay fraction, and the AGS system contributed to an increase in this organomineral fraction at 10–20cm soil depth. The C contents in the free light fraction (0–5cm) and humin (5–10 and 10–20cm) were also similar between AGS and NV, giving greater protection of SOM in both systems. For Cmic and microbial quotient values we found no differences among the evaluated systems. The results indicated that after conversion of NV to different land uses, the AGS system more effectively increased the C stocks in the topsoil and protected the SOM.

High doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in irrigated systems may lead to an increase in the productivity of industrial tomatoes, but may also alter the final quality of the fruits. The objective of this was to evaluate the agronomic yield and post-harvest quality of industrial tomatoes, under NPK doses for climatic conditions of Northern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The study was conducted in the city of Jaíba, MG, Brazil, in randomized block design with four repetitions in a 3 x 3 factorial scheme, consisting of three doses of N (90, 135 and 180 kg ha-1), of P (270, 405 and 540 kg ha-1) and of K (225, 337 and 450 kg ha-1), corresponding to 50, 75 and 100% of the fertilization recommendation; and three tomato hybrids: BRS Sena, Heinz 9553 and BHN 0574. The following variables were evaluated: number of bunches, number and weight of fruits, productivity and fertilizer efficiency index; besides the physico-chemical characteristics: firmness, soluble solids concentration, pH and pulp industrial yield. The hybrid Heinz 9553 showed higher weight, number of fruits, productivity and industrial yield at doses of 75 and 100% of NPK recommendation. The fertilizer doses did not interfere on the soluble solids, pH and fruit firmness of the three hybrids. The hybrid BRS Sena was not influenced by the increase of NPK and there was lower weight, number of fruits, productivity and fertilization efficiency. The hybrid BHN and Heinz hybrids can be indicated for cultivation at doses of 100 and 75% of NPK recommendation, because they promote higher agronomic yield and do not alter the post-harvest quality of the tomatoes.

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Chickpea growth and yield are related to the balanced supply of N. In weathered soils, this factor depends on the biological activity of growth-promoting bacteria, the presence of diazotrophic bacteria, and the management of nitrogen fertilization. In this regard, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of inoculation with a mix of Bacillus spp. and N levels on chickpea cultivation. Two experiments were carried out: area 01, characterized by shortest cultivation time and area 02, with the longest cultivation time. For both studies, the experimental design was in randomized blocks with four replications arranged in a 2 x 6 factorial consisting of the absence or presence of the mix of Bacillus spp. (1 x 107 CFU per mL) from root isolates and six N levels: 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 kg ha-1. The chickpea production and yield characteristics were evaluated. In the area 01, inoculation with the mix of Bacillus spp. did not interfere with grain yield, whereas the application of lower N levels (25 kg ha-1) increased the dry mass of branches, grains, total dry mass, and yield (4.17 t ha-1). In contrast, in the area 02, nitrogen fertilization increased the chlorophyll index but did not interfere with the remaining production variables, whereas inoculation with Bacillus spp. increased chickpea yield by 4%, resulting in a grain harvest of 4.16 t ha-1. Therefore, inoculation of chickpea seeds with the mix of Bacillus spp. is recommended in soils with long-time cultivation of agricultural species.