Pyrolysis conditions directly influence biochar properties and, consequently, influence the potential use of biochar. In this study, we evaluated the effects of different pyrolysis temperatures (450, 550, 650, 750, 850, and 950 °C) on the hydrogen potential, electrical conductivity, ash content, yield, volatile matter content, elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results, X-ray diffraction results, scanning electron microscopy results, specific surface area, and micropore volume of eucalyptus wood-derived biochar. The degree of linear association between pyrolysis temperatures and biochar properties was examined using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The results showed a positive correlation of the pyrolysis temperature with the hydrogen potential value, electrical conductivity, and elemental carbon. There was a negative correlation of the pyrolysis temperature with the yield, volatile matter content, elemental oxygen, elemental hydrogen, surface area, aromaticity, hydrophilicity, and polarity indexes. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy data indicated an increase in aromaticity and a decrease in the polarity of high-temperature biochar. The increased pyrolysis temperature caused the loss of cellulose and crystalline mineral components, as indicated by X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy images. These results indicated that changing the pyrolysis temperature enables the production of biochar from the same raw material with a wide range of physicochemical properties, which allows its use in various types of agricultural and environmental activities.

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In the agricultural environment, the occurrence of biotic and abiotic stresses, such as weed interference and soil water deficit is common. However, little is known about the effects of the interaction of these stresses on the growth of cultivated crops and weed species. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of competition and water deficiency on the growth of sunflowers and weeds. The experiment was performed in a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments were arranged in a 5 × 2 factorial design, with the first factor corresponding to the competition arrangements between the species (sunflower + Waltheria indica; sunflower + Amaranthus spinosus; and sunflower, W. indica, and A. spinosus in monoculture without competition) and the second factor corresponding to water regimes (irrigated and water deficit). The water deficit regime was established when the sunflower plants had six expanded leaves (V6 stage) and was maintained until the rate of CO2 assimilation of the plants reached values close to zero (6 days), after which irrigation was resumed and maintained until 40 days after emergence, when the plants were collected and evaluated. The growth components evaluated were plant height, leaf area, dry leaf mass, dry stem mass, dry root mass, and total dry mass. Competition between plants decreased sunflower, W. indica, and A. spinosus growth. W. indica and A. spinosus aggravated the negative effects of water deficiency on sunflower growth. The water deficit regime did not affect the growth of W. indica. A. spinosus was more competitive with the sunflower than was W. indica.

O bom estabelecimento das culturas agrícolas depende de vários fatores ligados à forma de manejo das plantas daninhas. A corda-de-viola (Ipomoea sp.) é uma das plantas daninhas mais problemáticas em lavouras agrícolas no Brasil, causando redução na produção e dificultando as operações de colheita. Neste sentido, objetivou-se avaliar a eficácia de diferentes herbicidas aplicados em pós-emergência da corda-de-viola. O experimento foi conduzido no período de julho a setembro de 2018 em casa de vegetação. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados (DBC), com seis tratamentos (T1 - glifosato, T2 -clorimuron-etílico, T3 - metsulfuron-metílico, T4 – carfentrazona-etílica, T5 - saflufenacil, T6 – controle sem aplicação de herbicidas), com quatro repetições. Para a determinação da eficácia de controle, foram feitas avaliações de fitointoxicação com base em uma escala visual aos 7, 14 e 21 dias após a aplicação. Neste mesmo período, foi medido o comprimento de raiz, da parte aérea e comprimento total, diâmetro de caule e matéria seca total da planta. A carfentrazona-etílica (30 g i.a. ha-1) e o saflufenacil (35 g i.a. ha-1) são eficientes no controle da corda-de-viola (Ipomoea sp.) em pós-emergência por apresentar controle total desta planta daninha. O glifosato 1920 g e.a. ha-1), clorimuron-etílico (12,5 g i.a. ha-1) e metsulfuron-metílico (3,6 g i.a. ha-1) não são recomendados para o controle de corda-de-viola (Ipomoea sp.) devido à baixa porcentagem de controle.

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Widespread occurrence of herbicide-resistant weeds and more variable weather conditions across the US has made weed control in many crops more challenging. Preemergence (PRE) herbicides with soil residual activity have resurged as the foundation for early-season weed control in many crops. Field experiments were conducted at Janesville and Lancaster, WI in 2021 and 2022 (4 site-years) to evaluate the weed control efficacy of solo (single site of action [SOA]) and premix (two or more SOAs) PRE herbicides in conventional tillage corn. Treatments consisted of 18 PRE herbicides plus a non-treated check. At Janesville-2021, S-metolachlor + bicyclopyrone + mesotrione, atrazine + S-metolachlor + bicyclopyrone + mesotrione, and clopyralid + acetochlor + mesotrione provided >72% giant ragweed control. At Janesville-2022, none of the PRE herbicides evaluated provided >70% giant ragweed control due to the high giant ragweed density and the lack of timely rainfall. At Lancaster-2021, atrazine, dicamba, and flumetsulam + clopyralid provided <45% waterhemp control, but the remaining treatments provided >90% control. At Lancaster-2022, the efficacy of some PRE herbicides was reduced due to the high waterhemp density; however, most herbicides provided >75% control. At Lancaster-2021 and 2022, only dicamba and S-metolachlor did not provide >75% common lambsquarters control. PRE herbicides containing SOA group 15 provided >75% control of giant foxtail. Across weed species, PRE herbicides with two (78%) and three (81%) SOAs provided higher weed control than PRE herbicides with a single SOA (68%), indicating that at least two SOAs PRE result in better early-season weed control. The efficacy of the PRE herbicide treatments evaluated herein varied according to the soil seed bank weed community composition and environmental conditions (i.e., rainfall following application), but the premixes were a more reliable option to improve early-season weed control in conventional tillage corn.