Application of stabilized and controlled-release urea blends can reduce the losses of N-NH 3 as compared to conventional urea. The aim of this study was to quantify ammonia volatilization from conventional nitrogen fertilizers and blends of urea + (urea + NBPT) + controlled release urea applied in drip irrigated coffee system. The experiment was conducted under field conditions in in a Red Latosol located in Lavras-MG, Brazil. The randomized complete block design with six treatments: Urea = 450 kg ha

No abstract

The market of stabilized, slow and controlled release nitrogen (N) fertilizers represents 1% of the world fertilizer consumption. On the other hand, the increase in availability, innovation and application of these technologies could lead to the improvement of N use efficiency in agroecossystems and to the reduction of environmental impacts. The objective of this study was to quantify agronomic efficiency relative index, ammonia volatilization, and CO 2 emissions from conventional, stabilized and controlled release N fertilizers in corn summer crop. The experiment was carried out in a corn crop area located in Lavras, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, without irrigation. All treatments were applied in topdressing at rate of 150 kg ha -1 N. N-NH 3 losses from N fertilizers were: Granular urea (39% of the applied N ) = prilled urea (38%) > urea coated with 16% S 0 (32%) = blend of urea + 7.9% S 0 + polymers + conventional urea (32%) > prilled urea incorporated at 0.02 m depth (24%) > urea + 530 mg kg -1 of NBPT (8%) = Hydrolyzed leather (9%) > urea + thermoplastic resin (3%) = ammonium sulfate (1%) = ammonium nitrate (0.7%). Thermoplastic resin coated urea, ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate presented low values of cumulative CO 2 emissions in corn crop. On the other hand, hydrolyzed leather promoted greater C-CO 2 emission, when compared with other nitrogen fertilizers.Index terms: CO 2 ; NH 3 loss; no-tillage; Zea mays L. RESUMOO consumo de fertilizantes nitrogenados estabilizados, de liberação lenta e controlada representa 1% do total de fertilizantes utilizados no mundo. Por outro lado, um aumento na disponibilidade, inovação e utilização dessas tecnologias pode levar a maior eficiência no uso do nitrogênio (N) na agricultura com menor impacto ambiental. O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar as perdas de amônia (N-NH 3 ) por volatilização e as emissões de CO 2 de fertilizantes nitrogenados convencionais, estabilizados e de liberação controlada na cultura do milho. O experimento foi realizado em condições de campo no município de Lavras (MG) no ano agrícola 2013/2014, sem irrigação. Os tratamentos foram compostos por fertilizantes nitrogenados aplicadas em cobertura na dose de 150 kg ha -1 de N. A perda acumulada de N-NH 3 dos fertilizantes nitrogenados convencionais, estabilizados de liberação controlada em ordem decrescente foi: Ureia granulada (39% do N aplicado) = ureia perolada (38%) > ureia + 16% de S 0 (32%) = mistura física de grânulos (blend) de ureia revestida com S 0 e polímeros e ureia convencional (32%) > ureia perolada incorporada (24%) > ureia + 530 mg kg -1 de NBPT (8%) = hidrolisado de couro bovino (9%) > ureia + resina termoplástica (3%) = sulfato de amônio (1%) = nitrato de amônio (0,7%). O sulfato e nitrato de amônio e a ureia + resina termoplástica promovem a menor emissão de dióxido de carbono (C-CO 2 ) em área de cultivo de milho. Enquanto que, o hidrolisado de couro promoveu a maior emissão total de C-CO 2 para à atmosfera.Termos para indexação: CO 2 ; perdas de NH 3 ; planti...

-In contrast to enhanced-efficiency nitrogen fertilisers, principally urea, phosphate fertilisers have been little studied and the available information is limited. The aim of this work therefore was to evaluate the productive and nutritional characteristics and the agronomic efficiency of a polymer-coated MAP fertilizer on two subsequent lettuce crops. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, in pots with a capacity of 4 kg, filled with a dystrophic yellow Latosol of a clayey texture. The experimental design was completely randomised and the treatments arranged in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme: two sources of phosphorus (P) (MAP and polymer-coated MAP), applied to the plots in five dosages (0, 100, 200, 400, 800 mg P 2 O 5 kg -1 ) with three replications. The results showed that the polymer-coated MAP increased the efficiency of the phosphate fertilizer in both lettuce crops, improving utilisation of the residual phosphorus. The agronomic efficiency of fertilization decreases with the increases in applied phosphorus. The production and nutritional characteristics of the lettuce were influenced by the levels of P 2 O 5 and the use of MAP with polymers. Higher values for dry and fresh weight and for the accumulation of P in the first crop occurred with the use of polymer-coated MAP at dosages of 506.9, 450.1 and 522.8 mg kg -1 P 2 O 5 .Key words: Phosphate fertilizer. Residual effect. Lactuca sativa L.RESUMO -Contrariamente aos fertilizantes nitrogenados de eficiência aumentada, principalmente a ureia, os fertilizantes fosfatados foram pouco estudados e as informações disponíveis são limitadas. Dessa forma, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar as características produtivas, nutricionais e a eficiência agronômica da adubação fosfatada com MAP revestido com polímeros em dois cultivos subsequentes de alface. Foi conduzido um experimento em casa de vegetação em vasos com capacidade para 4 kg de solo preenchido com um Latossolo Vermelho distrófico de textura argilosa. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado e os tratamentos distribuídos em arranjo fatorial 2 x 5: duas fontes de fósforo (P) (MAP e MAP revestido com polímeros) aplicadas nas parcelas em cinco doses (0; 100; 200; 400; 800 mg P 2 O 5 kg -1 ), com três repetições. Os resultados mostraram que o MAP revestido com polímeros promoveu maior eficiência da adubação fosfatada nos dois cultivos da alface, melhorando o aproveitamento do fósforo residual. A eficiência agronômica da adubação diminui com o aumento na quantidade de fósforo aplicada. As características produtivas e nutricionais da alface foram influenciadas pelas doses de P 2 O 5 e com a utilização do MAP + polímeros. A maior massa seca e fresca e acúmulo de P no primeiro cultivo ocorreram com a utilização do MAP revestido por polímeros nas doses de 506,9; 450,1; 522,8 mg kg -1 de P 2 O 5 .Palavras-chave: Fertilizante fosfatado. Efeito residual. Lactuca sativa L.

Information related to phosphate fertilization and coated phosphate fertilizer in onion is scarce. Thus, this study was carried out to evaluate agronomic efficiency, production and nutritional characteristics of triple superphosphate coated with polymers in onion cultivated in contrasting texture soils. Two experiments were carried out under protected conditions in pots containing 5 kg soil. The experimental design was completely randomized with treatments arranged in a 2 x 5 factorial: triple superphosphate (TSP) and polymer-coated triple superphosphate (TSP+P) applied in five phosphorus rates: Dystroferric Red Latosol (LVdf) (clayey) = 0; 100; 200; 400; 800 mg P 2 O 5 kg-1 , and Quartzarenic Neosol (sandy) = 0; 75; 150; 300; 600 mg P 2 O 5 kg-1 , with three replications. Results indicated that polymer-coated TSP showed no difference for bulb mass and agronomic efficiency for phosphorus fertilization. Agronomic efficiency of phosphorus fertilization decreased with the increase in the amount of phosphorus applied. Phosphorus accumulation for onion bulb cultivated in Dystroferric Red Latosol (LVdf) was higher with the use of polymer-coated triple superphosphate. Growth, production and nutritional characteristics in onion were affected by phosphorus. The highest bulbs mass production and phosphorus accumulation occurred at the doses of 783; 629 mg kg-1 P 2 O 5 (Dystroferric Red Latosol-LVdf), and of 406; 600 mg kg-1 P 2 O 5 (Quartzarenic Neosol-RQ).

The present study had the objective to evaluate the effect of blends of KCl and K2SO4 fertilizers and their influence on the yield and the nutritional state of coffee plants, as well as on the chemical composition and quality of the coffee beverage. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with four repetitions and six treatments (T1: 100% KCl; T2: 75% KCl + 25% K2SO4; T3: 50% KCl + 50% K2SO4; T4: 25% KCl + 75% K2SO4; T5: 100% K2SO4; and a control, without application of K). The following analyses were performed: K and Cl content in the leaves and the soil, stocks of Cl in soil, yield, removal of K and Cl with the beans, cup quality of the beverage, polyphenol oxidase activity (PPO), electric conductivity (EC), potassium leaching (KL), the content of phenolic compounds, the content of total sugars (TS), and total titratable acidity (TTA). The stocks of Cl in the soil decreased as the proportion of KCl in the fertilizer was reduced. The fertilization with KCl reduces the cup quality and the activity of the polyphenol oxidase, probably due to the ion Cl. The increase in the application of Cl directly relates to the increase in potassium leaching, electric conductivity, and titratable acidity. Indirectly, these variables indicate damages to the cells by the use of Cl in the fertilizer. The activity of the polyphenol oxidase enzyme and the cup quality indicate that the ion Cl- reduces the quality of the coffee beverage. K content in the leaves was not influenced by the application of blends of K fertilizer while Cl content increased linearly with KCl applied. The application of KCl and K2SO4 blends influenced coffee yield and the optimum proportion was 25% of KCl and 75% of K2SO4. The highest score in the cup quality test was observed with 100% K2SO4.

Popcorn (Zea mays var. everta) has a higher commercial value than common maize, in addition to being a popular food among consumers. Today, there is a constant search for cultivars with superior performance for several traits of interest in the case of popcorn, yield and popping expansion. On this basis, this project proposes to characterize progenies of popcorn with different values of expansion capacity regarding chemical composition and micromorphology. Kernels from the fifth cycle (C5) of intrapopulation recurrent selection were evaluated. The progenies were selected based on the popping expansion volume of their kernels. The kernels were quantified for amylose and analyzed for starch granule arrangement and pericarp thickness by scanning electron microscopy. Progenies with low popping expansion volume (0 and 7 mL g-1) showed amylose contents of 21.24 and 20.18%, respectively; a less compact endosperm, with individual starch granules interspaced with empty spaces; and pericarp thickness between 40.94 and 38.99 µm, respectively. By contrast, progenies with high popping expansion volume (30 and 35 mL g-1) showed amylose contents of 23.92 and 26.10%; a vitreous endosperm; more-compact starch granules without empty spaces in between; and pericarp thickness between 107.66 and 107.84 µm. Progenies with higher popping expansion volume exhibited a thicker pericarp, a high amylose percentage and a more-compact endosperm, whereas those with the lower expansion volumes showed a thinner pericarp, a lower amylose percentage and individual starch granules.

The coating of phosphate fertilizer granules with polymers and magnesium (Mg) is a technology that can improve phosphorus (P) use efficiency and mitigate problems of low Mg supply in coffee crops. The objective of this work was to evaluate the growth and nutrition characteristics of coffee seedlings and the agronomic efficiency (AE) of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) coated with anionic polymers and Mg in comparison with other phosphate fertilizer technologies. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in 20 L pots. Two five-month-old coffee seedlings were transplanted into each pot. The experimental design was completely randomized with three replicates. The following treatments, applied at a dose corresponding to 20 g pot -1 of P 2 O 5 , were carried out: MAP; MAP coated with anionic polymers (Policote Phós ® ); MAP coated with anionic polymers+Mg (Policote Phós_Mg ® ); Top-Phós ® ; and Agrocote ® . A control (without P) was prepared. Plant height; leaf area; dry mass of leaves, stems, and roots; total dry mass; shoot/root ratio; specific leaf weight; P and Mg content in plants and their availability in the soil after cultivation and efficiency indicesof the phosphate fertilization treatment were evaluated. The recovery of applied P and the agronomic efficiency of phosphate fertilizers was found to increase in the following order: MAP = Top-Phós ® = Agrocote ®