Browsing by Author "Torres, Luiza Nascimento Dias"
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- Effect of soil conditioners and nitrogen fertilization in corn’s aboveground biomass and leaves green color intensityPublication . Torres, Luiza Nascimento Dias; Arrobas, Margarida; Sartor, Laércio; Correia, Carlos M.; Rodrigues, M.A.Every crop needs a well-nourished soil and balanced nutrition to have a good development. Nitrogen (N) balance is essential for plant development, and it depends on soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Some soil conditioners may have a relevant role in soil available N. The present work intends to evaluate the effect of soil conditioners such as biochar, zeolites and mineral fertilizers on the performance of plants through the determination of aboveground biomass and green color intensity of plant leaves in field and pot experiments. The field experiment was arranged as a factorial design with three soil conditioners (zeolites, biochar and mineral fertilizer only) and four N rates (0, 50, 100, 200 kg N ha-1). The pot experiment was also arranged in a similar factorial design with only two rates of N. Plant health during the growing season was assessed by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) determined by using the FIELDSCOUT® CM1000 meter. Aboveground biomass was weighed at the end of the growing season after it had been oven-dried at 70 ºC. NDVI did not discriminate between treatments, with the mean values ranging from 0.80 to 0.85. From the field and pot experiments increased values of biomass yield were recorded to the higher N rates. Comparing soil conditioners zeolites produced the higher results.
- Nitrogen dynamics after applying biochar, zeolites and mineral fertilizers in soil-plant environment of corn (Zea mays)Publication . Torres, Luiza Nascimento Dias; Arrobas, Margarida; Rodrigues, M.A.; Sartor, LaércioEvery crop needs a well-nourished soil and balanced nutrition to have a good development. Nitrogen (N) balance is essential for plant development, and it depends on soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Some soil conditioners may have a relevant role in soil available nitrogen. The present work intends to evaluate the effect of soil conditioners such as Biochar, Zeolites and Mineral fertilizers on soil properties, particularly on nitrogen dynamics, and corn crop growth and yield. It is also the objective of this work to evaluate the performance of plants through the determination of chlorophyll fluorescence, green color intensity, nutritional status and production components in field and pot experiments. The field experiment was arranged as a factorial design with three soil conditioners (Biochar, Zeolites and Mineral fertilizers) and four N rates (0, 50, 100, 200 kg N ha-1). The pot experiment was also arranged in a similar factorial design with only two nitrogen rates (0 and 2 g N plant-1). In both experiments there were field sampling, in situ measurements, and laboratory analysis, to determine macro and micronutrients in plant tissues when exposed to different soil conditioners. Soil analyses were made only in the field experiment to verify soil properties during the growing season and after harvest. Soil nitrate and ammonium concentration were determined along with the hydrolysable nitrogen and plant apparent nitrogen recovery. For both, field and pot experiment, the use of soil conditioners demonstrated better results in the soil-plant environment. In the field experiment, the Zeolites’ treatments showed an aboveground biomass increase, as well as a better nutritional status. Biochar presented higher apparent nitrogen recovery. Soil properties at harvest demonstrate Biochar efficiency and nutritional improvement during the growing season. The different nitrogen rates influenced on soil properties as well. In the pot experiment, the Zeolites + N treatment was the one with better plant nutritional improvement and growth and Biochar + N treatment demonstrated a significant increase in the aboveground biomass.