Gas exchange and millet phytomass under organic fertilization and graywater irrigation

ABSTRACT Graywater is an alternative method to increase the water supply for agricultural production in semi-arid regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different irrigation depths of graywater on the gas exchanges and phytomass of millet plants with and without organic fertilization. The research was conducted under greenhouse conditions in Serra Talhada municipality in semiarid region of Brazil, in a randomized complete block design with a factorial (4 × 2 + 1) plot and three replicates. The first factor corresponded to graywater irrigation depth equivalent to 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the available water content of the soil, and the second factor was the addition of bovine manure as fertilizer (0 and 34 Mg ha-1), and a control (irrigation with low-salinity water). Irrigation with graywater effluent did not promote adverse effects on gas exchanges and phytomass accumulation; however, it also did not provide enough nutrients to promote increase in these variables. The reduction in irrigation depth caused a decrease in gas exchange from 45 days after the application of the treatments. The basal tiller mass was the most favored plant component due to organic fertilization.

Postharvest quality and shelf life of Passiflora cincinnata BRS Sertão Forte fruits according to type of fertilization and storage

The present study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and shelf life of P. cincinnata BRS Sertão Forte fruits produced with conventional fertilization recommended for passion fruit, conventional organic fertilization, organic fertilization enriched with biotite schist, conventional fertilization with replacement of the potassium source and chemical fertilization only and the mineral nutrition of plants stored under ambient and refrigerated conditions. Analyses of pH, soluble solids, titratable acidity, ratio, color, texture and mass loss were performed. Fertilizers differed in terms of nutrient absorption associated with protein synthesis (N, S, B, Cu, Mn, Zn), especially where soil remineralizer was applied. Treatments without fertilization and that with organic fertilization enriched with biotite schist soil remineralizer also positively influenced fruit physicochemical properties such as color and texture. Fruits stored under refrigeration conditions showed the best results for the conservation of their qualitative characteristics. Under the conditions of the present study, it could be concluded that the postharvest life of P. cincinnata fruits stored under refrigeration at 100C is at least 60 days. This period is 30 days under ambient conditions.

Antioxidant Capacity and Nutritional Value of Potato Tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) as a Dependence of Growing Conditions and Long-Term Storage

The aim of the study was to assess the interactive effect of the use of bio-fertilizer and organic matter brought into the soil, as well as to limit the use of mineral fertilization on the content of bioactive compounds in potato tubers cultivar ‘Satina’. The test results show a positive effect of the applied bio-fertilizer in all tested variants of organic fertilization (straw, fodder pea, manure) on the level of the tested compounds. Comparing the content of crude protein in tubers from plots where half the dose of mineral fertilization was applied, the use of bio-fertilizer increased the content of this component, especially after using straw. After 6 months of storage, organic fertilization had no significant effect on the protein content, while significant differences were found in tubers fertilized with mineral, in favor of the full dose of NPK fertilizers. The storage time increased the content of tyrosine, leucine, lysine, alanine, glutamic acid, and total AA, and also methionine, aspartic acid, and asparagine, while the content of isoleucine and phenyl-alanine decreased. The highest content of total polyphenols was found in tubers where the plots were covered with pea application, a full dose of mineral fertilizer, and the use of bio-fertilizer. Unfortunately, after 6 months of storage, potato tubers from plots fertilized with peas, especially those fertilized with half the dose of mineral fertilization and without the use of biofertilizer, significantly lost the most total polyphenols. Similar relationships were obtained for the level of chlorogenic acid in tubers, which is significantly correlated with the content of polyphenols, but only organic fertilization in the form of peas significantly increased the concentration of chlorogenic acid. On the other hand, the highest post-harvest antioxidant activity was characteristic of tubers from plots fertilized with manure, with a full dose of mineral fertilization and biofertilizer. During the 6-month storage, there was a decrease in the antioxidant capacity, on average 12.4% for the objects. This may indicate the influence of polyphenolic compounds as well as other antioxidants on the assessed trait.

Organic and Mineral Source of Nitrogen Associated With Azospirillum brasilense in Culture of Wheat

Nitrogen fertilization in wheat is the item that most impacts production costs when it comes to fertilization, due to its importance and demand for this crop. Thus, organic fertilization and nitrogen fixing bacteria can be management strategies to supply the nitrogen demand. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of the bacterium A. brasilense associated with organic fertilization and mineral fertilization on some plant parameters and on the final productivity of wheat grains. The experimental design was a randomized block, with 8 treatments and 8 repetitions, with the following treatments: T1: Control; T2: A. brasilense; T3: 100% N-mineral; T4: 100% N-mineral + A brasilense; T5: 50% N-mineral + 50% N-organic; T6: 50% N-mineral + 50% N-organic + A. brasilense; T7: 100% N-organic; T8: 100% N-organic + A. brasilense. The parameters of the plant and the final productivity of wheat grains showed that the use of the bacterium A. brasilense was not an efficient strategy, however, in relation to the fertilization sources in the final grain productivity, the use of urea isolated or associated with organic fertilization did not differ from each other and were superior to the other treatments.

Effect of Organic Fertilization and Mulching on Growth and Yield of Brassica Olerracea L. Var. Capitata

The experiment was carried out at the Research Station of the Department of Horticulture dept. of Tikrit University for the season 2020-2021 to investigate the effect of organic fertilization with treatments (control, poultry manure, and Humobacter fertilizer) and mulching type with four Mulching type (no mulching, black mulch, white mulch, and yellow mulch). A randomized complete blocks (RCBD) design and a split-plot method were used in the experiment, which included three replications. The Humobacter fertilizer treatment considerably outperformed of plant height, and overall plant yield, which were 21.69 cm, and 46.55 tons -1, respectively, compared to 19.03 cm, and 28.10 tons -1, respectively, As for the mulch treatments, the yellow mulch treatments were achieved the best values of number leaves, plant yield for one plant and the total plant yield, 16.81 leaf-1, 50.38 cm, 1.42 kg and 47.31 tons -1, respectively.