Meliorative State of Soils of the Research Object Under Tomatoes in the Shabran Region

The presented article is devoted to the study of the reclamation state of the lands of the selected experimental research site under tomatoes with various methods of irrigation (drip-furrowed) on the territory of a farm in the Shabran region of Azerbaijan. The yield of agricultural crops on slightly saline soils decreases by 20%, in moderately saline soils — by 50%, in highly saline soils — by 70%, and in very highly saline soils — by 90%. Soil fertility and all valuable agronomic features depend on the amount of humus in the arable layer.

Nitrogen Fixing Azotobacter Species as Potential Soil Biological Enhancers for Crop Nutrition and Yield Stability

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) refers to a microbial mediated process based upon an enzymatic “Nitrogenase” conversion of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonium readily absorbable by roots. N2-fixing microorganisms collectively termed as “diazotrophs” are able to fix biologically N2 in association with plant roots. Specifically, the symbiotic rhizobacteria induce structural and physiological modifications of bacterial cells and plant roots into specialized structures called nodules. Other N2-fixing bacteria are free-living fixers that are highly diverse and globally widespread in cropland. They represent key natural source of nitrogen (N) in natural and agricultural ecosystems lacking symbiotic N fixation (SNF). In this review, the importance of Azotobacter species was highlighted as both important free-living N2-fixing bacteria and potential bacterial biofertilizer with proven efficacy for plant nutrition and biological soil fertility. In addition, we described Azotobacter beneficial plant promoting traits (e.g., nutrient use efficiency, protection against phytopathogens, phytohormone biosynthesis, etc.). We shed light also on the agronomic features of Azotobacter that are likely an effective component of integrated plant nutrition strategy, which contributes positively to sustainable agricultural production. We pointed out Azotobacter based-biofertilizers, which possess unique characteristics such as cyst formation conferring resistance to environmental stresses. Such beneficial traits can be explored profoundly for the utmost aim to research and develop specific formulations based on inoculant Azotobacter cysts. Furthermore, Azotobacter species still need to be wisely exploited in order to address specific agricultural challenges (e.g., nutrient deficiencies, biotic and abiotic constraints) taking into consideration several variables including their biological functions, synergies and multi-trophic interactions, and biogeography and abundance distribution.

Selección de plantas élites de lechosa ‘Maradol’ para la producción de semillas de calidad

The cultivar Red Maradol native of Cuba, has morphological and agronomic features superior to local cultivars and adapted to soils and climates of Venezuela; that is why it is grown in a greater proportion and has been widely accepted by farmers, traders and consumers. However, the lack of availability and high cost of imported seeds limit its expansion in the country. The aim of this work was to select andromonoecious plants from different sources and locations, based on morphological and agronomic characteristics, and produce good quality seeds by self-pollinations. The characteristics for selection were based on those of the cultivar, such as: beginning of flowering between 3 and 4 months after transplant to the field, height of flowering less than or equal to 80 cm, beginning of fruiting before 4 months, height of plants less than 2 m, among others features. Selected plants showed low percentage of sterility, 30 and 64 fruits.plant-1, fruit weights between 1.4 to 1.7 kg, and estimated yields between 42.5 and 98.50 kg.plant-1 yields. Regarding fruit quality, they were elongated and smooth, wide orange-red color pulp. These populations are considered the basis for the production of good quality seeds, to continue the process of selection of more productive pure lines and hybrids.

Sunflowers genotypes agronomics features in the second harvest in Muzambinho (MG)

The sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an oilseed crop with agronomic features that justify its tillage in the southeast of Brazil. The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic performance of sunflower genotypes tallaged in Muzambinho (MG) in the second harvest. It was adopted the randomized blocks design, with six genotypes (MULTISSOL, BRS G35, BRS G47, BRS G48, M734, and SYN 045) and four repetitions, totalizing 24 experimental plots with an area of 16.8 m2 on its plot. The plant population adopted was about 45000 plants ha-1. The obtained data were submitted to the analysis of variance and the Tukey test, by 5% of probability. There was variation in the agronomic performance of the genotypes to all evaluate parameters. The variety of MULTISSOL was the genotype that presented the larger precocity. The hybrid SYN 045 presented the longer cycle. The hybrid M734 is the genotype with a bigger weight of 1.000 achenes. The genotypes that provided the better yield of grains and oil were M734, SYN 045 and BRS G48. The biggest oil content in the achenes was observed in SYN 045 e BRS G48.

Biological nitrogen fixation and agronomic features of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) crop under different doses of inoculant

La soya es uno de los cultivos más importantes del mundo y presenta una gran versatilidad. Este estudio tiene como objetivo investigar el efecto del inoculante Bradyrhizobium japonicum a 0, 600 y 1200 ml ha-1 en cultivo de soya, con y sin 1 L ha-1 calcio (Ca 41%) + 0,4 L ha-1 boro (B 14 %). Las plantas se cultivaron durante 90 días en macetas de plástico con 3 kg de arena y vermiculita (v / v) tratadas en autoclave a 121°C durante 1 h. El experimento se realizó en un diseño completamente aleatorizado con cinco repeticiones en un invernadero. Se evaluaron los parámetros de rendimiento de soja, tales como, peso seco del brote, raíz y total; altura de la planta, nitrógeno en el brote; número y peso seco de los nódulos; índice de clorofila en las hojas; cantidad de mazorcas por planta (NPPL); número de granos por pod (NGP); y número de granos por planta (NGPL). La adición de Ca + B aumentó significativamente NPPL, NGPL y NGP. El NPPL y NGPL se incrementaron significativamente con 600 mL ha-1 del inoculante. La dosis de 600 ml ha-1 del inoculante combinado con Ca + B estimuló significativamente NPPL, NGPL y NGP. Se concluye que la productividad de la soya se incrementó con la adición de 600 mL ha-1 de inoculante, en combinación con Ca y B.