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Vendavais provocados por tempestades e passagem de ciclone em Santa Catarina causaram sérios danos em todas as regiões produtoras de banana do estado. A análise detalhada dos danos em cada unidade produtiva indicará as práticas de manejo mais pertinentes para cada caso. O objetivo deste informativo técnico é destacar as principais recomendações de manejo para auxiliar na tomada de decisões visando a rápida retomada da produção e manutenção da atividade econômica.

Intensive fertilization has been required to provide nutrients for plant growth under the current agricultural practices being applied to meet the global food demands. Micronutrients such as zinc, manganese, and copper are required in small quantities when compared to macronutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), but they are essential for the plant growth cycle and consequently for increasing productivity. Mineral oxides such as ZnO, MnO, and CuO are used in agriculture as micronutrient sources, but their low solubility limits practical applications in plant nutrition. Similarly, elemental sulfur (S0) can provide a high-concentration source of sulfate, but its availability is limited by the ability of the soil to promote S0 oxidation. We propose here the integration of these nutrients in a composite based on a biodegradable starch matrix containing mineral oxides and S0 in a dispersion that allowed encapsulation of the acidifying agent Aspergillus niger, a native soil fungus. This strategy effectively improved the final nutrient solubility, with the composite starch/S0/oxidemixture multi-nutrient fertilizer showing remarkable results for solubilization of the oxides, hence confirming a synergic effect of S0 oxidation and microbial solubilization. This composite exhibited an extended shelf life and soil-plant experiments with Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) confirmed high efficiencies for dry matter production, nutrient uptake, and recovery. These findings can contribute to the development of environmentally friendly fertilizers towards a more sustainable agriculture and could open up new applications for formulations containing poorly soluble oxide sources.

Urea is a common non-protein supplement used in ruminant feed; however, excessive consumption may lead to poisoning by NH3. Although the slow release of urea into the rumen has shown to be an essential aspect for ruminant feed, to date only a few studies have addressed this matter. In this study we examined the influence of five different NH3-N slow release systems based on clay-urea nanocomposites on the fiber digestibility of low-quality forage (sugarcane straw) in vitro. Physical properties of nanocomposites were evaluated and their effects on digestibility were tested in vitro using pristine urea as a positive control (level of 1 % of DM of sugarcane straw sample) and sugarcane (with no additives) as a negative control. Ammonia release and digestibility were evaluated at 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96-h. Generally, all nanocomposites increased (p < 0.05) digestibility of fiber over control under all the conditions stipulated, but the samples with hydrogel content were more expressive. We concluded that an ideal release rate and optimum environment for microbial synthesis are necessary to maximize the digestion of sugarcane. Made available in DSpace on 2020-01-11T00:41:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AnalysisNH3NSlow.pdf: 870430 bytes, checksum: db2069d256b3f8a0a525196f2b1039a8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019 On-line first.

Functionalized charcoal (CHox) incorporated into urea is known for its ability to reduce NH3 volatilization and increase agronomic efficiency. However, it is important to optimize the functionalization process and to elucidate its relationship with the physicochemical properties of CHox for N supply. Thus, charcoal obtained from eucalyptus wood was functionalized with different HNO3 concentrations and reaction times. Ammonia adsorption by CHox was evaluated in chambers with high NH3 concentrations. Dry matter yield, N uptake, and apparent N recovery efficiency of corn plants were evaluated after the application of the urea-CHox mixture to soil in a greenhouse experiment. The properties of CHox, such as pH, isoelectric point, and total acidity (carboxylic and phenolics groups) depended on the HNO3 concentration but were not influenced by the reaction time. The NH3 adsorption by the functionalized charcoal showed a positive correlation with the quantity of carboxylic and phenolic groups and a negative correlation with the pH value and the isoelectric point. The small differences observed in dry matter yield, N accumulation, and apparent N recovery efficiency among the corn plants from urea mixed with CHox or humic acids derived from charcoal (AHCH) are not sufficient to determine the higher efficiency of these sources.

Developing efficient crop fertilization practices has become more and more important due to the ever-increasing global demand for food production. One approach to improving the efficiency of phosphate and urea fertilization is to improve their interaction through nanocomposites that are able to control the release of urea and P in the soil. Nanocomposites were produced from urea (Ur) or extruded thermoplastic starch/urea (TPSUr) blends as a matrix in which hydroxyapatite particles (Hap) were dispersed at ratios 50% and 20% Hap. Release tests and two incubation experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the role played by nanocomposites in controlling the availability of nitrogen and phosphate in the soil. Tests revealed an interaction between the fertilizer components and the morphological changes in the nanocomposites. TPSUr nanocomposites provided a controlled release of urea and increased the release of phosphorus from Hap in citric acid solution. The TPSUr nanocomposites also had lower NH3 volatilization compared to a control. The interaction resulting from dispersion of Hap within a urea matrix reduced the phosphorus adsorption and provided higher sustained P availability after 4 weeks of incubation in the soil.

Loss of N through volatilization of ammonia is the main limitation for agricultural use of urea. The aim of this study was to evaluate the volatilization of NH3 from urea granulated (Ug) or urea coated (Ur) with two oxidized charcoals produced by the oxidation of eucalyptus charcoal with 4.0 mol L-1 HNO3, followed by the post-treatment with NaOH (CHox) or without post-treatment with NaOH (CHox-OH). Ug and Ur were produced with 5, 10, 15 and 20% (m/m) of CHox or CHox-OH. The volatilization of NH3 was evaluated as 100 mg of N in the form of Ug or Ur applied to samples of a Hapludalf placed in a system with continuous and controlled air flow. The Ug with CHox-OH or with CHox was more effective in reducing the volatilization of NH3 than the Ur. It was estimated that the Ug with 16% of CHox or CHox-OH, with 39% N, reduced the volatilization by 40% in relation to urea without the additives. Results show that charcoal oxidized is an effective additive for reducing ammonia volatilization of urea.

Urea is the most consumed nitrogen fertilizer in the world. However, its agronomic and economic efficiency is reduced by the volatilization of NH3, which can reach 78 % of the applied nitrogen. The coating of urea granules with acidic compounds obtained by charcoal oxidation has the potential to reduce the volatilization, due to the acidic character, the high buffering capacity and CEC. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of HNO3-oxidized carbon on the control of NH3 volatilization. These compounds were obtained by oxidation of Eucalyptus grandis charcoal, produced at charring temperatures of 350 and 450 ºC, with 4.5 mol L-1 HNO3. The charcoal was oxidized by solubilization in acidic or alkaline medium, similar to the procedure of soil organic matter fractionation (CHox350 and CHox450). CHox was characterized by C, H, O, N contents and their respective atomic relations, by the ratio E4 (absorbance 465 nm) by E6 (absorbance 665 nm), and by active acidity and total acidity (CEC). The inhibitory effect of CHox on the urease activity of Canavalia ensiformis was assessed in vitro. The NH3 volatilization from urea was evaluated with and without coating of oxidized charcoal (U-CHox350 or U-CHox450) in a closed system with continuous air flow. The pH of both CHox was near 2.0, but the total acidity of CHox350 was higher, 72 % of which was attributed to carboxylic groups. The variation in the ionization constants of CHox350 was also greater. The low E4/E6 ratios characterize the high stability of the compounds in CHox. CHox did not inhibit the urease activity in vitro, although the maximum volatilization peak from U-CHox450 and U-CHox350 occurred 24 h after that observed for uncoated urea. The lowest volatilization rate was observed for U-CHox350 as well as a 43 % lower total amount of NH3 volatilized than from uncoated urea. A ureia é o fertilizante nitrogenado mais consumido no mundo, porém a sua eficiência agronômica e econômica é comprometida pela volatilização de NH3, que pode chegar a 78 % do N aplicado. O revestimento da ureia com compostos obtidos pela oxidação ácida do carvão vegetal tem potencial para reduzir a volatilização, em razão do caráter ácido, do elevado poder-tampão de acidez e da elevada CTC. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o efeito do carvão de eucalipto oxidado com HNO3 no controle da volatilização de NH3 a partir da ureia. Esses compostos foram obtidos a partir da oxidação de carvão de Eucalyptus grandis produzidos nas temperaturas de carbonização de 350 e 450 ºC com HNO3 4,5 mol L-1. Os carvões oxidados (CHox350 e CHox450) foram obtidos por meio da solubilização em meio ácido ou alcalino, semelhante ao procedimento de fracionamento da matéria orgânica do solo. Os CHox foram caracterizados por meio dos teores de C, H, O, N e respectivas relações atômicas, da relação E4 (absorvância 465 nm) / E6 (absorvância 665 nm), da acidez ativa e acidez total (CTC). Avaliou-se o potencial inibidor dos CHox na atividade in vitro da urease de Canavalia ensiformis. Em um sistema fechado com fluxo contínuo de ar, avaliou-se a volatilização de NH3 a partir da ureia perolada sem e com o revestimento de carvão oxidado (U-CHox350 ou U-CHox450). Ambos os CHox mostraram pH próximo de 2,0, mas o CHox350 apresentou maior acidez total, sendo 72 % desta atribuída a grupos funcionais carboxílicos. O CHox350 também apresentou maior variação nas constantes de ionização. Os baixos valores das relações E4/E6 caracterizam a elevada estabilidade dos compostos nos CHox. Os CHox não inibiram a atividade da urease in vitro, no entanto o pico de máxima volatilização a partir da U-CHox350 e U-CHox450 ocorreu 24 h depois daquele verificado para a ureia sem revestimento. A U-CHox350 apresentou menor taxa de volatilização e redução de 43 % na quantidade total de NH3 volatilizada, em relação à ureia sem revestimento.