ABSTRACT Increases in plant density associated with the use of plant growth regulators, aside from modifying the plant architecture, can also change the maize yield performance. This study aims to investigate the yield components and grain yield of maize hybrids with contrasting leaf architecture, in response to different plant populations and trinexapac-ethyl rates (TE). Field experiments were conducted in two growing seasons, in a (5 x 5) factorial randomized block design. The treatments consisted of: five plant population (40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 thousand plants ha-1) and five TE rates (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 g a.i. ha-1), with four replications, using the hybrids 2B710 HX and Status TL. We evaluated the number of rows per ear, ear length, number of grains per row, 1000-grain mass, and yield. An increased plant density reduces ear length, number of grains per row and 1000-grain mass, without changing the number of grain rows per ear. TE rates increases ear length and number of grains per row and reduces 1000-grain mass, mainly under favorable cultivation conditions. TE interacts with the plant density, changing the maize yield components with increases in grain yield, but these gains variy, according to the environment and genotype characteristics.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o nitrogênio, o fósforo e o potássio liberados pela palha de pastagem de Urochloa brizantha adubadada com N, dessecada antes da semeadura da soja (Glycine max) em sucessão, no sistema plantio direto. A pastagem foi cultivada em três piquetes, cada um fertilizado com uma dose de N (0, 150 ou 300 kg ha-1), e avaliada em dois períodos de dessecação (60 ou 15 dias antes da semeadura da soja), com quatro repetições. A adubação nitrogenada na pastagem de U. brizantha aumenta a ciclagem de N e K e a liberação destes nutrientes à soja em sucessão. A quantidade de K liberada pela palha de U. brizantha adubada com 150 ou 300 kg ha-1 de N (aproximadamente 80 kg ha-1 de K) atende a exportação de até 4 Mg ha-1 de grãos de soja, ao se considerar a ausência de perdas de K no sistema. A dessecação antecipada de pastagem de U. brizantha não favorece o aproveitamento de K pela cultura da soja, já que 50% do nutriente é liberado nos 20 primeiros dias após a dessecação. A dinâmica de liberação de P pela palha de U. brizantha (de 6 a 10 kg ha-1 durante a cultura da soja) não é influenciada pela adubação nitrogenada e pela época de dessecação.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to determine the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium released by N-fertilized Urochloa brizantha straw, desiccated before sowing of no-tillage soybean (Glycine max) in succession. The pasture was grown in three paddocks, each fertilized with one N rate (0, 150, or 300 kg ha-1), and assessed at two desiccation periods (60 or 15 days before soybean sowing), in four replicates. Nitrogen fertilization of U. brizantha pasture increases N and K cycling and the release of these nutrients to the subsequent soybean crop. The quantity of K released by U. brizantha straw fertilized with 150 or 300 kg ha-1 N (about 80 kg ha-1 K) offsets that contained in an export of up to 4 Mg ha-1 soybean grains, assuming zero K losses in the system. An early desiccation of the U. brizantha pasture does not improve K uptake by the soybean crop, since 50% of the nutrient is released in the first 20 days after desiccation. The dynamics of P release from U. brizantha straw (about 6 to 10 kg ha-1 during the soybean crop) is not influenced by N fertilization and the time of pasture desiccation.

RESUMO O uso de biorreguladores na agricultura pode alterar a morfologia das plantas de milho, aumentando a produtividade da cultura pela possibilidade do incremento populacional. O trabalho objetivou avaliar os efeitos de populações de plantas associadas às doses de trinexapac-ethyl (TE) sobre as características biométricas da parte aérea e a produtividade de grãos de cultivares de milho contrastantes quanto à arquitetura de plantas. Experimentos foram conduzidos a campo, em duas safras, com os híbridos 2B710 HX (folha plana) e Status TL (folha ereta), utilizando blocos casualizados (quatro repetições) com tratamentos em esquema fatorial 5 x 5, sendo cinco populações de plantas (40; 60; 80; 100 e 120 mil plantas ha-1) e cinco doses de TE (0; 100; 200; 300 e 400 g de i.a. ha-1), aplicadas via pulverização foliar no estádio V6. Foram avaliadas as alturas de plantas e de inserção da espiga, o diâmetro do colmo, o índice de área foliar e a produtividade de grãos. O incremento na população aumenta a altura de plantas, a inserção da espiga e o índice de área foliar, porém reduz o diâmetro do colmo. O biorregulador TE reduz as alturas de plantas e de inserção da espiga. A interação de população de plantas e TE favorece a produtividade do milho, com maiores valores observados nas combinações de 93,4 mil plantas ha-1 com a dose de 176 g ha-1 de TE para o híbrido 2B710 HX e 92,2 mil plantas ha-1 com a dose de 251 g ha-1 de TE para o híbrido Status TL.

ABSTRACT The use of plant growth regulators in agriculture can alter the morphology of corn plants, increasing crop yield due to the possibility of increasing the population. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of plant populations associated with trinexapac-ethyl (TE) doses on the biometric characteristics of shoot and grain yield of contrasting corn cultivars regarding plant architecture. Experiments were conducted in the field during two seasons with the hybrids 2B710 HX (flat leaf) and TL Status (erect leaf) in a randomized block design (four replications) and treatments in a 5 × 5 factorial scheme, with five plant populations (40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 thousand plants ha−1) and five TE doses (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 g a.i. ha−1) applied by foliar spraying at the V6 stage. Plant height, ear insertion height, stem diameter, leaf area index, and grain yield were evaluated. An increment in population increases plant height, ear insertion height, and the leaf area index, but reduces stem diameter. The plant growth regulator TE reduces plant height and ear insertion height. The interaction between plant population and TE favors corn yield, with the highest values observed in combinations of 93.4 thousand plants ha−1 with a dose of 176 g ha−1 of TE for the hybrid 2B710 HX and 92.2 thousand plants ha−1 with a dose of 251 g ha−1 of TE for the hybrid Status TL.

ABSTRACT Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of plants to undergo changes in morphology and yield components to adapt themselves to distinct environmental conditions. The knowledge on the changes in yield components of branches and stems at varied plant spatial arrangements needs to be updated due to recent changes in soybean production system. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the yield components of branches and stems, as well as to assess the share of these plant parts in the total grain yield of soybean cultivars with indeterminate growth type, under different spatial arrangements. The experiment was conducted during the growing seasons of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015, under a randomized complete-block design and in a4 × 3 × 2 factorial scheme with three replications. Treatments consisted of four row spacing patterns (narrow rows, twin rows, traditional row spacing, and crossed rows), three seeding rates (150, 300, and 450 thousand viable seeds∙ha–1), and two cultivars (BMX Potência RR and BRS 359 RR). Narrow rows reduce pods and grains production in branches in relation to the traditional row spacing. The number of grains per pod of stem and of branches is not altered by the changes in plant arrangement. The increase in seeding rate reduces the number of pods per plant of branches in greater magnitude than that of stems. The rise in seeding rate results in larger thousand-grain mass both of branches and of stems, but varies with the growing season.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar como variáveis relacionadas a ramos e hastes contribuem para a produção de grãos em plantas individuais de soja (Glycine max), cultivada a diferentes densidades de plantio, em uma cultivar moderna com tipo de crescimento indeterminado. Um experimento de campo foi realizado nas safras 2013/2014 e 2014/2015, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com 12 repetições, tendo-se utilizado a cultivar NK7059 RR, a quatro densidades de plantio: 135, 235, 315 e 440 mil plantas por hectare. A produção de grãos por planta foi avaliada e representou a plasticidade fenotípica, enquanto o número de ramos por planta, a percentagem da produção de grãos oriunda dos ramos e os componentes de rendimento oriundos dos ramos e das hastes, separadamente, foram considerados como variáveis independentes. O número de vagens por planta nos ramos foi a variável mais determinante da plasticidade da soja. Além disso, o número de vagens por planta nas hastes, o número de ramos por planta e a percentagem da produção de grãos oriunda dos ramos também estiveram associados à plasticidade. De forma contrastante, o número de grãos por vagem e a massa de mil grãos nos ramos e nas hastes contribuíram pouco para a plasticidade da soja 'NK7059 RR'.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate how branch and stem variables contribute to grain yield in individual soybean (Glycine max) plants, cultivated at different planting densities, in a modern cultivar with indeterminate growth type. A field experiment was carried out during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 crop seasons, in a randomized complete block design with 12 replicates, using the cultivar NK7059 RR at four planting densities: 135, 235, 315, and 440 thousand plants per hectare. Grain yield per plant was evaluated and represented phenotypic plasticity, while the number of branches per plant, percentage of grain production in branches, and separate yield components from branches and stems were considered as the independent variables. The number of pods in branches per plant was found to be the most important variable for soybean plasticity. In addition, the number of pods per plant on stems, number of branches per plant, and the percentage of grain production in branches were also associated with plasticity. Contrastingly, the number of grains per pod and the mass of a thousand grains in the branches and stems contributed little to plasticity in 'NK7059 RR' soybean.

RESUMO O consórcio de espécies florestais e agrícolas pode contribuir para a intensificação sustentável dos sistemas de produção. Objetivou-se avaliar os componentes de rendimento, a produtividade e a qualidade de grãos de cultivares de soja, em sistema agroflorestal com Eucalyptus grandis. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos completos casualizados, em parcelas subdivididas, com três repetições. Nas parcelas, foram alocadas quatro cultivares de soja (BRS 359 RR, BRS 360 RR, BMX Potência RR e NA 5909 RR) e, nas subparcelas, cinco posições entre os renques de E. grandis (espaçados em 28 m - próximo às árvores nas posições leste e oeste, posição intermediária nos lados leste e oeste e no centro do entre renque). Os componentes de rendimento e a produtividade de grãos de soja apresentam redução acentuada quando cultivadas mais próximas dos renques de E. grandis, entretanto, os teores de óleo e proteína nos grãos não são alterados pela posição entre renques, independentemente da cultivar. Dentre as cultivares avaliadas, NA 5909 RR apresenta o melhor desempenho agronômico em sistema agroflorestal com eucalipto.

ABSTRACT Combining forest and crop species into a production system may enhance its sustainability. This study aimed to evaluate the yield components, yield and grain quality of soybean cultivars, in an agroforestry system containing Eucalyptus grandis. A complete randomized block design, in a split-plot arrangement, with three replications, was used. Four soybean cultivars were allocated into the plots (BRS 359 RR, BRS 360 RR, BMX Potência RR and NA 5909 RR). The subplots consisted of five positions between the rows of E. grandis (spaced in 28 m - close to the trees on the east and west sides, intermediate position on the east and west sides and at the center of the row). The yield components and soybean grain yield reduce significantly the closer the plants are seeded to the rows of E. grandis. However, the oil and protein contents in soybean grains are not influenced by the position between rows, regardless of the cultivar. Among all evaluated cultivars, NA 5909 RR presents the best agronomic performance in the agroforestry system containing eucalyptus.

ABSTRACT There are few studies on the interaction between soybean plant density and nitrogen fertilization. This research aimed to assess the effect of mineral nitrogen associated to different plant densities on yield, yield components and oil and protein concentrations of soybean grains. Two experiments were conducted in the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 growing seasons, with randomized complete block design, in a split plots scheme, with six replications. Four sowing densities (150, 300, 440 and 560 thousand viable seeds∙ha–1) were allocated in the plots, and two nitrogen levels (0 and 45 kg N∙ha–1, applied at V2, using ammonium sulfate) were allocated in the subplots. There was no interaction between soybean plant density and the application of mineral nitrogen on yield, yield components and oil and protein concentrations in soybean grains. Higher plant population reduced the number of pods per plant and the contribution of branch sinks to the grain yield, but the effects on yield differed among the growing seasons. The mineral nitrogen fertilization did not increase yield and protein and oil concentrations in the grains, thus it was unnecessary.

Para o aumento da produtividade agrícola no País, são necessários estudos para melhor aproveitamento da adubação mineral, a fim de uma produção de grãos com melhor qualidade nutricional. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o teor e o acúmulo de proteína, de cinzas e de nutrientes em grãos de milho provenientes de plantas submetidas à inoculação com Pseudomonas fluorescens e cultivadas em diferentes níveis de adubação NPK no solo. Foram testados seis tratamentos, em delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, no esquema fatorial 3 x 2, sendo três níveis de adubação química com NPK (0,125 e 250 kg ha-1) e dois níveis de inoculante à base de P. fluorescens (com e sem), com quatro repetições, sendo instalado em Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico, utilizando o cultivar de milho híbrido 30F35. Determinaram-se os teores e acúmulo de N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, proteína e cinzas dos grãos. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias, comparadas pelo teste de Tukey (p < 0,05). A aplicação de P. fluorescens via inoculação incrementou os teores de P e K dos grãos de milho, independentemente dos níveis de adubação. Os teores dos nutrientes, de proteína e de cinzas dos grãos de milho não foram influenciados pelos níveis de adubação mineral, com exceção do Cu, que aumentou com a elevação dos níveis de adubação.

To increase agricultural productivity in the country, studies are needed to improve the utilization of mineral fertilizers in order to produce grains with improved nutritional quality. The study aimed to evaluate the content and accumulation of protein, ash and nutrients in corn grains from plants inoculated with Pseudomonas fluorescens and grown under different levels of NPK fertilizer in the soil. We tested six treatments in a randomized complete block design in a factorial 3 x 2, three levels of chemical fertilizer NPK (0, 125 and 250 kg ha-1) and two levels of inoculation using P. fluorecens (with and without), with four replicates, in a Oxisol, using the maize hybrid 30F35. The content and accumulation of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, protein and ash content of the grains were evaluated. The data were submitted to Anova and means compared by the Tukey test p<0.05. The application of Pseudomonas fluorescens via inoculation increased the P and K of corn, regardless of fertilization levels. The contents of nutrient, protein and ash of corn were not influenced by the levels of mineral fertilization, except for Cu which increased with increasing levels of fertilization.