ABSTRACT Integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) can help improve the soil physical attributes, increasing the nutrients cycling and yield potential. We evaluated the effect of forage height management under ICLS on physical soil attributes and water infiltration. Field experiment was carried out for two consecutive years in a randomized complete block design, with three repetitions. Forage was managed under continuous grazing, grazing up to 30 cm (G30), 20 cm (G20) and 10 cm (G10) of height, and control without grazing. Soil bulk density (SBD), microporosity (MIP), macroporosity (MAP), and total porosity (TP) were measured before and after the grazing at 0-5; 5-10 and 10-20 cm layer depth. Water infiltration rate was evaluated using the concentric rings in eight periods (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60, 90 e 120 min after beginning of the process). SBD at 0-5 cm layer was not affected by the grazing management, whereas the MIP, MAP, and TP reduced after sheep grazing compared to ungrazed. Water infiltration rate was higher for the G10 management, with greater amount of accumulated infiltrated water. Path analysis showed positive effects of the soil physical attributes under ICLS to the grain yield soybean, allowing the farmers to enhance their profitability.

ABSTRACT. Nitrogen is available in insufficient quantities in Brazilian soils, and is the nutrient that raises the most cost of production of maize. Nowadays there is a more interest in the use of alternative nitrogen sources, such as biological nitrogen fixation, to supply plant demand. Among the most used bacteria in association with grasses is Azospirillum brasilense. In this way this study aimed to establish a relationship between the genetic bases of corn and the forms of A. brasilense application and the effects on the plant morphological components, grain yield, and relative nitrogen contribution. Experiments were conducted during the 2013/14 and 2014/15 crop seasons. The experiments included two single hybrids, two double hybrids, and two triple hybrids inoculated with A. brasilense via seed treatment; foliar application during phenological stages V2, V2 + V4, and V4; and a control treatment without bacteria. The response varied with the hybrid and the year. In the 2013/14 crop, a significant difference was observed in the grain yield for the single hybrid AG9045 inoculated with A. brasilense via seed and foliar application in V2. In the 2014/15 crop, inoculation with A. brasilense via seed application resulted in significant increases in the grain yield for the triple hybrid BG7051. Foliar application of A. brasilense is an efficient alternative for the improvement of plant morphological traits, and inoculation via seed and with foliar application in V2 increases the relative contribution of N.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar alternativas de manejo do nitrogênio em trigo (Triticum aestivum), com uso da inoculação de Azospirillum brasilense nas sementes e nas folhas. Os tratamentos consistiram da inoculação ou não de A. brasiliense, via sementes ou folhas, associada a fertilizações de cobertura com 0, 70 e 140 kg ha-1 de nitrogênio. Três cultivares de trigo foram testadas: BRS Parrudo, TBIO Quartzo e TBIO Sinuelo. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições. Avaliaram-se as seguintes características: número de plantas emergidas, de perfilhos, de espiguetas por espigas, de grãos por espiga e de grãos por espigueta; massa de mil grãos; massa de hectolitro; e produtividade de grãos. O manejo foliar de A. brasilense apresentou melhor associação com a cultivar TBIO Sinuelo. A aplicação de A. brasilense via foliar, realizada individualmente ou associada ao tratamento de sementes, aumenta a produtividade de grãos e os componentes de produtividade das cultivares avaliadas.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate nitrogen management alternatives using Azospirillum brasilense inoculation in wheat (Triticum aestivum) by seed and foliar applications. Treatments consisted of the inoculation or not of A. brasilense, via seed and leaves, associated with topdressing with 0, 70, and 140 kg ha-1 nitrogen. Three wheat cultivars were tested: BRS Parrudo, TBIO Quartzo, and TBIO Sinuelo. The experimental design was a randomized complete block, with three replicates. The following traits were evaluated: number of emerged plants, tillers, spikelets per ear, grains per ear, and grains per spikelet; 1,000-grain mass; hectoliter mass; and grain yield. The foliar management of A. brasilense showed a better association with the TBIO Sinuelo cultivar. The foliar application of A. brasilense, whether alone or combined with seed treatment, increases the grain yield and yield components of the evaluated cultivars.

RESUMO A eficiência agronômica dos inoculantes fixadores de nitrogênio ou promotores de crescimento é dependente das condições de cultivo das culturas. Um dos fatores que pode influenciar essa resposta é a interação da bactéria presente no inoculante com o tratamento químico das sementes. Dessa forma, o estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a influência da inoculação de sementes de trigo com Azospirillum brasilense e sua interação com o tratamento de sementes na germinação, vigor e crescimento inicial de plantas de trigo de quatro cultivares. Para tal conduziu-se um experimento no Laboratório Didático e de Pesquisa em Sementes do Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em um trifatorial (4x4x2), sendo representado pelas combinações dos fatores cultivar (FUNDACEP Bravo, OR/TBIO Quartzo, TBIO Itaipu e BRS 331), tratamento químico de sementes (1- Inseticida + Fungicida; 2- Inseticida; 3- Fungicida; 4- Testemunha sem tratamento) e inoculação de Azospirillum brasilense (com e sem inoculante). As determinações realizadas foram: emergência em canteiros, primeira contagem do teste de germinação (vigor), germinação, comprimento de plântulas (raiz, parte aérea e total), massa seca (raiz e parte aérea). As respostas aos inoculantes com Azospirillum brasilense estão intimamente relacionadas às cultivares utilizadas no estudo. O tratamento de sementes com fungicida e inseticida apresentou efeito fitotóxico prejudicando o crescimento inicial das plântulas.

ABSTRACT The agronomic efficiency of the nitrogen-fixing inoculants or growth promoters depends on the growing conditions of the crops. One of the factors that may influence this response is the interaction between the bacteria present in the inoculant with the chemical treatment applied to the seeds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of inoculation of wheat seeds with Azospirillum brasilense and its interaction with seed treatment on germination, vigor and initial growth of wheat plants of four cultivars. So, an experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria-RS. The experimental design was a completely randomized in a three-factorial (4x4x2), represented by the combinations between cultivar (FUNDACEP Bravo, OR/TBIO Quartzo, TBIO Itaipu e BRS 331), chemical treatment (1: Insecticide + Fungicide; 2: Insecticide; 3:Fungicide; 4: Witness without treatment) and Azospirillum brasilense inoculation (with and without inoculant). The determinations which were carried out were the following: emergence in beds, first germination test counting (vigor), germination, seedling length (root, aerial part and total), dry mass (root and aerial part). The responses to inoculants with Azospirillum brasilense are closely related to the cultivars used in the study. The treatment of seeds with fungicide and insecticide presented a phytotoxic effect, damaging the initial growth of the seedlings.

RESUMO. Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar as características agronômicas da cultura do milho sob inoculação de sementes com A. brasilense, cultivado sobre palhada de aveia-preta e azevém manejada com diferentes manejos de pastejo e doses de nitrogênio. O experimento foi conduzido em Santa Maria, Brasil, em dois anos agrícolas (2012/2013 e 2013/2014), em delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, com três repetições. No período hibernal a pastagem de aveia preta e azevém foi manejada em diferentes alturas de pastejo (0,30, 0,20, 0,10 m, pastejo convencional e sem pastejo) por ovinos, três doses de N (0, 50 e 100 kg ha-1, com ou sem inoculação de A. brasilense). Foi utilizado o híbrido Pioneer (P1630H(r)) em 2012 e o híbrido Agroeste (AS 1551(r)) em 2013. A altura das plantas de milho é beneficiada quando é cultivado sobre palhada de aveia preta e azevém na ausência de pastejo, favorecendo também a produtividade. Sob déficit hídrico o nitrogênio aplicado na pastagem favorece o desenvolvimento do milho, aumentando altura da planta e de inserção de espiga e diâmetro de colmo. A inoculação com A. brasilense tem efeito positivo sobre os componentes do rendimento e produtividade do milho independente do ano agrícola e do híbrido utilizado.

ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of corn seed inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense, grown on black oat and ryegrass straw, and managed under different grazing strategies and doses of nitrogen. The experiment was conducted in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, during two agricultural seasons (2012/2013 and 2013/2014) in a randomized, complete block design with three replications. In the winter period, black oat and ryegrass straw were managed at different grazing heights by sheep (0.30, 0.20, 0.10 m, conventional grazing, and no grazing) with three doses of nitrogen (0, 50, and 100 kg ha-1, with or without inoculation by A. brasilense). We used the hybrid Pioneer (P1630H(r)) in 2012 and the hybrid Agroeste (AS 1551(r)) in 2013. The height of corn plants was greater when they were grown on black oat and ryegrass straw, and the absence of grazing favored productivity. Under drought conditions, the application of nitrogen to the pasture favored corn development, increasing plant height, ear height, and stem diameter. Inoculation with A. brasilense had a positive effect on the characteristics of yield and productivity of corn, independent of growing season and hybrid used.