Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da inoculação com Azospirillum brasilense, associada a doses e fontes de N, em solo de Cerrado, sobre a produtividade de grãos de trigo (Triticum aestivum) irrigado. O experimento foi desenvolvido em sistema plantio direto, em Latossolo Vermelho distrófico. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, em arranjo fatorial 2x5x2: duas fontes de N (ureia e ureia com inibidor da urease NBPT); cinco doses de N em cobertura (0, 50, 100, 150 e 200 kg ha-1); e com ou sem inoculação das sementes com A.brasilense. O aumento nas doses de N apresentou efeito positivo no comprimento de espiga, número de espiguetas e de grãos por espiga, número de espigas por metro, acúmulo de N na palha, conteúdo de clorofila na folha e produtividade de grãos de trigo irrigado, independentemente do uso de inibidor de urease NBPT com ureia. Isoladamente, a inoculação com A.brasilense não afeta os componentes de produção e a produtividade de grãos, apesar de incrementar o N na palhada de trigo. A inoculação com A.brasilense, associada à aplicação de 140 kg ha-1 de N, propicia as maiores produtividades de grãos de trigo irrigado, cultivado após milho em Cerrado de baixa altitude.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense, associated with N rates and sources, in soil of the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna), on the grain yield of irrigated wheat (Triticum aestivum). The experiment was carried out under a no-tillage system in a Typic Haplustox. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks with four replicates, in a 2x5x2 factorial arrangement: two N sources (urea and urea with NBPT urease inhibitor); five N rates applied as topdressing (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1); and with or without seed inoculation with A.brasilense. The increase in the N rates positively affected spike length, number of spikelets and of grains per spike, number of spikes per meter, N accumulation in the straw, leaf chlorophyll content, and grain yield of irrigated wheat, regardless of the use of NBPT urease inhibitor with conventional urea. Singly, inoculation with A.brasilense does not affect production components and grain yield, despite the increase in N content in wheat straw. The inoculation with A.brasilense, associated with the application of 140 kg ha-1 N, provides the highest grain yield of irrigated wheat cropped after corn in low-altitude Cerrado.

ABSTRACT The biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) process in grasses is caused by diazotrophic bacteria, particularly Azospirillum brasilense. However, studies are lacking on BNF efficiency to define how much mineral nitrogen (N) can be applied to achieve more sustainable high yields. Furthermore, there should be an analysis of whether urea with the urease enzyme inhibitor NBPT is less harmful, benefiting BNF in grasses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of N sources and N rates associated with inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense regarding foliar diagnosis and leaf chlorophyll index (LCI), agronomic efficiency (AE), and corn grain yield in the Cerrado (Brazilian tropical savanna) region. The experiment was conducted in a no-tillage system in a Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico (Oxisol). A randomized block experimental design was used with four replications in a 2 × 5 × 2 factorial arrangement as follows: two N sources - urea and Super N, urea with urease enzyme inhibitor NBPT [N - (n-butyl thiophosphoric triamide)]; five N rates (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1) applied in topdressing; and two seed inoculation treatments, one with and one without A. brasilense. N rate positively influenced the LCI and concentrations of N, S, and Mn in leaves, and may increase the concentrations of P, Cu, and Fe; however, higher N rates can reduce AE. The N sources had similar effects, and therefore urea is recommended for N fertilization. Inoculation with A. brasilense decreased leaf concentration of Fe and increased LCI, leaf concentration of P, AE, and corn grain yield; the use of this diazotrophic bacterium is therefore viable even when high rates of N are applied.

RESUMOA utilização de reguladores vegetais em arroz pode proporcionar redução na altura de plantas e diminuir o acamamento. Objetivou-se verificar a influência da aplicação do regulador vegetal thidiazuron na cultura do arroz de terras altas, em região de Cerrado brasileiro. Utilizaram-se as cultivares BRS Esmeralda e IAC 202, bem como delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 4 x 3 para cada cultivar, constituído de doses de thidiazuron (0 g ha-1; 0,3 g ha-1; 0,6 g ha-1; e 0,9 g ha-1) e três épocas de aplicação (perfilhamento, diferenciação floral e emborrachamento), com quatro repetições. O número de espiguetas por panícula e fertilidade das espiguetas da cultivar BRS Esmeralda foram maiores utilizando-se a dose de 0,9 g ha-1 de thidiazuron, com aplicação na fase de perfilhamento. A massa de 100 grãos da BRS Esmeralda se ajustou a uma equação quadrática, enquanto, para a IAC 202, houve ajuste a uma equação linear, com melhor época de aplicação durante o perfilhamento. Para massa hectolítrica da BRS Esmeralda, os resultados também se ajustaram a uma equação quadrática, enquanto, para a IAC 202, houve diferença significativa apenas entre as épocas, sendo o emborrachamento a melhor época de aplicação. As produtividades de grãos da BRS Esmeralda e IAC 202 apresentaram ajuste linear positivo, com ganhos de 23,5 % e 6,5 %, respectivamente, em relação à testemunha. O thidiazuron influencia positivamente na produtividade da cultura do arroz de terras altas.

ABSTRACTThe use of plant growth regulators in rice can provide reductions in plant height and decrease plant lodging. This study aimed at verifying the influence of the thidiazuron plant regulator on upland rice in the Brazilian Savannah region. The BRS Esmeralda and IAC 202 cultivars were used, as well as a randomized blocks design, in a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement for each cultivar, consisting of thidiazuron doses (0 g ha-1, 0.3 g ha-1, 0.6 g ha-1 and 0.9 g ha-1) and three application times (tillering, floral differentiation and booting), with four replications. The number of spikelets per panicle and spikelet fertility of the BRS Esmeralda cultivar were higher when using the thidiazuron dose of 0.9 g ha-1 in the tillering stage. The weight of 100 grains of the BRS Esmeralda cultivar fitted a quadratic equation, while the IAC 202 fitted a linear equation, with the best time of application taking place during the tillering stage. For hectoliter weight, the results for the BRS Esmeralda also fitted a quadratic equation, while for the IAC 202 a significant difference was observed only among times, being the booting stage the best application time. Grain yield fitted a positive linear equation for both the BRS Esmeralda and IAC 202 cultivars, with gains of 23.5 % and 6.5 %, respectively, when compared to the control. Thidiazuron positively influences grain yield for upland rice.