Essential plant nutrients are mainly applied to soil and plant foliage for achieving maximum economic yields. Soil application method is more common and most effective for nutrients, which required in higher amounts. However, under certain circumstances, foliar fertilization is more economic and effective. Foliar symptoms, soil and plant tissue tests, and crop growth responses are principal nutrient disorder diagnostic techniques. Soil applications of fertilizers are mainly done on the basis of soil tests, whereas foliar nutrient applications are mainly done on the basis of visual foliar symptoms or plant tissue tests. Hence, correct diagnosis of nutrient deficiency is fundamental for successful foliar fertilization. In addition, there are some more requirements for successful foliar fertilization. Foliar fertilization requires higher leaf area index for absorbing applied nutrient solution in sufficient amount, it may be necessary to have more than one application depending on severity of nutrient deficiency. Nutrient concentration and day temperature should be optimal to avoid leaf burning and fertilizer source should be soluble in water to be more effective. Foliar fertilization of crops can complement soil fertilization. If foliar fertilization is mixed with postemergence herbicides, insecticides, or fungicides, the probability of yield response could be increased and cost of application can be reduced.

and urea are main sources of nitrogen (N) for annual crop production in developing countries. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted using ammonium sulfate and urea as N sources for upland rice grown on a Brazilian Oxisol. The N rates used were 0, 50, 100, 150, 3000, and 400 kg N kg −1 of soil. Yield and yield components were significantly increased in a quadratic fashion with increasing N rate. Ammonium sulfate X urea interaction was significant for grain yield, shoot dry matter yield, panicle number, plant height and root dry weight, indicating a different response magnitude of these plant parameters to two sources of N. Based on regression equation, maximum grain yield was achieved with the application of 380 mg N kg −1 by ammonium sulfate and 271 mg N kg −1 by urea. Grain yield and yield components were reduced at higher rates of urea (>300 mg kg N) but these plant parameters' responses to ammonium sulfate at higher rates was constant. In the intermediate N rate range (125 to 275 mg kg −1 ), urea was slightly better compared to ammonium sulfate for grain yield. Grain yield was significantly related with plant height, shoot dry weight, panicle number, grain harvest index and root dry weight. Hence, improving these plant characteristics by using appropriate soil and plant management practices can improve upland rice yield.

Amazonas State is the largest state in Brazil and mainly covered by tropical forest. Because of the importance of the tropical forest in maintaining soil health and a clean environment, conservation of the Amazon forest is a national priority. However, sustainable agriculture development is necessary in the state for the welfare of the local population. Maintaining soil fertility at an adequate level is an important component of sustainable farming. Very little information is available about soil fertility of Amazonas State. The objective of the present study was to evaluate chemical soil properties of Amazonas State of Brazil. Results include chemical properties of 3,340 samples, covering 62 municipalities of the state collected at 0-20 cm deep during 30 years . Chemical properties [phosphorus (P), potassium (K) extracted with Mehlich 1, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al) extracted with potassium chloride (KCl) 1.0 mol L 21 , potential acidity (H + Al) extracted with calcium acetate, and base saturation] presented great variation, except cation exchange capacity (CEC) and pH (water). Most of the soil samples were characterized as having high acidity; medium level of organic-matter content; low levels of P, K, Ca, and Mg; and high levels of Al and H + Al. Overall, base saturation was less than 20%, a value considered very low for most of annual crops. Soils from upland areas were more acidic and have poor fertility compared with lowland soils. To maintain sustainability of cropping systems, use of an adequate level of liming and chemical fertilizers are necessary on these soils.

Rhizobia and other plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been broadly used as inoculants in agriculture, resulting in morphofunctional improvements in roots and grain yield. This study was carried out during two cropping seasons under field and greenhouse conditions in Brazil to verify the effects of inoculation of two soybean cultivars with PGPR and secondary microbial metabolites (SMMs) on root activity and nodulation, plant development, and grain yield. Inoculation and co‐inoculation treatments consisted of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain SEMIA 5079 and B. diazoefficiens strain SEMIA 5080 inoculated together, in combination with Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713, Azospirillum brasilense strains Ab‐V5 and Ab‐V6, and SMMs extracted from B. diazoefficiens strain USDA 110 and Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT 889. Root systems were evaluated by direct (optical reading) and indirect (rubidium nitrate application, 85RbNO3) methods. Increases of up to 1.6% in root diameter (0.01‐ to 0.5‐mm class), 28.5% in length, 19.7% in root volume, 17.8% in root surface area, 29% in the number of nodules, 27.2% in nodule dry weight, 13.5% in root dry weight, and 3.8% in shoot dry weight. Greater exploration and activity within and between rows following inoculation at up to 40 and 10 cm in depth, respectively, were observed in plants co‐inoculated with the standard inoculation (only Bradyrhizobium spp.) + SMMs + A. brasilense, resulting in a yield increase of 485 kg ha−1. The results emphasize the biotechnological potential of using secondary metabolites of rhizobia with inoculants containing rhizobia and PGPR to improve the growth and soybean yield in tropical conditions.

The introduction of cultivars with earlier development and greater productivity has raised questions about the effect of management practices on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] yield in a no‐till (NT) system. The objective of the study was to evaluate the interaction between N fertilization, row spacing, and plant density on photosynthetic index, yield components, yield, and nutritional status of soybean–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) intercropping. For soybean cultivation, three N rates, three row spacing, and three planting densities were assessed during two growing seasons, while for wheat, 17.5‐cm row spacing and no N fertilization were used. No significant effects of row spacing and plant density were detected. The yields for 0 and 40 kg N ha−1 rates were similar, while applying 20 kg N ha−1 reduced, on average, soybean yield by 14.5%. The planting densities, row spacing, and N rates did not affect wheat yield, or oil and protein content in soybean seeds. Soil temperature (ST), intercellular carbon dioxide concentration (Ci), and intrinsic water use efficiency (IWUE) increased, while plant height, chlorophyll content (CC), and transpiration rate (Trmmol) decreased with increasing spacing of soybean. Plant density changed ST, Ci, chlorophyll content, and stomatal conductance (gs). Leaf tissue analysis indicated adequate nutrient levels in soybean and wheat. The current management practice with 50‐cm row spacing, no N fertilization to complement biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), and 333,000 plants ha−1 is adequate for soybean cultivation, while N supplied from soil organic matter (SOM) and BNF is sufficient to meet requirements of associated wheat crops.