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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of cover crops grown under no-tillage on the aggregation and physical protection of organic matter in soil macro and microaggregates. The experiment consisted of a randomized complete block design with three replications. The following cover crops were investigated in corn rotation systems: T1 = Braquiária ruziziensis (Urochloa ruziziensis), T2 = Canavalia brasiliensis Mart. ex Benth.,Br.], T5 = turnip-forage (Raphanus sativus L.), T6 = velvet bean (Mucuna aterrima Merr.) and T7 = native Cerrado vegetation as a reference environment. Soil was sampled at a depth of 0-10 cm in September 2015 for the determination of organic matter fractions in macro and microaggregates. There was a reduction in aggregate size and its stability when native Cerrado areas were converted into agricultural systems. Nevertheless, some cover crops such as velvet bean, millet and turnip-forage favored restructuring the soil, forming stable aggregates similar to the native Cerrado. Among the cover crops, millet was highlighted as presenting elevated capacity to accumulate labile organic carbon in macroaggregates (2.32 g C kg -1 ) and microaggregates (2.34 g C kg -1 ). These values are, on average, 60% higher than those presented by turnip-forage. In general, the conversion of land use under Cerrado vegetation to agroecosystems reduced the total organic carbon content, mainly due to macroaggregate breakup, resulting in a lower physical protection of soil organic matter.

Quinoa stands out as an excellent crop in the Cerrado region for cultivation in the off-season or irrigated winter season. Here, we tested the effects of different water regimes on the agronomic characteristics, physiology, and grain quality of different elite quinoa genotypes under field conditions. The experiment was conducted under field conditions at Embrapa Cerrados (Planaltina, DF, Brazil). The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a split-plot scheme, with four replications. The plots were composed of 18 quinoa genotypes and modified BRS Piabiru (the currently used genotype), and the split-plots were divided into 4 different water regimes. The following variables were evaluated: productivity and productivity per unit of applied water (PUAA), plant height, flavonoids, anthocyanins, gas exchange, chlorophyll, leaf proline, and relative water content. Our results showed that water regimes between 309 and 389 mm can be recommended for quinoa in the Cerrado region. CPAC6 and CPAC13 presented the highest yield and PUAA under high and intermediate WRs, and hence were the most suitable for winter growth under irrigation. CPAC17 is most suitable for off-season growth under rainfed conditions, as it presented the highest PUAA under the low WRs (247 and 150). CPAC9 stood out in terms of accumulation of flavonoids and anthocyanins in all WRs. Physiological analyses revealed different responses of the genotypes to water restriction, together with symptoms of stress under lower water regimes. Our study reinforces the importance of detailed analyses of the relationship between productivity, physiology, and water use when choosing genotypes for planting and harvest in different seasons.

Soil management systems exert different effects on soil attributes, especially on the organic matter content, and, consequently, the soil aggregation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different land uses practiced by quilombola family farmers on water stable aggregates, glomalin and organic carbon in soil aggregates. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0-10 and 10-20 cm from areas cultivated under the following management systems: 1) conventional corn plantation (MA), 2) cultivation of citrus trees intercropped with annual crops (AC) (a conservationist approach), 3) pasture of Brachiaria (Urochloa spp.) (PA), and, as reference, an area of the Cerrado (CR) free of any anthropogenic interference. The studied areas were evaluated in a completely randomized design, with five replications, in a subplot scheme. The plots were the management systems and the subplots the depths. Soil macro-aggregates were predominant at both depths and the aggregate stability indices were higher than 90 % for all management systems. Total organic carbon in the two aggregate classes (micro and macroaggregates) correlated with the MWD (mean weight-diameter), but not with the easily extractable glomalin (EEG) related soil protein. Soil micro and macro-aggregates, EEG and MWD discriminated management systems and are important soil quality indicators. The carbon content in both micro-aggregates (C-MIC) and macro-aggregates (C-MAC) of the intercropped system (AC) was higher than in the CR. The soil attributes that best separated the areas were C-MIC, MWD and EEG in macro-aggregates for the depth of 0-10 cm, and EEG in micro-aggregates, together with MWD and C-MAC for the depth of 10-20 cm.

Future predictions due to climate change are of decreases in rainfall and longer drought periods. The search for new tolerant crops is an important strategy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of water stress on the physiology and productivity of crops with potential for growing in the off-season period in the Cerrado, and evaluate correlations with the temperature of the canopy obtained by means of thermography. The experiment was conducted under field conditions, with experimental design in randomized blocks, in a split-plot scheme and four replications. The plots were: common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris); amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus); quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa); and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum). The subplots were composed of four water regimes: maximum water regime (WR 535 mm), high-availability regime (WR 410 mm), off-season water regime (WR 304 mm) and severe water regime (WR 187 mm). Under WR 304 mm, the internal concentration of CO2 and photosynthesis were reduced by less than 10% in amaranth. Common bean and buckwheat reduced 85% in photosynthesis. The reduction in water availability increased the canopy temperature in the four crops and, in general, common bean was the most sensitive species, while quinoa had the lowest canopy temperatures. Furthermore, canopy temperature correlated negatively with grain yield, biomass yield and gas exchange across all plant species, thus thermal imaging of the canopy represents a promising tool for monitoring crop productivity for farmers, For the identification of crops with high water use management for research.