The beneficial effects of silicon (Si) fertilization have been observed for several plant species, especially when submitted to stress, either biotic or abiotic. Among the possible reasons for the greater adaptability and resistance of brachiaria grass in areas of low fertility soils in Brazilian savanna, stands its capacity of absorbing and accumulating Si in aerial parts. To evaluate the effect of Si on dry matter yield of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf and Brachiaria brizantha Hochst, grown under two soil moisture regimes, a trial was set up in a completely randomized design factorial scheme (5 × 2 × 2), with five Si rates: (0; 242; 484; 968 and 1,452 kg ha-1), two soil water tensions (60% and 80% of field capacity) and the two brachiaria species. The experiment was installed in a greenhouse, using one of the most representative soils in the region under cerrado, Typic Haplustox. Both brachiaria species can be considered Si-accumulating plants, since they present high Si contents in their aerial parts. Application of Si to the soil increased the contents of this element in both grass species but did not change their tolerance to water deficit, and did not affect dry matter yield.

(1) Recebido para publicação em março de 2006 e aprovado em fevereiro de 2007.

No abstract

RESUMOA expansão do setor sucroalcooleiro aumenta áreas de plantio, assim como volumes de resíduos (como a torta de filtro) que podem ser utilizados na agricultura como fonte de nutrientes, reduzindo a contaminação ambiental e os custos com adubação, entretanto, faltam informações sobre modos de aplicação. Nesse contexto, conduziu-se este trabalho, com o objetivo de avaliar doses de torta de filtro e modos de aplicação (superficial na linha e incorporado na entrelinha) sobre as variáveis tecnológicas e produtividade da cana soca. O experimento foi instalado em soqueira de cana-de-açúcar (SP 81-3250), cultivada em solo de textura argilosa, localizado no município de Goianésia/GO. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso (DBC), com onze tratamentos e 5 repetições, em esquema fatorial 5 X 2 + 1 que correspondem a 5 doses crescentes de torta de filtro (0, 10, 20, 40 e 80 t ha -1 ), combinadas a 2 modos de aplicação (na linha superficial e na entre linha incorporada) e um tratamento adicional correspondente à adubação mineral da Usina Jalles Machado S.A.. A aplicação de torta de filtro na cana-soca na dose de 70 t ha -1 proporcionou a maior produção de colmos de cana-de-açúcar, independentemente do modo de aplicação. Termos para indexação:Resíduos, adubação, cana-soca, métodos de preparo, Saccharum officinarum. ABSTRACTThe expansion of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) cultivation for the production of sugar or ethanol has increased cultivated land as well as the volume of residues (such as filter cake) that may be used in agriculture as a nutrient source, reducing environmental contamination and fertilization costs. However, there is a lack of information about the best way of application. In this way, the objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of the filter cake dose and the application method (on the ground in the row and incorporated between rows) on the technological variables and ratoon yield. The experiment was installed on a sugar cane ratoon (SP 81-3250), cultivated in clay soil in the municipality of Goianésia, State of Goiás, Brazil. The experimental delineation used was randomized blocks with eleven treatments and five replications, in a factorial scheme 5 X 2 + 1, which correspond to 5 increasing doses of filter cake (0, 10, 20, 40 e 80 t ha -1 ) with 2 modes of application (over the ground in the row and incorporated in the between row) and an additional treatment corresponding to the mineral nutrition done by the company Usina Jalles Machado S.A.. The highest sugar cane ratoon production was obtained when 70 t ha -1 of filter cake were used, independently of the mode of application.

Several studies have been carried out on the application of titanium in plant nutrition in recent decades. They indicate that this element has a positive effect on crop phenological events such as germination, root formation, vegetative growth, maturation, as well as resistance to biotic or abiotic stress conditions and general crop health status. Titanium has also been reported to boost the uptake of macro and micronutrients, enzymatic activity in plants, and consequently increase yield. Therefore, pioneering studies of foliar applications of titanium in potato crops are being carried out in Brazil. They demonstrate that titanium reduces urease enzyme activity, but increases peroxidase and nitrate reductase activity during potato growth. During tuberization, there is a positive correlation between superoxide dismutase & peroxidase enzyme activity and titanium application. Although the results are promising, more data is needed regarding the effects of this element on crop performance. This review describes the characteristics of this element and reports innovations regarding its use in plant nutrition.