Nitrogen (N) is the main nutrient responsible for the green coloration of lawns but also stimulates the growth of the aerial portion of grass, thus increasing mowing expenses. Therefore, herbicides may be used as a growth regulator. The ideal herbicide will reduce lawn height

The high cost and the low efficiency of fertilizers, especially nitrogen (N), are of major concerns in agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of N fertilizers sources in Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu (palisade grass). The study was conducted in Cerrado of Brazil to evaluate dry-matter yield (DMY), recovery of applied N (RAN), N use efficiency (NUE), and chemical composition of palisade grass in response to sources of N (ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium sulfate-nitrate, urea, urea with urease inhibitor, polymer-coated urea, and control) in seven harvests (100 kg ha-1 N were applied after each harvest). The N fertilization increased DMY and growth of palisade grass compared to control (without N fertilization). However, there was not any difference in DMY due to N sources. Application of ammonium sulfate-nitrate increased RAN. The urea, urea with urease inhibitor, and polymercoated urea improved NUE. Concentration of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was decreased, while concentrations of acid detergent fiber (ADF) and cellulose were not affected by the fertilizers. Crude protein (CP) content was increased with N supply, but CP fractions A and B were not changed, except in the fifth period of growth. The results indicated protected fertilizers (ammonium sulfate-nitrate, urea with urease inhibitor, and polymer-coated urea) are more recommended for the cultivation of palisade grass in the Cerrado biome of Brazil.

Many eucalyptus plantations in Brazil are in areas of soil with low fertility, with little phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) availability and with low organic matter (OM) content, resulting in a low supply of nutrients to plants, directly reflected in reduced yield. Thus, our objective was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen (N), P and K fertilization on the growth of eucalyptus plants, with the aim of achieving nutritional balance and high yield. The experiment was conducted on Renascença Farm, an agricultural property administered by Cargill Agrícola S.A., located in the city of Três Lagoas, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with ten treatments and five replicates. The treatments were composed of doses of N (0, 70, 105 and 140 kg ha -1 ), doses of P (0, 40, 70 and 100 kg ha -1 of P 2 O 5 ) and doses of K (0, 90, 135 and 180 kg ha -1 of K 2 O). The doses of N and K were applied at planting and as top dressing, and the doses of P were applied only at planting. The diameter at breast height (DBH), plant height and timber volume with bark were assessed, and the concentrations of macronutrients in the leaves were determined. DBH and volume were positively affected by N fertilization, and eucalyptus growth in DBH, height and volume increased with P and K fertilization. The maximum yield of eucalyptus at 21 months of age was obtained with the application of 71 kg ha -1 of N, 100 kg ha -1 of P 2 O 5 and 125 kg ha -1 of K 2 O. The concentrations of macronutrients were adequate even in the absence of the application of N, P and K. With increasing doses of K, there was an increase in leaf concentrations of K and a decrease in those of calcium and magnesium.

Residual effect of monoammonium phosphate coated with different polymers on maizeThe use of phosphate fertilizers coated with polymers can reduce losses by phosphorus fixation in the soil, providing the element for a longer period of time. The objective of this study was to evaluate the residual effect of phosphorus rates and forms of monoammonium phosphate coated with different polymers on production components and grain yield of maize in the first and second harvest. The experiment was conducted in Selvíria -MS, in a loamy Oxisol. A randomized block design in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme with four repetitions was used in the experiment: four P 2 O 5 rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha -1 ) applied at sowing, in four forms: conventional monoammonium phosphate and monoammonium phosphate coated with three different polymers. To evaluate the residual effect of these treatments on the maize successor crop, the new crop was sown in the same line of the previous crop. The residual level of phosphorus in the soil increased linearly up to 150 kg ha -1 P 2 O 5 . The MAP coated with polymers showed the same residual effect of

Despite maintaining the green color in turfgrasses, nitrogen (N) fertilization affects shoot growth and, consequently, the frequency of cuts, the main factor in the costs of turfgrass maintenance. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate N fertilization and the use of glyphosate as a growth regulator in Esmeralda grass (Zoysia japonica Steud.). The experiment was conducted in the field, from August 2014 to July 2015, using a randomized block design in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme with four repetitions and 20 treatments, namely: control (without N), 15 g m-2 of N in soil without foliar N; 30 g m-2 of N in soil without foliar N; 15 g m-2 of N in soil with foliar N (1% urea in 200 L ha-1) and 30 g m-2 of N in soil with foliar N combined with glyphosate doses (0, 200, 400 and 600 g ha-1 active ingredient (a.i.)). The N doses were split into five applications along the year. The following variables were evaluated: height, leaf chlorophyll index and foliar accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Fertilization with 15 g m-2 of N in soil without foliar N application, split into five times along the year, was adequate for the turfgrass, while foliar fertilization did not promote benefits. The glyphosate dose of 400 g ha-1 a.i. was effective in reducing the growth of Esmeralda grass, without compromising its color and promoted less N, P and K accumulation in the leaves, reducing the height and dry matter production.