Foliar fertilization has been used as a supplemental strategy to plant nutrition especially in crops with high yield potential. Applying nutrients in small doses stimulates photosynthesis and increases yield performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of foliar application of molybdenum (Mo) to soybean and maize. The treatments consisted of the presence (+Mo) and absence (-Mo) of supplementation. Plant nutritional status, nitrate reductase (NR) activity, gas exchange parameters, photosynthetic enzyme activity (Rubisco in soybean and maize and PEPcase in maize), total soluble sugar concentration, leaf protein content, shoot dry matter, shoot nitrogen accumulated, number of grains per plant, mass of 100 grains, and grain yield were evaluated. For soybean and maize, application of Mo increased leaf NR activity, nitrogen and protein content, Rubisco activity, net photosynthesis, and grain yield. These results indicate that foliar fertilization with Mo can efficiently enhance nitrogen metabolism and the plant’s response to carbon fixation, resulting in improved crop yields.

Foliar fertilization with calcium (Ca) and boron (B) at flowering can promote flower retention and pod fixation, thereby increasing the number of pods per plant and, in turn, crop productivity. The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of Ca + B fertilization during flowering on the nutritional, metabolic and yield performance of soybean (Glycine max L.) The treatments consisted of the presence and the absence of Ca + B fertilization in two growing seasons. Crop nutritional status, gas exchange parameters, photosynthetic enzyme activity (Rubisco), total soluble sugar content, total leaf protein concentration, agronomic parameters, and grain yield were evaluated. Foliar Ca + B fertilization increased water use efficiency and carboxylation efficiency, and the improvement in photosynthesis led to higher leaf sugar and protein concentrations. The improvement in metabolic activity promoted a greater number of pods and grains plant−1, culminating in higher yields. These results indicate that foliar fertilization with Ca + B can efficiently improve carbon metabolism, resulting in better yields in soybean.

Stimulant fertilization isthe supplementary application of low doses of foliar fertilizers to otherwise well‐fertilized crops, and literature suggests that it may increase grain yield. However, the physiological mechanisms behind this potential yield increase are not well understood. This study investigated the effect of supplementary foliar nitrogen (N) in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and maize (Zea mays) nutrition, photosynthetic parameters, antioxidant metabolism, agronomic parameters, and grain yield. We tested the presence or absence of low rates of late season (R3 and V10 of soybean and maize, respectively) foliar N fertilization in a main season soybean followed by an off‐season maize. While there were no effects of N application on leaf nutrient concentration, the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, and carboxylation efficiency increased due to foliar N fertilization in both crops. The improvement in photosynthesis occurred due to a concomitant increase in Rubisco activity and in the concentration of sugar in the leaves prior to grain filling. Foliar N fertilization also improved antioxidant metabolism, suggesting that fertilized plants were less affected by environmental stresses during their cycle. The improvement in the metabolic activity due to foliar N did not affect grains per plant but increased a hundred grain mass and grain yield of both soybean and maize. Our results suggest that foliar N applied as stimulant fertilizer is a promising strategy to increase yield of maize and soybean crops.

Population growth has led to an intensified search for ways to increase the efficiency of agricultural production, including improvements of irrigation systems. The aim of this work was to evaluate the uniformity of different drip fertigation techniques, as well as their monitoring using electrical conductivity measurements and statistical quality control charts. For this, an experiment was performed according to a fully randomized design, with six treatments: T1) water (control); T2) Forth Frutas fertilizer; T3) Fortgreen fertilizer; T4) water (control); T5) Bio Bokashi liquid fertilizer; and T6) swine production wastewater. Each treatment consisted of 25 assays (replications). For the assays, 16 collection points were selected for measurements of volume, pH, and electrical conductivity. The data were analyzed using the Christiansen uniformity coefficient, the distribution uniformity coefficient, and the coefficient of variation of the total flow, employing Tukey’s test (5% level), together with statistical quality control charts. The results revealed uniformity above 90% for irrigation and fertigation, while statistically better control was obtained for irrigation. It could be concluded that irrigation and fertigation were similar in terms of uniformity, demonstrating the feasibility of using different fertigation solutions, while the control charts enabled efficient monitoring of the uniformity of the systems.

Os alimentos consumidos pelo homem e pelos animais devem conter informações de caracterização, monitoramento produtivo e padrões de legalização. Dentre as áreas com este foco a bromatologia ou ciência que estuda os alimentos, realiza análises da composição dos alimentos, gerando resultados aplicados pela indústria e afins. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar a composição bromatológica de amostras de beterraba, capim elefante e farinha de peixe, além de detalhar os procedimentos e enquadrá-los com a literatura. Para tal, realizou-se a quantificação da composição bromatológica dos elementos: umidade e cinzas (obtidos em trabalhos complementares), extrato etéreo, proteína bruta e fibra em detergente neutro. Para o extrato etéreo realizou-se a extração por meio de éter em extrator Soxhlet. Para proteína bruta, realizou-se determinação indireta através da determinação de nitrogênio pelo método Kjeldahl. Por fim na determinação de fibra em detergente neutro, empregou-se procedimento com mesmo nome. Como resultados, todas as amostras foram determinadas e categorizadas em porcentagem em relação à matéria natural da amostra (considerando a umidade) e em relação à matéria seca da amostra (desconsiderando a umidade). Para todos os elementos e amostras os valores encontram-se dentro das faixas obtidas na literatura, com exceção da fibra em detergente neutro para farinha de peixe, que ficou acima do valor literário, devido à possível formação de incrustação durante a análise. Como considerações o estudo permitiu caracterizar as amostras, além de detalhar os procedimentos empregados para tal e discutir sua importância, demonstrando as aplicações destas informações no planejamento de atividades agroindustriais.