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| Author(s): |
Felipe de Araújo Lopes
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | Piracicaba. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC) |
| Defense date: | 2010-10-13 |
| Examining board members: |
Jose Paulo Molin;
Dirceu de Mattos Junior;
Francisco de Assis Alves Mourão Filho
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| Advisor: | Jose Paulo Molin |
| Abstract | |
The cultivation of citrus has great importance in the world and in Brazil is one of the most representative crops for exports. Precision agriculture (PA) is described as a set of tools that allow managing the production system based on georeferenced information related to the spatial variability of crops. The PA is used in large-scale on annual crops showing results concerning improved information management and the rationalization of inputs use. Considering the importance of citrus to the economy of the Sao Paulo state and wishing to improve production practices the aim of this work was to identify the spatial variability of the attributes and elements of soil, leaves and yield of commercial orange orchards and compare management traditionally used by the farm with the effects of variable rate fertilization. The work was conducted in two areas located in Botucatu-SP, 25.7 hectares each, differentiated by soil type, elevation and year of planting. The areas were monitored and interfered for two seasons since the year 2008. Two treatments were established: applications of a constant rate (CR) and spatially variable rate (VR). In the first year, soil samples were collected in three different patterns and densities at a depth of 0-0.2 m (2 samples ha-1) and 0.2-0.4 m (1 sample ha-1) in the fertilization strip and in the between trees rows at 0-0.2 m depth (1 sample ha-1). From the analysis of samples taken in the range of fertilization at a depth of 0-0.2 m recommendations were calculated for liming and sources of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for VR treating that were applied by a prototype machine capable of varying rates automatically based on the prescription map. In the 2009/2010 year, the georeferenced samples were collected from soil and leaves georeferenced separating the treatments. The samples were recorded in both seasons and provided data for yield mapping of the areas. The results of georeferenced soil samples showed spatial variability of attributes. The average values of P were classified as \"medium\", for the areas in both treatments. The average values of K ranged from \"high\" and \"medium\" for CR and VR, respectively, in clay soil area and \"medium\" for the treatments of area 2. Mean levels of V% were classified as \"medium\" in the area and a \"low\" in area 2, with no difference between treatments. The variable rate fertilization resulted in savings of 230 kg ha-1 nitrogen, 5 kg ha-1 of phosphorus and 257 kg ha-1 potassium on average in the two plots. The yields increased from 19.3 to 39.3 t ha-1 (CR) and 41.8 t ha-1 (VR) in area 1 and from 15.3 to 33.4 t ha-1 (CR) and 33.3 t ha-1 (VR) of area 2. Leaf N, P and K did not differ between treatments and their averages were identified as high in both areas supporting the potential use of this tool. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 08/02260-1 - Variable rate fertilizers for Citrus |
| Grantee: | Felipe de Araújo Lopes |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |