Brazilian milk production has been increased over the last decade, mainly due to the adoption of technologies and yield gains. However, a huge technological heterogeneity still persists among farmers. This paper adopts Beta regression model to evaluate the factors influencing the intensity of adoption of milk production technologies by 271 dairy farms in the major state of milk production in Brazil, Minas Gerais. The dependent variable is an index that measures the intensity of adoption of most updated technologies in the milk production system. The set of technologies comprises all stages of the milk production system: feeding management, herd management, environmental management and controls equipment and facilities. The explanatory variables refer to farmer and farm´s characteristics, access to information and milk commercialization channel. The results suggest the adoption of technologies is positively influenced by the access to information through radio, magazine, internet, field days and rural extension service. In addition, the risk-taker behavior of farmer and the dependence on the supply chain also foster the adoption. The multiple correspondence analysis technique demonstrated the positive association of intensity technology adoption and milk productivity indicators. The results have implications for diffusion and technology transfer programs through policies or strategies by the industry and collective actions.

In agricultural crops that present bulbification, the production of the bulb organ is the most important stage when cultivated through micropropagation as it involves a sensitive transition from the sprout to the bulb phase. As garlic is a crop that propagates mainly vegetatively through garlic seeds produced in vitro, it is important to understand and control the factors involved in this bulbification process. The objective of this work was to study hyperhydricity and biometry after the transition from shoot to bulb of in vitro garlic seedlings of two noble cultivars: Ito and Quitéria in MS culture medium with sucrose at concentrations of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10%. It was found that the addition of sucrose to the culture medium at a concentration of 8% in the bulbing phase resulted in better productive characteristics, and it did not increase the degree of hyperhydricity of the microbulbs obtained in both cultivars. The Ito cultivar produced a higher bulbing percentage and quantity of bulbs per plant than the Quitéria cultivar. Furthermore, it was found that there was a strong negative correlation between the vegetative characteristics fresh mass of roots and fresh mass of shoots with the reproductive characteristics of number of bulbs per plant and fresh mass of bulbs, which demonstrate that the plant in the bulbification phase directs efforts towards bulbification to the detriment of the vegetative part and this pattern can guide plant improvement programs for the species.

Phosphate minerals are the main source of phosphorus and are used as raw materials for most phosphate fertilizer industries worldwide. However, the production of thermophosphates improves phosphorus solubility in the soil. In this study, thermophosphates were produced from lateritic phosphates with the addition of ironmaking and steelmaking slags at ten temperatures, ranging from 100 °C to 1,000 °C, to evaluate the effect of temperature on these products and their feasibility as fertilizers. The mineralogical and chemical compositions of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence, respectively. Crandallite is the main Al-phosphate in the ore, with amorphous and iron oxide phases present in the slags. Agronomic efficiency experiments of thermophosphates produced at 300 °C, 600 °C, and 1,000 °C were carried out. Thermophosphates, both in natura and with slag at 600 °C, showed amorphous phases with better results in plant development due to the solubility of phosphorus and other nutrients available for crop absorption, thereby enhancing growth and regulating soil fertility. The agronomic efficiency index of thermophosphates plus slags at 600 °C showed results superior to in natura phosphate in all variables, primarily due to the high levels of CaO and MgO in the slags, which may have nutritionally benefited the maize plants.  The aluminum thermophosphates with slag addition are a viable alternative to traditional phosphate fertilizers, offering both agronomic and environmental benefits.

Moringa is a plant native to India, with a wide distribution worldwide, ranging from Asia to Africa, with more occurrence in regions with hot and dry climates, such as the Brazilian semiarid region. Through cycles of discontinuous hydration and dehydration, seeds may acquire a high survival rate under these conditions. The study was conducted at the Seed Laboratory of the State University of Maranhão in the municipality of Balsas, Maranhão. The experimental design was completely randomized, with a 3 × 3 + 1 factorial arrangement, 3 soaking times (10, 36 and 52 hours), 3 hydration cycles (1, 2 and 3) and an additional treatment (control), with 4 replicates of 25 seeds each. After the seeds were subjected to hydration and dehydration cycles, an emergence test was performed, and the following characteristics were analyzed: emergence, first emergence count, emergence speed index, shoot length, root length, shoot mass and dry mass. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and regression with a 5% probability level, and principal component analysis and response surface analysis were performed. It is assumed that the species Moringa oleifera Lam. Water memory has a hydration time of up to 10 hours with a maximum of up to 2 hydration cycles, and dehydration positively influenced the improvement in most agronomic variables compared with those of the control.

The degree of interference varies with cultural practices, and there is a lack of information regarding the weed interference periods in common beans under arid conditions. Thus, this study carried out an experiment with 12 (TPM) and another with eight plants m-1 (EPM) to compare the weed interference periods in two sowing densities and characterize the weed community. The experimental design comprised randomized blocks with four replications for the increasing periods of control and coexistence: 0-15, 0-30, 0-45, 0-60, 0-75, and 0-90 days after emergence (DAE). Weeds were analyzed using the phytosociological method, and their dry mass was correlated with productivity. The period before interference (PBI), the critical period for weed control (CPWC), and the total period of interference prevention (TPIP) were determined using a nonlinear regression analysis of productivity. Nicandra physaloides, Setaria verticillata, and Sorghum halepense were the most relevant species. The TPIP and CPWC were 13 and 17 days shorter at TPM, respectively. The PBI had four more days in TPM than in EPM. The EPM and TPM yields were 137.6 and 800 kg ha-1, respectively, when weed dry mass was maximum. This last fact, combined with the increase in PBI and decrease in CPWC in TPM, meant that the crop sown at the highest density had a greater competitive advantage over some weed species.

Successive applications of phosphate fertilisers can exceed the phosphorus (P) requirements of plants and soil, resultingin surface accumulation and loss to aquatic systems, and therefore require monitoring. The aim of this study was to determine amathematical model for the critical limit for phosphorus in the environment (CLPE) in a Red Latosol of the Cerrado, and to monitor theamount of P in the soil of 46 rural properties in the micro watershed of the Ribeirão Abóbora River. Sand was added to a dystroferricRed Latosol to simulate soils with textures of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% clay, in order to quantify the maximum P adsorptioncapacity (MPAC) and determine the CLPE. Soil from 46 rural properties that make up the micro watershed of the Ribeirão AbóboraRiver was collected, and the P and clay content was determined. The MPAC decreased proportionally to the reduction in clay content.Th e estimating equation to determine the CLPE for the Red Latosol of the Cerrado is CLPE = 16.64 + 0.432* (% clay), which can besimplifi ed to CLPE = 20 + 0.5* (% clay). Th e P content on four of the properties in the micro watershed of the Ribeirão Abóbora Riveris greater than the CLPE. It is therefore recommended that the use of phosphate sources be suspended until appropriate P levels return,and that close attention be paid to these properties so that P values again reach acceptable levels, and no P is transferred to the water sources.

Proper waste management is a major worldwide concern; waste is disposed of directly into the environment, affecting water, soil and air quality. The development and production of green energy sources is strongly encouraged in modern society. The aim of this study, in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 2 and 7 of the 2030 Agenda of the UN, is to combine the correct disposal of animal waste with the generation of energy to mitigate the energy insecurity of families in an extremely vulnerable semi-arid region in the north-east of the country using biodigesters. To this end, a conceptual proposal was drawn up for a low-cost, easy-to-maintain and easy-to-use biodigester. A small-scale prototype was used to assess its operation by evaluating the main factors that affect biogas production (pH, temperature and the biomass properties: total solids, fixed solids, volatile solids, concentration of volatile fatty acids and C/N ratio). Evaluation of the test prototype gave satisfactory results that corroborate other studies and make it possible to propose an economically viable and efficient full-scale biodigester for biogas production.

The search for more sustainable systems of rice cultivation, especially in relation to water use, has included theevaluation of more-efficient irrigation systems in addition to alternative water sources. The aim of this study was to conducta phytosociological survey of weeds in rice crops irrigated by subsurface drip with different concentrations of treated dairyeffluent, maintaining the soil moisture at saturation or field capacity. A pilot scale experiment was carried out in a protectedenvironment using a randomised block design in a 5 x 2 factorial scheme, with four replications. The IAC 301 cultivar (Arborio rice)was chosen. The phytosociological surveys were carried out on four different dates, and considered the composition as wellas the distribution of plant species in each of the applied treatments, using the importance value index (IVI) to evaluate theinfluence of each treatment. The results showed that cultivating irrigated rice, giving priority to water management, alteredthe ecology of invasive plants. Fourteen weed species were identified, distributed over 10 families. The effluent dose didnot alter the incidence of invasive plants, and only at the final evaluation was there a reduction in the IVI value at effluentconcentrations of 50% and 75%. For soil moisture, the highest IVI values occurred on the first two days of the survey undersaturated conditions; this result was reversed closer to plant maturity, when the IVI values were higher at field capacity.

Agricultural soil acidity reduces soybean yield significantly, requiring correction, especially in current systems involving no-tillage (NT) and precision agriculture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the soil chemical attributes and soybean performance after cover crops and acidity management with liming by Ca and Mg saturation in the effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) and gypsum application at variable rates to increase subsurface Ca saturation. The experiment was carried out in Guarapuava, PR, Brazil in an Oxisol, assessing two factors, (1) cover crops: fallow, oat + turnip and polyculture; and (2) acidity management: without correction and areas with lime (calcitic + dolomitic) or lime + gypsum. The soil chemical attributes were evaluated: pHCaCl2; exchangeable Al; H+Al; Ca; Mg; S; V%; Ca/ECEC and Mg/ECEC. The chlorophyll index and soybean performance were evaluated through yield components. The liming recommendation for saturation of Ca/ECEC and Mg/ECEC increases pH, base saturation, and exchangeable Ca and Mg contents and decreased potential and exchangeable acidity in the 0-0.1 m layer, independently of the addition of gypsum. Oat + forage turnip accumulate more Mg and increase base saturation in the 0-0.1 m layer compared to fallow and polyculture. Gypsum application effective in increasing Ca contents in the 0.1-0.2 m layer, after five months. The lime mixture, associated or not with gypsum increased the soybean yield.

The species Porphyra, Pyropia, and Neopyropia are widely cultivated and consumed worldwide due their valuable nutraceutical properties. These red algae are rich in essential macronutrients, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and minerals. They also contain bioproducts beneficial to human health, such as pigments (phycobiliproteins), phenolic compounds, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and polysaccharides, which exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anti-obesity activities. These algae are particularly important as edible seaweeds, being most notably used in the production of Nori. This review examines recent research on the nutritional value of Nori species, based on 17 selected articles. The data were organized according to protein, carbohydrate, lipid, and ash content. Additionally, we explore the bioactive compounds found in these species, such as pigments, fatty acids, and phenolic compounds. Our discussion also emphasizes the economic potential of Nori in Brazil. Despite the country’s rich biodiversity, Brazil remains a major importer of algae for human consumption. However, there is significant potential for expanding its presence in the aquaculture sector, creating opportunities for the cultivation of Nori species. These growing prospects could pave the way for the sustainable exploitation of this resource in both national and global markets.