ABSTRACT Crop growth simulation models such as WOFOST and DSSAT are useful, but require several inputs that sometimes are not available, especially in developing areas. In addition, measured data is usually time and labor-intensive. In search of faster and easier methods for soybean estimates, this study presents a lower input requiring methodology for yield estimation. This study combines the FAO-33 yield model with the agro-ecological zone approach for soybean yield estimations using mostly indirect data. Sowing and harvest dates and yield were collected from 74 soybean commercial farms. Agrometeorological data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) were used. Fifty farms (66%) were used to calibrate the model and 24 farm areas (33%) were used for evaluation purposes. Two methodologies (FAO-56 and Thornthwaite and Mather) for water balance and actual evapotranspiration (ETa) estimations were used. The comparison of yield estimations and observations showed that the use of low data input to obtain reasonable accuracy, with a mean error of −310 kg ha−1 and a mean absolute percentage error of 23.3%.

RESUMO Objetivo: O presente estudo tem como objetivo, verificar se há relação entre proatividade e proteção tecnológica no desempenho ambiental dos empreendimentos nesse segmento. E verificar se existe viabilidade econômica para a produção de pavimento intertravado com a adição de borracha, assim como a certificação do produto como ecologicamente correto. Design / metodologia / abordagem: O estudo tem como base as metodologias apresentadas por Dickel (2017), questionário e variáveis, e Bertolini (2009), viabilidade econômica para a fabricação de produtos ecologicamente correto. Resultados: Como resultado, o estudo confirma a associação entre da proteção tecnológica e da proatividade no desempenho ambiental, assim como a viabilidade econômica para a oferta do produto pavimento intertravado com certificação ecológica. Originalidade / valor: A construção civil ocupa uma posição de destaque, sendo responsável por uma significativa parcela do Produto Interno Bruto (PIB) brasileiro, além de ser a maior indústria empregadora do país. Também é reconhecida por deflagrar significativos impactos ambientais na condução das suas atividades. No entanto, a busca pela sustentabilidade tem sido elemento mobilizador na definição de estratégias corporativas, as empresas têm buscado cada vez mais adotar ações que sejam economicamente viáveis, que respeitem aspectos ambientais e sociais.

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study’s main objective is to verify if there is a relation between proactivity and technological protection in the environmental performance of the ventures in this segment. And check if there is economic feasibility to produce interlocking concrete paving blocks with the addition of rubber, as well as the certification of the product as ecologically friendly. Design/methodology/approach: The study is based on the methodologies shown by Dickel (2017), questionnaire and variables, and Bertolini (2009), economic viability for the manufacture of ecologically friendly products. Findings: As a result, the study confirms the association between technological protection and proactivity in environmental performance, as well as the economic viability for the offer of the interlocking concrete paving product with ecological certification. Originality/value: Civil construction occupies a prominent position, accounting for a significant portion of Brazil’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as well as being the largest employer industry in the country. It is also recognized as having significant environmental impacts in the conduct of its activities. However, the search for sustainability has been a mobilizing element in the definition of corporate strategies, companies have been seeking more and more actions that are economically viable, respecting environmental and social aspects.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to identify whether there is an association between types of storage and categories of commercialization and use of grains, group the types of storage with the categories of commercialization, and group static and dynamic capacities of the units in the state of Paraná, Brazil. The data were obtained from the Brazilian Registry System of Storage Units for the 2014/2015 season. The association between variables under study was carried out with the chi-square test of independence and correspondence analysis. The cluster analysis consisted of the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean and considered a measure of mixed dissimilarity obtained for sets composed of qualitative and quantitative variables. A significant association was observed between the type of silo battery with the grain usage characteristic and cooperatives that commercialize the grain for use in the domestic market (CICOOPT); between the bulk warehouse and cooperatives that commercialize the grain in the foreign market (CIECOOPT); and between the silo and grain sellers who commercialize the grain in the domestic market (CI). Most types of storage units were grouped in Group 1, with a predominance of the CI characteristic and small to medium size static and dynamic capacity.

ABSTRACT. This study had two objectives - firstly, to analyze the total static and dynamic capacity of agricultural storage in Paraná State, Brazil and secondly, to verify if the storage followed the growth of grain production. The study was performed by mesoregion for the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 crop years. The methodology used was descriptive from an agricultural database of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply (SEAB), of the National Register System of Storage Units (SICARM), interviews were also made with agroindustrial cooperatives and official agencies. It was identified that in Paraná State there is an insufficiency of 17.75% of total static capacity of warehouses to comply with the total grain production (soybean, 1st and 2nd corn crops, and wheat). The results showed that the total dynamic capacity of warehouses is sufficient in the mesoregions of Eastern Center, Southern Center, Northern Center, and Metropolitan. Therefore, storage units vary uniformly in most municipalities, not following the growth of total grain production in the state of Paraná.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to identify homogeneous rainfall zones in the winter and summer 1st and 2nd crops, in the state of Paraná, Brazil. The zones were defined by clustering using the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm to transform seasonal rainfall series. Monthly average rainfall data collected from 157 weather stations for 20 years (1996 to 2015) were employed. The results show that the number of homogeneous zones varied among growing seasons. The summer crop presented two clusters, with rainfall averages of 1489 and 1925 mm; the second crop presented four clusters, with averages of 1849, 1004, 1454, and 1182 mm; and the winter crop had three clusters, with averages of 969, 1498, and 1171 mm. Clustering was a useful instrument to identify geographical regions with similar rainfall regimes during different growing seasons in the state of Paraná. Rainfall distribution was more homogeneous in the summer crop. In all crops analyzed, the clusters with the lowest rainfall rate were present in the northwestern, northern center, and northern pioneer of the state of Paraná, whereas the clusters with the highest rainfall rate were found in the coastal regions.

RESUMO No Estado do Paraná, Brasil, não há grandes mudanças nas áreas cultivadas com culturas anuais, principalmente devido a leis ambientais que não permitem expansões para novas áreas. Há grande contribuição das culturas anuais para a demanda doméstica de alimentos e econômica nas exportações. Assim, a área e distribuição das culturas anuais são informações de grande importância. Novas metodologias, como data mining, estão sendo testadas com o objetivo de analisar e melhorar seu potencial de uso para classificação do uso e cobertura da terra. Neste estudo, foram utilizados os classificadores decision tree e random forest com métricas temporais de Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) em imagens do Operational Land Imager (OLI)/ Landsat-8. Os resultados foram comparados com os métodos tradicionais (imagens espectrais e classificador Maximum Likelihood Classifier - MLC). Inicialmente, foram mapeadas sete classes (corpos d’água, cana-de-açúcar, área urbana, culturas anuais, floresta, pastagem e áreas de reflorestamento) e posteriormente apenas duas classes foram consideradas (culturas anuais e outras classes). Ao classificar os sete alvos, ambos os métodos tiveram resultados correspondentes, mostrando exatidão global próxima a 84%. As métricas temporais de NDVI mostraram a acurácia do produtor e do usuário para a classe de cultura de 86 e 100%, respectivamente. No entanto, considerando-se apenas duas classes, as métricas temporais do NDVI alcançaram exatidão global próxima a 98% e a acurácia do produtor e do usuário acima de 94%.

ABSTRACT In the state of Paraná, Brazil, there are no major changes in areas cultivated with annual crops, mainly due to environmental laws that do not allow expansions to new areas. There is a great contribution of the annual crops to the domestic demand of food and economic demand in the exports. Thus, the area and distribution of annual crops are information of great importance. New methodologies, such as data mining, are being tested with the objective of analyzing and improving their potential use for classification of land use and land cover. This study used the classifiers decision tree and random forest with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) temporal metrics on images from Operational Land Imager (OLI)/Landsat-8. The results were compared with traditional methods spectral images and Maximum Likelihood Classifier (MLC). At first, seven classes were mapped (water bodies, sugarcane, urban area, annual crops, forest, pasture and reforestation areas); then, only two classes were considered (annual crops and other targets). When classifying the seven targets, both methods had corresponding results, showing global accuracy near 84%. NDVI temporal metrics showed producer’s and user’s accuracy for the annual crop class of 86 and 100%, respectively. However, if considering only two classes, the NDVI temporal metrics reached global accuracy of near 98% and producer’s and user’s accuracy above 94%.

ABSTRACT The application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is complex and expensive, so its correct management has financial and environmental benefits. The use of optical proximity sensors is a promising technique. However, the movement of the agricultural machinery or of the person carrying the sensor will result in height differences and/or different tilt and twist angles with respect to the canopy. We considered whether these variations would affect the reflectance measurement. In this study, we took normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) readings of a wheat canopy, to which 90 kg ha-1 of urea had been applied in stage 5, and observed the NDVI in stages 6, 8 and 10.5. We also tested soybeans, to which 90 kg ha-1 of urea had been applied in stage R1, and took NDVI readings in stages R2 and R5. Our goal was to study the effects of the position of an active reflectance sensor (GreenSeeker) on the NDVI index at different heights and at different angles to the canopy. We observed that the height of the sensor affected the NDVI depending on the stage of the plant and that angles up to 15° of the sensor did not directly affect the readings.

ABSTRACT The goal of this study was to use the spatial bootstrap method to model the spatial dependence structure of soybean yield and soil chemical attributes in an agricultural area. The study involved developing confidence intervals in probability plots to determine the probability distributions assumed by the data; determine the empirical distributions of the semivariances and model parameters, allowing to obtain statistics and confidence intervals; and to construct maps for the variables. The quantile-quantile plots indicated that the data follows a normal distribution. The confidence intervals for the semivariances helped to model the spatial dependence structure, and the descriptive statistics of the bootstrap replicates of the model parameters allowed to test the consistency of the estimates. The soil chemical attributes (calcium, potassium, and organic matter) were at levels suitable for soybean cultivation. However, the pH was below the ideal range in most of the study area, and water stress during cultivation decreased the mean yield. Therefore, according to the results, a recommendation to the farmer is to correct the soil pH to increase the yield.

The concern with the rational and conscious use of natural resources has been changing a market paradigm, establishing itself as a necessary and inherent aspect of the diverse types of business. This research has the objective to verify the feasibility of implementing sustainable practices in a small hotel based on the perception of the clients. A methodology for composing a case study, where a questionnaire was applied with clients who attend a small hotel in the application deadline. To analyze the questionnaire divided into six constructs, these being the ones that stood out the most with respect to sustainable practices related to water. The calculation of the financial viability of a rainwater harvesting system carried out, and the results indicate that the water related construct correlates with a choice of paying more for lodging by the clients. As a result, customers are valued as environmental practices, but most only show interest in these characteristics if the price is equal to or lower than that of competitors. It is suggested that the hotel adopt practices that reduce our costs over time, such as the implantation of the rainwater harvesting system, which shown to be viable.

La preocupación por el uso racional y consciente de los recursos naturales ha cambiado un paradigma del mercado al establecerse como un aspecto necesario e inherente a los diversos tipos de negocios. Esta investigación tiene por objetivo verificar si es viable la implementación de prácticas sustentables en un hotel de pequeño porte a partir de la percepción de los clientes. La metodología estuvo compuesta por un estudio de caso, en el cual se aplicó un cuestionario a los clientes que frecuentaron un hotel de pequeño porte en el período de la aplicación. Para el análisis se dividió el cuestionario en seis constructos y el que más se destacó fue el que expresa prácticas sustentables relacionadas con el agua. Se realizó el cálculo de la viabilidad económica de la implementación de un sistema de captación de agua de lluvia, considerando que los resultados indicaron que el constructo relacionado con el agua posee correlación con la elección de pagar más por el hospedaje por parte de los clientes. Como resultado se constató que los clientes valoran las prácticas ambientales, pero la mayor parte sólo muestra interés en estas características si el precio es igual o inferior al de la competencia. Se sugiere que el hotel adopte prácticas ambientales que reduzcan los costos, como es el caso de la implementación del sistema de captación de agua de lluvia que se mostró viable.

ABSTRACT This work aimed to study the spatial autocorrelation of the total static capacity storage, the total number of warehouses in 2013/2014 (CONAB) and the average of the total grain production (soybean, corn 1st and 2nd crops and wheat) in the harvest years 2008/2009 to 2013/2014 (SEAB) in Paraná State, Brazil. The study was based on Moran's global autocorrelation index, Moran's local and Moran's bivariate correlation. It was possible to identify regions with low and high total grain production. There was positive spatial autocorrelation for the Total Static Storage Capacity (TSSC) and Total Quantity of Warehouses (TQW). For the total grain production, significant spatial autocorrelation were found. The total static storage capacity showed similarity between the studied regions. When evaluating the bivariate spatial correlation between Total Production of Harvested Grains (TPHG) in relation to the total static storage capacity and total quantity of warehouses, the presence of positive spatial correlation was observed. The results indicated that Moran's global autocorrelation and local indexes showed significant patterns of spatial autocorrelation, as well as the bivariate spatial correlation indexes in the studied variables.

Abstract The uniformity of water application is an important factor in the evaluation of sprinkler irrigation systems. This uniformity depends on the type of sprinkler and its operating conditions, such as the arrangement and spacing between the sprinklers in the area; velocity and wind direction during the period of water application and the pressure variation of the irrigation system. The objective of this study was to model, analyze and compare the structure of spatial dependence, as well as the spatial variability of the water depths applied by a sprinkler irrigation system with compensating and non-compensating sprinklers, using geostatistical methods and measurements of accuracy or similarity between the applied water depth maps. The experiment was carried out in an agricultural area, in the city of Cascavel-Paraná-Brazil. A total area of 10 × 10 m was used, with 04 compensating and 04 non-compensating sprinklers installed at a height of 1.5 m. For each type of sprinkler, water levels were measured in 100 collectors spaced 1 × 1 m in the study area in 32 trials. On each test sprinkling was carried out for one hour. The conditions of wind, temperature and air humidity were evaluated at the beginning of each test and at 10-minute intervals with a climatological station. As the geostatistical analysis showed the existence of directional trends, the coordinates were incorporated as covariates to the linear spatial model in the study of the spatial dependence of the average depth of the irrigation water for the two types of sprinklers. The spatial dependence structure that best fits the data when using the compensating sprinklers was the Gaussian model and when the non-compensating sprinklers were used, it was the exponential model. The spatial variability maps of average irrigation water depth (mm) of the trials, obtained by universal kriging, revealed that for both sprinklers there was an increase in the mean level average values in the northwest-southeast direction (135° in the azimuth system) in the area under study, influenced by wind direction and velocity during the execution of the experiment.

ABSTRACT This study aims to quantify the uncertainties associated to the parameters of a Gaussian spatial linear model (GSLM) and the assumption of normality residuals in the modeling of the spatial dependence of the soybean yield as a function of soil chemical attributes. The spatial bootstrap methods were used to determine the point and interval estimators associated with the model parameters. Hypothesis tests were carried out on the significance of the model parameters and the quantile-quantile probability plot was elaborated to verify the data normality. The uncertainties associated to the parameters of the spatial dependence structure were quantified and the potassium content, phosphorus content and soil pH covariates were significant to explain the soybean yield mean. These covariates were used in the elaboration of a new model, which provided the elaboration of a contour map of soybean yield. Analysis of the quantile-quantile plot indicated that soybean yield data follow a normal probability distribution.

RESUMO Aplicações de sensoriamento remoto na agricultura se apresentam como realidade muito promissora, contudo ainda há necessidade de pesquisas para a correta utilização dos dados espectrais. Objetivou-se, neste estudo, avaliar os padrões espectro-temporais de onze cultivares de trigo (Triticum aestivum L.). O experimento foi conduzido, em Cascavel, PR, no ano de 2014. Com o auxílio dos sensores terrestres GreenSeeker e FieldSpec 4 foram determinadas assinaturas espectrais e criados os perfis temporais do Índice de Vegetação por Diferença Normalizada (NDVI). Verificou-se diferenças estatísticas entre as cultivares de trigo por meio da análise de variância (ANOVA) e do teste de médias de Scott-Knott. Correlacionaram-se as produtividades de grãos obtidas com os fatores INSEY (IN-Season Estimate of Yield). O NDVI normalizado por graus-dias acumulados dos estádios de desenvolvimento Feekes 2 e 8, mostrou-se mais consistente na estimativa da produtividade de grãos, explicando aproximadamente 70% da variação. No estádio Feekes 10.1, as cultivares de trigo apresentaram padrões espectrais diferentes nas faixas do infravermelho próximo e médio. Isto sugere que essas bandas espectrais podem ser utilizadas para diferenciar as cultivares de trigo.

ABSTRACT Remote sensing applications in agriculture are presented as a very promising reality, but research is still needed for the correct use of spectral data. The objective of this study was to evaluate the spectral-temporal patterns of eleven wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.). The experiment was conducted in Cascavel, PR, in the year 2014. With the help of the GreenSeeker and FieldSpec 4 terrestrial sensors, spectral signatures were determined and the temporal profiles of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were created. Statistical differences between wheat cultivars were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scott-Knott test. Grain yields obtained with INSEY (In-Season Estimate of Yield) factors were correlated. NDVI normalized by degree-days accumulated from the Feekes growth stages 2 and 8 showed to be more consistent in the estimation of grain yield, explaining approximately 70% of the variation. At the Feekes stage 10.1, wheat cultivars presented different spectral patterns in the near and medium infrared bands. This suggests that these spectral bands can be used to differentiate wheat cultivars.

ABSTRACT: The traditional per-pixel classification methods consider only spectral information, and may be limited. Object-based classifiers, however, also consider shape and texture, firstly segmenting the image, and then classifying individual objects. Thus, a Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis (GEOBIA) was compared in conjunction with data mining techniques and a traditional per-pixel method. A cut of Landsat-8, bands 2 to 7, orbit/point 223/77, located between the municipalities of Cascavel, Corbélia, Cafelândia and Tupãssi, in the west part of the state of Paraná, from 12/18/2013 was used. In the GEOBIA approach was realized image segmentation, spatial and spectral attribute extraction, and classification using the decision tree supervised algorithm, J48. For the per-pixel method, we used the supervised Maximum Likelihood Classifier. Both approaches presented equivalent results, with Kappa Index of 0.75 and Global Accuracy (GA) of 78.97% for the approach by GEOBIA and Kappa Index of 0.72 and GA of 77.44% for the perpixel classification. The classification by GEOBIA showed better accuracy for the soil, forest and soybean classes, and did not show the splash aspect, which visually improves the classification result.

ABSTRACT: Due to the difficulty in discriminating soybean and corn in mappings obtained by the time series of satellite images, this study aimed to apply the data mining techniques to separate soybean and corn. Pure pixels selection from Landsat-8 were extracted and used to build a standard spectro-temporal EVI profile for both crops. These profiles were obtained with the Timesat software and, further incorporated in the Weka software. Five out of eleven variables of the standard spectro-temporal EVI profile for each crop were found through the decision tree, a data mining technique. These five variables were sufficient to achieve the separation of soybean and corn crops with an accuracy of 96.3% and a kappa index of 0.92.