Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Due to a number of factors involving the thermal environment of a broiler cutting installation and its interaction with the physiological and productive responses of birds, artificial intelligence has been shown to be an interesting methodology to assist in the decision-making process. For this reason, the main aim of this work was to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) to predict feed conversion (FC), water consumption (Cwater), and cloacal temperature (tclo) of broilers submitted to different air dry-bulb temperatures (24, 27, 30, and 33°C) and durations (1, 2, 3, and 4 days) of thermal stress in the second week of the production cycle. Relative humidity and wind speed were fixed at 60% and 0.2 ms−1, respectively. The experimental data were used for the development of an ANN with supervised training using the Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation algorithm. The ANN consisted of three input layers one hidden, and three output with sigmoidal tangent transfer functions with values between −1 and 1. The developed ANN has adequate predictive capacity, with coefficients of determination (R2) for tclo, FC, and Cwater of 0.79, 0.87, and 0.97, respectively. In this way, the proposed ANN can be used as a support for decision-making to trigger poultry heating systems for broiler breeding.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Sugarcane has a great economic interest in Brazil, so it needs technologies to increase its yield strength, especially for seedling production. This study aimed to ascertain the influence of shading nets on early growth and development of pre-sprouted sugarcane seedlings. An experiment was conducted in a protected environment, in the Rural Federal University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), in Recife-PE, Brazil. The protected environments were covered with anti-UV low-density polyethylene plastic plus: Solpack® red ultranet net, Solpack® white net, Solpack® freshnet net, and without shade net, and five replications each. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, and multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) was used to verify associations among cultivation modules, micrometeorological factors, and seedling growth parameters. Anti-UV low-density polyethylene + shade net improved seedling growth and development up to 27 days after planting. Higher substrate temperatures benefited early growth of seedlings. After 27 days of planting, sugarcane seedlings required higher air temperatures, as well as increased global and photosynthetically active solar radiation.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Jambu (Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K.) is a short-cycle leafy vegetable from the Amazon region, which needs an adequate availability of water and nutrients, mainly nitrogen, to obtain a rapid mass increase. This research aimed to study the effect of different soil-water stresses and nitrogen doses on jambu cultivation in the state of Pará. The experiments were conducted at the Igarapé-Açu experimental farm of the Federal Rural University of Amazonia (UFRA). The Jamburana variety was used in a 10 × 10 cm spacing, using a randomized block design in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme with three replications. Each plot had a dimension of 0.4 × 0.5 m (0.2 m2), totaling 20 plants in 4 rows, but only the plants of the central rows were useful. Treatments consisted of four soil-water stresses (12, 18, 24, and 30 kPa) as an indication of the irrigation time (critical stress), using drip irrigation, and four nitrogen doses (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha−1). The use of soil-water stress of 12 kPa associated with nitrogen fertilization at a dose of 150 kg ha−1 is recommended for better development and production of jambu under the conditions this experiment was conducted.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Correct determinations of distribution (Ed) and application (EA) efficiencies allow adequate estimations of the gross irrigation depth. This study aimed: i) to determine the distribution efficiency using the Christiansen uniformity coefficient (CUC) in a sprinkler irrigation system under different weather conditions and working pressures; ii) to compare the mean, median, and cumulative CUC values; and iii) to evaluate the predictive capacity of four EA estimation models. CUC values were determined from 80 assessments, as well as the mean, median, and cumulative. The precipitated water depth accumulated in each collector was considered for the accumulated CUC. More uniform evaluations were used for EA (working pressure of 196 kPa), resulting in 20 samples. Besides being measured, EA was estimated by Keller & Bliesner, Playán, Tarjuelo, and Beskow methods. Statistical indicators were the root mean square error, mean bias error, Willmott agreement index, mean absolute error, and Pearson correlation coefficient. CUC values ranged from 66.51 to 92.04%, and the accumulated CUC provided an improvement over the isolated evaluations. The Beskow model had the best EA estimations in conventional spraying.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Various attributes are often required to build soil quality indicators. However, determining these attributes is time-consuming and requires several specific devices. Thus, it is desirable to develop indexes that express soil quality based on easily determined attributes. The objective of this study was to investigate the spatial variability of the S index and its correlation with other physical and chemical soil attributes to generate a pedotransfer function for estimating the S index. A georeferenced sampling mesh covering 1.4 ha and employing 71 points was installed. The soil samples were collected in 0.00–0.15 m and 0.15–0.30 m deep layers to determine the physical and chemical attributes. The results indicated that the S index was correlated with porosity, carbon stocks, cation exchange capacity, and particle size fractions. However, macroporosity, microporosity, and sand content were the most suitable attributes for the construction of pedotransfer functions. A principal component analysis indicated that the S index was representative of 9.4% and 11.5% of the total variability in the dataset in the respective soil layers. Spherical semivariogram models showed that the S index was spatially dependent and ranged between 84–188 m. The S index maps estimated by the pedotransfer function resemble the observed S values; therefore, the function can be applied in spatial variability studies.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The need for crop rotation and profitability in lowland areas are the two main reasons for the introduction of soybean cultivation in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. These areas have poor natural drainage, which impedes proper soybean growth. In this sense, this study aimed to assess the efficiency of using broad base ridges in comparison to the surface drainage for soybean cultivation in lowlands. The study was conducted during the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 growing seasons in São João do Polêsine, RS, Brazil. The assessed drainage methods were the use of broad base ridges with different width dimensions (22.5, 15.0, and 7.5 m) and surface drainage. The results showed that the shoot dry matter and leaf area index have similar behavior. The broad base ridge was better than the surface drainage method for these variables. The 7.5-m broad base ridge stood out among the treatments when compared to the others, as it had the best results for the leaf area index (8.66), plant height (102.5 cm), and shoot dry matter (33.06 g).

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Sugarcane harvester cutting blade wear increases ratoon damages and losses, impairing sugarcane regrowth. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of basal cut using ratoon damage and loss indexes and correlating them with effects on sugarcane regrowth. Harvest parameters such as plant height and position, damage and loss indexes, and stem length were evaluated every 30 min, following statistical process control (SPC) assumptions. Blade wear was examined during three harvesting shifts (0-8 h, 8-16 h, and 16-24 h). Sugarcane regrowth was assessed by counting number of tillers and measuring plant height and stem diameter. The second harvesting shift showed better quality in terms of damage and loss indexes, and plant height and stem diameter. Harvesting was considered out of control for parameters such as cutting height, number of tillers, plant height, and stem diameter. On the other side, it was regarded as under control for damage and loss indexes, and plant high and position. The first shift presented peripheral or no damages and weak to medium loss levels, whereas the second and third ones showed extreme damages and medium to strong losses.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Seed metering system and tractor-seeder forward speed are factors that affect sowing. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate sowing and agronomic components of corn as a function of seed metering mechanism and tractor-seeder forward speed, in addition to evaluating the yield data obtained from a harvester with a yield monitor. The soil of the area is classified as Distroferric Red Latosol. The experiment was set up in the second crop season of 2018 and treatments consisted of two seed metering mechanisms (M) (pneumatic and mechanical), and tractor-seeder forward speeds (S) (3, 5, 7, and 9 km h−1). The pneumatic system promoted the best longitudinal distribution, with values above 90%, and the increased sowing forward speed reduced normal spacings and increased failure. The interaction M × S indicated that pneumatic seeder promotes the best stand at the highest forward speed, normal spacing, and less failure. The yield data showed less variation with increasing forward speed, and the best result was observed for the mechanical seeder at 5 km h−1 when these data are grouped into yield classes.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The herbicide glyphosate is sprayed with varying application volumes that result in different concentrations used in the spray solutions. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of glyphosate concentrations on the potential risk of droplet drift, surface tension of spray solution, and contact angle of droplets on surfaces. Three experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design. Drift potential was evaluated by median volumetric diameter (MVD), percentage volume of droplets with diameter smaller than 100 μm (%V<100 μm), and coefficient of uniformity (Span), with 12 replications. The surface tension of spray solutions and contact angle of droplets were evaluated on Urochloa ruziziensis leaves, paraffin film, and glass, with four replications. Changing glyphosate concentrations in the spray solution changes the droplet spectrum and contact angle on different surfaces due to changes in spray solution physicochemical characteristics, such as surface tension. The increased glyphosate concentrations in the spray solution lead to increased drift potential of droplets, reducing the surface tension and contact angle of droplets on surfaces.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate and model the hygroscopic equilibrium and isosteric heat curves of pericarp and endosperm tissues of arabica (Coffea arabica) coffee fruit, in different temperature and relative humidity conditions. Sorption isotherms were drawn under temperatures from 20°C to 70°C and relative humidity ranging between 10% and 90% until the product reached the equilibrium water content with the environment. The experiment was set up in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme (four relative humidity of the drying air and three tissues of the coffee cherry pericarp + endosperm [1: exocarp + part of the mesocarp, 2: mesocarp, 3: endocarp, 4: endosperm]), in a completely randomized design, with three repetitions. The results were examined by analysis of variance and regression using the STATISTICA 5.0 statistical software. Among the analyzed models, the ones that best fit the experimental data were modified GAB, for exocarp + part of mesocarp and mesocarp, modified Henderson, for endocarp, and Sabbab for endosperm. It was observed that, for all treatments, the lower water contents required a higher amount of energy to reach the equilibrium water content, and the integral isosteric heat decreased with the increasing equilibrium water content.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Brazil is home to several plant species that exhibit potential for starch extraction. The arrowroot plant stands out owing to its South American origin. Arrowroot starch is especially important for fine confectionery, which is a high-value niche market. Thus, a small producer could benefit from the high prices of arrowroot starch. However, to have consistent production, the extraction should be performed using simple, safe, and inexpensive equipment. Starch extraction involves disintegration of the raw material under water, followed by the separation of fibrous bagasse from the starch–water suspension. This study presents an equipment design based on the concept of appropriate technology that is suitable for small producers to extract starch. A rotating sieve was projected and was evaluated using the ratio of water and starch, which represents the concentration and amount of starch extracted at each point in the equipment. The results highlighted that the sieve length should be longer to increase the separation efficiency. Efficiency of the process depends on the disintegration process because during the separation of bagasse from the starch suspension in water, the large average diameter of the grounded masses required higher water consumption compared with the masses with small average diameter.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Spatial variability description of soil chemical properties by thematic maps depends substantially on suitable geostatistical models. One of the parameters composing a geostatistical model is nugget effect. This study aimed to evaluate the simultaneous influence of nugget effect and sampling design on geostatistical model estimation and estimation of soil chemical properties at unsampled sites, considering simulated data. Our results will be used as scientific basis for spatial variability analyses of soil chemical properties in agricultural areas. Given the simulation results and agricultural data, we concluded that the high nugget effect values obtained here reduced spatial estimation efficiency. Moreover, a systematic sampling design promoted the least accurate estimates of geostatistical model and at non-sampled sites. Despite that, these nugget effect estimates should be kept in the analysis. However, further studies will be needed to investigate which factors are responsible for such high nugget effect values.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The use of new wood species in construction requires knowledge of their properties for safer and more economical structural sizing. In Brazil, structural projects are carried out according to the standard document ABNT NBR 7190:1997. Tests required by this standard for the complete characterization of species require large machines with high costs, which are present only in large research centers. Considering the lack of experimental determination, this study aimed, with the help of analysis of variance of regression models, to investigate the possibility of estimating, through apparent density, wood properties obtained in tests where failure is considered fragile, allowing the estimation of properties of species still little used. Ten wood species belonging to the hardwood group (cambara, cedro, cedrorana, copaiba, angelim-araroba, castelo, oiticica-amarela, guarucaia, guaicara, and garapa), covering all strength classes established in the standard ABNT NBR 7190:1997, were used. The results showed that shear strength parallel to the grain (fv0) was the only property that could be estimated by apparent density (ρ12), with an R2 above 50%. Tensile strength normal to the grain (ft90) and splitting strength (fs0) showed poor fit quality.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Machinery traffic intensification has been recurrent in intensive agriculture in annual crops, which may lead to structural soil degradation and, consequently, a reduction of its productive capacity. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the influence of tractor traffic intensification on soil physical attributes and soybean yield components. The study was performed in an Oxisol under no-tillage for 10 years, using a randomized block design with five tractor traffic intensities (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 passes) and five replications. Density, porosity, macroporosity, microporosity, and penetration resistance were assessed in the soil and stem diameter, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, grain weight per plant, thousand-grain weight, and grain yield were assessed in the soybean crop. Tractor traffic intensification changed soil physical attributes, which were not limiting factors to soybean yield under the no-tillage system, providing higher stem diameter, number of pods per plant, grain weight per plant, and grain yield after 12 passes.