Potential of enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers in reducing nitrogen and carbon losses in a sandy soil integrated crop-livestock system.

The demand for food is increasing, which poses significant challenges to humanity's sustainable and sufficient food production. Using fertilizers with new technologies with a low environmental impact is becoming increasingly necessary. In this context, the industry has been creating alternatives to optimize the use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers, with the improvement of urea being crucial for sustainable agricultural production.

Synthesis of silver and cobalt nanoparticles and assessment of their effects on germination and biometric parameters in maize (Zea mays L.).

Nanomaterials composed of non-nutritive elements are gaining momentum in agriculture. In view of these advances, this study aimed to synthesize and assess the effects of silver (Ag) and cobalt (Co) nanoparticles as seed treatment in maize crops. Nanoparticles were synthesized by coprecipitation and characterized by X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, surface area analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.

Nitrogen Fertilizers Technologies for Corn in Two Yield Environments in South Brazil.

Improvements in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in corn production systems are necessary, to decrease the economic and environmental losses caused by loss of ammonia volatilization (NH-N). The objective was to study different nitrogen (N) fertilizer technologies through characterization of N sources, NH-N volatilization losses, and their effects on the nutrient concentration and yield of corn grown in clayey and sandy soils in south Brazil. The treatments consisted of a control without N application as a topdressing, three conventional N sources (urea, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium nitrate + calcium sulfate), and three enhanced-efficiency fertilizers [urea treated with NBPT + Duromide, urea formaldehyde, and polymer-coated urea (PCU) + urea treated with NBPT and nitrification inhibitor (NI)].

Nutrient Removal by Grain in Modern Soybean Varieties.

Knowing the nutrient removal by soybean grain harvest in different varieties, locations, and over time is essential to correctly adjust agronomic recommendations, update farmers' practices, and increase nutrient use efficiency. A field-based research trial was carried out to assess macronutrients [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and sulfur (S)] removed in grain by modern soybean varieties from southern Brazil introduced between 2007 and 2016. We examined changes between our set of modern varieties and a dataset of historical values encompassing a wide range of varieties introduced before 2007.