Pablo Barbieri

• Dr
• Researcher at Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria

Nitrogen fertilization usually increases maize yields, but its impact varies with water availability and plant density. Nitrogen indexes like chlorophyll meter readings may help to predict yield variations. Still, their effect has not been studied under contrasting plant densities, hybrids, and water availability conditions. This study aimed to ana...

Low crop diversification in highly productive areas has led to declines in total organic carbon (TOC) in soil, essential nutrients for plant’s growth and microbial diversity/activity. This could have an impact on the movement of water in the soil profile and, consequently, on the production of crops. To address these challenges there is growing sup...

Background Neither the magnitude of boron (B) depletion in agricultural soils nor the driving factors of this process have been systematically studied before. Aims The objectives of our study were to survey the extractable B (B e ) in pristine soils as compared with cultivated soils, to estimate the yearly B depletion rate in agroecosystems, and t...

Background There are no extractable boron (B) thresholds for maize ( Zea mays L.) in Mollisols determined by field calibrations. Aims Our objectives were to: (1) explore maize grain yield response to B fertilization, (2) calibrate the soil hot water extractable B (HW‐B) as a predictor of maize response to B fertilization under field conditions, an...

Cover crops (CC) may offer a compelling strategy to increase the availability of nutrients, such as phosphorus (P), in agroecosystems where continuous extractive agriculture has resulted in a depletion of soil fertility. Our objective was to analyse the long-term effect of CC incorporation in soybean-based crop sequences on: i) organic and inorgani...

El cultivo de maíz sembrado luego de cereales de invierno ha cobrado relevancia en el sudeste bonaerense en los últimos años. La combinación de la alta demanda de nutrientes que el mismo presenta, y la baja oferta que el suelo ofrece debido al consumo de los cultivos antecesores, combinada con una elevada inmovilización de nitrógeno (N) en los resi...

Background The use of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) as cover crop is increasing worldwide. Hairy vetch can contribute as a nitrogen (N) source with potential to impact subsequent high N demanding cereals such as maize (Zea mays L.). Contrasting literature results emphasize the need for a global synthesis analysis to quantify changes in maize yi...

Context or problem: Several agricultural producers around the world are adopting hairy vetch (HV) (Vicia villosa Roth) inclusion in the crop sequence before maize (Zea mays L.). To date, it is not clear which factors control maize yield response to HV and to nitrogen (N) fertilization in HV-maize sequences. Objective or research question: We aimed...

Context: Cropping systems based on a single crop per year, such as soybean monoculture, result in an inefficient use of available resources and low productivity, and are usually related with a negative environmental impact. The intensification of soybean-based cropping sequences can increase resource productivity, enhancing the sustainability of th...

Cover crop (CC) inclusion in cropping sequences could ameliorate negative effects of continuous agriculture on soil properties. The use of CC as a sustainable management tool can reverse the soil degradation process and improve soil health in the short term. The present study evaluated soil properties following short-term cover cropping in on-farm...

The glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSPs) are currently used to describe different fractions of the protein, which are linked to the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal activity and include the easily or total GRSP (named EE or T, respectively) extracted. The GRSP would represent part of the carbon storage, but there are still disagreements whether the...

Nitrogen (N) deficiency could have a negative effect on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) yield and grain quality. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the optimum rate, timing, and frequency of N fertilization to improve sunflower crop nutrition. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of N fertilization rate, timing, and splitting on grain yield,...

Double cropping has been proposed as a strategy to promote ecological intensification. In temperate regions, maize (Zea mays L.) could be a viable option for double cropping. However, there is a lack of information regarding how maize adapts to the environmental and edaphic conditions that late sowing entails. Since nitrogen (N) is considered the m...

In the Argentinean Humid Pampas, intensification practices like crop rotation, cover crops (CC), and fertilization can improve soil N balance. This study aimed to assess how intensification practices affect soil organic N (Norg), Norg in the particulate fraction (PF‐Norg), and N mineralized during a short‐term (7 d) anaerobic incubation (aN) in a 4...

Based on the expected increase in soybean (Glycine max L.) demand and the current yield gap, smart management strategies of crop nutrition are required to improve the use of resources. Given that zinc (Zn) deficiency is the most widespread micronutrient problem in agricultural production systems, the objective of this study was to evaluate, under f...

The aims of this work was to quantify and characterize the spatial variability of P-Bray and generate variable P recommendations for a wheat crop.

La fertilización con nitrógeno (N), fósforo (P) y azufre (S) es una práctica frecuente en la producción de trigo (Triticum aestivum L.), sin embargo, micronutrientes como zinc (Zn), cobre (Cu) y cloro (Cl) pueden ser deficientes en el suelo y limitar las funciones metabólicas de las plantas en sistemas productivos extensivos. El objetivo de este tr...

The most widely used approach for prescribing fertilizer nitrogen (N) recommendations in maize (Zea Mays L.) in Argentina is based on the relationship between grain yield and the available N (kg N ha − 1), calculated as the sum of pre-plant soil NO 3-N at 0− 60 cm depth (PPNT) plus fertilizer N (N f). However, combining covariates related to crop N...

Cover crop species and termination date could affect fertilizer‐nitrogen (N) management and N diagnostic methods traditionally used in bare fallow‐maize (Zea mays L.) systems. Our objectives were to (a) assess the effect of cover crop termination date on maize yield and response to fertilizer‐N, (b) determine maize yield at varying N rates followin...

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) monoculture contributes to soil degradation. Intensification of soybean-based sequences through polyculture, cover crops (CC), and crop fertilization can enhance soil physical quality and help mitigate its degradation. We assessed the effect of intensification practices in cropping sequences with soybean predominanc...

Determining soil Zn thresholds for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is still challenging because soil Zn tests have been poorly calibrated. Therefore, this work aimed to determine, under field conditions, the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–Zn critical threshold for wheat grain yield (GY) response to Zn fertilization in noncalcareous Mollisol...

Nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) define crops productivity, and are currently deficient in most agricultural soils. In agricultural systems, management practices can affect N and S organic pools (N org and S org , respectively). The objective of our study was to assess how intensification practices [use of grasses as cover crops (CC) and/or fertilizatio...

Cover cropping is a farming practice that may improve C sequestration and soil fertility, but these effects can vary under different edaphoclimatic conditions. The effects of including a winter gramineous cover crop (CC) in continuous soybeans were evaluated in three long‐term experiments (8 yr) on one coarse‐textured soil and two fine‐textured soi...

In environments where continuous agriculture leads to soil organic carbon (SOC) depletion, intensification practices (i.e. polyculture, cover crops (CC), and crop fertilization) have been suggested as strategies to improve crop residue inputs which, in turn, can increase SOC storage. However, SOC dynamics are regulated by a complex interplay of cli...

Soil microbial communities are key players of ecosystem processes and important for crop and soil health. The Humid Pampas region in Argentina concentrates 75% of the national soybean production, which is based on intensive use of agrochemicals, monocropping and no-till. A long-term field experiment under no-till management in the southeast of the...

It remains uncertain how oat (Avena sativa L.) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) impact both nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) recycling in cover crop-maize (Zea mays L.) systems as well as N and S diagnostic methods in maize. Field trials were conducted at three sites in the southeastern Argentinean Pampas to evaluate the effect of oat, hairy vetch,...

Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar los cambios en la abundancia y actividad de hongos micorrí-cicos arbusculares (HMA) en respuesta al agregado de calcita como corrector de pH. Se testearon tres dosis de calcita (0, 2000 y 6000 kg ha-1) aplicadas en Molisoles con pH subá-cidos ubicados en French y Gardey (Provincia de Buenos Aires) con rotaciones de trig...

Maize (Zea mays L.) is highly susceptible to zinc (Zn) deficiency. Different application strategies (AS) can be utilized to improve grain yield (GY) and quality (Zn biofortification) by combining Zn fertilizer rate, source, timing, and placement techniques. This study aimed to evaluate whether different Zn-AS (soil, seed, and foliar) affect maize G...

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most susceptible crops to zinc (Zn) deficiency. However, in much of the world, soil Zn tests are poorly calibrated, and thus determining a critical soil test, level for Zn is challenging. The objectives of this study were to: (i) produce a field calibration of the Zn Mehlich-3 (M3-Zn) method for predicting maize gr...

El aumento en la frecuencia del cultivo de soja y de su monocultivo puede provocar disminuciones en la materia orgánica del suelo (MO) y afectar sus propiedades físicas. Sin embargo, prácticas de manejo como la fertilización, la rotación con cultivos de mayor volumen de residuos y el aumento en el índice de intensificación de secuencias (ISI), podr...

El boro (B) es un micronutriente limitante en los suelos de la región pampeana argentina (RPA). Sus funciones están relacionadas con el desarrollo de la pared celular, y mantenimiento y función de las membranas celulares. Sin embargo, el límite entre deficiencia y toxicidad es estrecho, por lo que es fundamental un adecuado diagnóstico de su dispon...

RESUMEN: Los híbridos modernos de maíz pueden absorber post-floración hasta un 40% del total del nitrógeno (N) requerido, lo cual puede ampliar la ventana de aplicación de dicho nutriente. El fraccionamiento de la dosis nitrogenada hasta floración podría ser una alternativa para aumentar la eficiencia de uso del N (EUN). Los objetivos del presente...

RESUMEN: Los híbridos modernos de maíz pueden absorber post-floración hasta un 40% del total del nitrógeno (N) requerido a madurez fisiológica, lo cual puede ampliar la ventana de aplicación de dicho nutriente. El monitoreo y fraccionamiento de N hasta floración podrían ser una alternativa para corregir posibles deficiencias del nutriente. El objet...

Para el cultivo de maíz se propone evaluar el efecto del fraccionamiento y fuentes de nitrógeno (N) sobre el rendimiento en grano y, además, evaluar la utilidad del índice de suficiencia de N (ISN) para el monitoreo de N en estadios avanzados del ciclo.

Evaluar el efecto de la fertilización nitrogenada en floración y el fraccionamiento de N sobre la EUN y sus componentes [eficiencia de recuperación (ERN) y eficiencia interna (EIN)].

This study quantified maize (Zea mays L.) water use efficiency for grain yield (WUEg) in response to plant density under contrasting water regimes; and focused on relevant eco-physiologial processes underlying the responses of maize WUEg to plant density (i.e., the proportion of transpiration in the total water used, T/ET; and the crop growth rate...

We evaluated the influence of the termination dates of a winter cover crop on (i) soil water availability during soybean (Glycine max L. (Merr)) growing season, (ii) soybean evapotranspiration (ET) and iii) water productivity in soybean (WP = Grain yield/ET) in a humid environment (i.e., 50 % of years with annual rainfall ≥900 mm). Experiments were...

In the last decades, there has been a tendency towards sustainable agriculture. Following this trend, edaphic fungi as Trichoderma and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could increase plant growth contributing to diminish agricultural chemical supply. However, little information exists in current research regarding the possible effects of alternat...

Selecting the cover crop (CC) specie may affect sulfur (S) availability for the succeeding soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) crop. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of oat (Avena sativa L.) and vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) as CC and S fertilization on some parameters that define S availability and yield in the succeeding soy...

En regiones con excesos hídricos al comienzo de la estación de crecimiento, la aplicación de nitrógeno (N) en estadíos tempranos del maíz no es la mejor estrategia para maximizar la eficiencia de uso de dicho nutriente. El medidor de clorofila Minolta SPAD® 502 podría ser utilizado para monitorear el estatus nitrogenado y estimar el déficit o exces...

La elección de la especie de cultivo de cobertura (CC) a emplear puede afectar la disponibilidad de azufre (S) para el cultivo de soja (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) posterior. Así, el objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de avena (Avena sativa L.) y vicia (Vicia villosa Roth.) como CC y la fertilización azufrada sobre algunos parámetros que de...

La incorporación de cultivos de cobertura (CC) así como las rotaciones aumentan la materia orgánica y la disponibilidad de nutrientes del suelo. Los microorganismos rizosféricos (hongos y bacterias) pueden presentar capacidades, tales como la solubilización de fósforo (P), que pueden favorecer la nutrición y/o el crecimiento de los cultivos. Dichas...

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) monoculture can lead to a decrease in labile fractions of soil organic carbon (SOC). This study sought to evaluate the effects of cover crops (CC), application of fertilizer, and crop rotation on SOC, particulate organic carbon (POC), and soil carbon input in soybean‐based crop sequences under a no‐till cropping sys...

The challenge to increase agricultural production with a minimum environmental impact requires to reach the maximum efficiency in the capture and use of resources such as photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), water, and nitrogen (N). Such requisites are encompassed in the ecological intensification (EI) concept. The aims of this work were to e...

In the last decades, there has been a tendency towards sustainable agriculture. Following this trend, edaphic fungi as Trichoderma and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could increase plant growth contributing to diminish agricultural chemical supply. However, little information exists in current research regarding the possible effects of alternat...

En la última década, la implementación del monocultivo de soja produjo una disminución de los contenidos de materia orgánica (MO) en los suelos. Algunas alternativas han sido la incorporación de cultivos de cobertura (CC) y rotaciones de cultivos, los cuales aumentan el contenido de MO y por consiguiente mejoran la calidad de los suelos agrícolas....

Nitrogen (N) rate increases used by many farmers produce a reduced or null effect on N recovery efficiency (RE) by crops. Therefore, management practices to reduce N losses and increase RE are necessary. Co-polymer maleic itaconic acid (NSN) have become available for use with urea and has shown potential in reducing N losses. The objective of this...

Nitrogen (N) fertilization after maize (Zea mays L.) emergence contributing to synchronize N supply with plant N demand. However under no-tillage management this practice can increase ammonia (NH3) volatilization losses, reducing N-recovery efficiency (NRE) and crop yield. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of N-sources (with dif...

Realizar la fertilización con nitrógeno (N) luego de la emergencia del cultivo de maíz (Zea mays L.) es una práctica de manejo orientada a sincronizar la oferta con la demanda del nutriente, con el fin de incrementar la absorción y reducir la susceptibilidad a pérdidas Sin embargo, el incremento de temperatura del suelo en la medida que se demora e...

In the Southeastern region of Buenos Aires province, soybean monoculture has led to a decline in soil organic matter (SOM) levels in soil, mostly the labile fractions. The reduction of SOM has a negative impact on the soil environment. Cover crops (CC) constitute an alternative to maintain or improve SOM levels. The aim of this study was to determi...

El zinc (Zn) y el boro (B) son los principales micronutrientes que se mencionan como factibles de producir mermas en el rendimiento. Existe escasa información sobre modelos de diagnóstico y estrategias de fertilización con Zn y B para soja y sobre la influencia de otros factores edáficos que afectan su disponibilidad. Los objetivos de este trabajo...

El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar a campo el efecto de la labranza y la fertilización con macro y micronutrientes, sobre el crecimiento y la colonización de raíces por hongos micorrícicos arbusculares y la abundancia de microorganismos solubilizadores de P en la rizósfera del cultivo de trigo. Para ello, se realizó el monitoreo del crecimiento y...

Current zinc (Zn) diagnostic methods for corn (Zea mays L.) are often based on soil DTPA (diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid) extractable Zn (DTPA-Zn). However, calibration of the DTPA-Zn test may be influenced by other soil properties such as pH, organic matter (SOM) and available Bray-P (PBray-1). Our objective was to assess the contribution of...

The objective was to evaluate under field conditions, the effect of tillage and fertilization with macro and micronutrients on growth of wheat crop, root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the abundance of P solubilizing microorganisms in the rhizosphere. Wheat crop (cv. “Buck SY 300”) growth, root mycorrhizal colonization and soil ch...

Adequate grain zinc (Zn) concentration is important because of its influence on human health. The Argentina Pampas region (APR) provides between 86% and 90% of total grain exports by the country. Soils of the Argentina Pampas region had high fertility under pristine condition but intensification of agriculture, increasing grain yields, and poor or...

Water use efficiency (WUEg), the quotient between grain yield and crop evapotranspiration (ET), might be increased in maize crops (Zea mays L.) due to N supply. Most research has focused on understanding grain yield response to N supply; so there is little and contradictory information on the influence of N supply on WUEg in water limited environme...

Precision Agriculture (PA) allows to delimit management zones (MZ) that express different yield potentials. The objectives of this study were to: (l) determine the interaction between MZ and nitrogen (N) fertilization on crop yield of malting barley cv. Scarlett.; (ll) estimate the optimal economic (DOE) availability of N for each MZ and; (lll) det...

La Agricultura de Precisión (AP) permite delimitar zonas de manejo (ZM) que expresan diferente potencial de rendimiento. Los objetivos de esta investigación fueron: (l) determinar la interacción entre las ZM y la fertilización nitrogenada sobre el rendimiento del cultivo de cebada cervecera cv. Scarlett.; (ll) estimar las disponibilidades óptimas e...

No-till (NT) affects dynamics of phosphorus (P) applied. Wheat response to P fertilization can be affected by available soil P, grain yield, placement, rate, and timing of fertilization. Furthermore, mycorrhizal associations could contribute to improving plant P uptake. Three experiments were used to evaluate P rate (0, 25, and 50 kg P ha−1) and fe...

The effect of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), sulfur (S) and zinc (Zn) fertilization on arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization (AMC), nutrition and growth of maize under contrasting tillage management was assessed in a field trial. The effect of Zn fertilization (+Zn: 1.67 mg Zn kg-1, -Zn: 0.33 mg Zn kg-1), and inoculation with four consortium with arb...

El carbono orgánico total (COT) del suelo por su efecto benéfico sobre las propiedades físicas, químicas y biológicas, es considerado como uno de los principales indicadores de calidad de suelo, por lo que es necesario determinarlo con suficiente exactitud. Para algunos suelos de la Región pampeana y extrapampeana se compararon las técnicas de dete...

El Cinc (Zn) es un micronutriente esencial para las plantas dado que su deficiencia produce graves pérdidas en el rendimiento de los cultivos y también en la calidad nutricional de los granos. Se informaron caídas (65 al 74%) en los niveles de Zn en los primeros 20 cm en suelos de la región pampeana. El conocimiento de la distribución de Zn en prof...

RESUMEN El carbono orgánico total (COT) del suelo por su efecto benéfico sobre las propiedades físicas, químicas y biológicas, es considerado como uno de los principales indicadores de calidad de suelo, por lo que es necesario determinarlo con suficiente exactitud. Para algunos suelos de la Región pampeana y extrapampeana se compararon las técnicas...

Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUB) is imperative to sustainable agriculture. To attain this goal in maize crops (Zea mays L.) there are nitrogen (N) diagnosis methods that enable determination of a crop's nutritional status by analysis of plant parts. Maize planted in narrow rows (NR) can have increased dry matter (DM), grain yield and accumul...

Trabajos previos indicaron que la disminución del espaciamiento entre hileras aumentó la intercepción de radiación estimada en función de mediciones realizadas al mediodía; pero esto debe ser comprobado considerando mediciones de radiación durante el día. Al mediodía solar, la alta posición del sol resulta en una menor intercepción de radiación. En...

Velasco, J. L., Rozas, H. S., Echeverria, H. E. and Barbieri, P. A. 2012. Optimizing fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency by intensively managed spring wheat in humid regions: Effect of split application. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 847-856. Efficient N fertilizer management is critical for the economical production of wheat and the long-term protection o...

Reduced row spacing has shown to increase maize (Zea mays L.) yield; however there are conflicting results on whether narrow rows increases maize crop evapotranspiration and/or water use efficiency. This work analyzes the response of maize yield, crop evapotranspiration (ET) and water use efficiency to reduced row spacing under different water and...

A correct determination of nitrogen (N) fertilization thresholds in wheat that is based on objective yield produces efficient use of this nutrient. Nitrogen fertilization recommendations for traditional wheat require determination of nitrate (NO3 )-N availability at 60 cm deep at planting time. However, this methodology is complicated, expensive, a...

La agricultura continua ha disminuido los niveles de fósforo (P) y de materia orgánica (MO) de los suelos. La no reposición de Cinc (Zn) podría generar deficiencias de este nutriente. Los objetivos del trabajo fueron determinar los niveles de Zn disponible y su relación con algunas variables edáficas tales como MO, pH, capacidad de intercambio cati...

Direct selection for grain yield in breeding programs has led to indirect improvement in secondary traits such as nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). NUE can be defined as grain production per unit of nitrogen (N) available in the soil, including the fertilizer, and it has two components: nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE=kg N uptake/kg N available in t...

Nitrogen (N) loss reduces the efficient use of this nutrient (EUN). When added to Urea, products such as the maleic-itaconic copolymer NSN and thiophosphoric N-(n-butil) triamide (nBTPT) slow down the rate of release of N and thereby diminish its loss. The aim of this study was to determine N volatilization losses (N-NH3) during two growing seasons...

Nitrogen (N) loss reduces the efficient use of this nutrient (EUN). When added to Urea, products such as the maleicitaconic copolymer NSN and thiophosphoric N-(n-butil) triamide (nBTPT) slow down the rate of release of N and thereby diminish its loss. The aim of this study was to determine N volatilization losses (N-NH3) during two growing seasons,...

Nitrogen (N) wheat requirements in southeastern Buenos Aires province are determined by soil sampling at pre-planting (0-60 cm). Nevertheless, soil sampling at tillering could be a more precise tool for diagnosing N deficiencies due to N losses during initial stages of growing seasons as a consequence of excessive water in the soil profile. The obj...

Nitrogen fertilization in wheat is a common practice in the SE of Buenos Aires Province. However, there is a lack of local information to define the nitrogen (N) rate that responds to the maximum economic benefit. The objective of this work was to determine the economic optimal nitrogen rate (DOE) for genotypes of wheat (traditional or french) fert...

Nitrogen fertilization in wheat is a common practice in the SE of Buenos Aires Province. However, there is a lack of local information to define the nitrogen (N) rate that responds to the maximum economic benefit. The objective of this work was to determine the economic optimal nitrogen rate (DOE) for genotypes of wheat (traditional or french) fert...

Nitrogen (N) wheat requirements in southeastern Buenos Aires province are determined by soil sampling at pre-planting (0-60 cm). Nevertheless, soil sampling at tillering could be a more precise tool for diagnosing N deficiencies due to N losses during initial stages of growing seasons as a consequence of excessive water in the soil profile. The obj...

Nitrogen fertilization in corn under no-till is a common practice in SE Buenos Aires Province; however, there is insufficient local information to define the nitrogen (N) rate that corresponds to the maximum economic benefit. The aim of this work was to optimize the economic nitrogen rate (DOE) for corn under no-tillage using an improved mathematic...

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields of crops under no-tillage (NT) that have had broadcast phosphorus (P) applications do not differ from NT wheat crops that have had near-the-seed banded P applications. Although it is believed that an adequate colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) under NT could contibute to a better crop growth, the...

Nitrogen fertilization in corn under no-till is a common practice in SE Buenos Aires Province; however, there is insufficient local information to define the nitrogen (N) rate that corresponds to the maximum economic benefit. The aim of this work was to optimize the economic nitrogen rate (DOE) for corn under no-tillage using an improved mathematic...

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields of crops under no-tillage (NT) that have had broadcast phosphorus (P) applications do not differ from NT wheat crops that have had near-the-seed banded P applications. Although it is believed that an adequate colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) under NT could contibute to a better crop growth, the...