Decomposition can assume an important role in soil fertility management, underlying techniques that optimize the use of nutrients of plant residues. The objective of this study was to estimate the decomposition rate and nutrient release from cover crop residues in a passion-fruit plantation. The evaluated species were Canavalia ensiformis, Arachis pintoi, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Pueraria phaseoloides and Brachiaria brizantha. Litter decomposition was measured using nylon, 2.0 mm mesh, litter bags during 140 days. The single exponential model adjusted best for all cover crop […]

Leaf litter decay rates and N and P fluxes of tree species are different in pure and mixed stands because the decomposition process is not only defined by the quality of the substrate, but of the microenvironment (forest production systems) also. The objetive of this work was to estimate the decomposition rate and N and P release from leaf litter of native forest species planted under two different systems. Twenty two year-old mixed and pure stands of six hardwood species […]

A long-term field trial was carried out in the Jaboticabal county, São Paulo State. with the objective of estimating production system effects on the soil organic carbon and soil organic matter fractions. The tested treatments were corn under conventional sowing in the summer and no-tillage in the winter (C-Mi-P), maize under direct sowing in the summer and no-tillage in the winter (D-Mi-P), maize under direct sowing in the summer, Mucuna aterrina as green manure in the winter (D-Mi-Mu), maize under […]

In the State of Rondônia, Brazil, soil characteristics of forest and converted pasture areas were compared (four age classes). Adjacent areas of undisturbed natural forest were also surveyed for comparison. Based on the analysis of TM/LANDSAT images obtained between 1987 and 1997, three sites were selected for soil sampling. Two of these sites belong to the class “Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo” (PVA – Ultisol), and the other to the “Luvissolo Crômico” (TC – Alfisol). The soil samples were collected at a depth […]