The origin of tableland soils is related to sandloam and loam sediments of the Tertiary Barreira group. Generally they are sandy with poor contents of nutrients and organic matter. They are also typically kaolinitic and characterized by hard cohesive layers (hardsetting soils) normally located at a depth between 20 and 60 cm. Since the soil density of the hardsetting layers is high and because they are near the surface, they remarkably modify the soil water movement and affect plant development and […]

The kinetic constants Kmapp and Vmaxapp of phosphatase activity from a coastal tableland soil grown with orange trees, submitted to different base saturation levels (32.0; 45.0; 64.0 and 76.6%), were determined. These determinations were made in optimum pH values for alkaline and acid phosphatases and in the pH values obtained for each base saturation level. Phosphatase activity has followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, regardless the soil base saturation levels or pH values used for enzymatic activity evaluation. Increases in the soil bases […]