ABSTRACT Globally, soils with gypsic horizons cover approximately 1 million km², predominantly in arid climates. The formation of pedogenic gypsum in soils has been a topic of discussion in pedological studies for some time, with gypsification representing the process responsible for secondary gypsum accumulation. Even though international classification systems acknowledge the existence of gypsic horizons, there is a paucity of documented evidence concerning their occurrence in Brazilian soils. This study aimed to identify and describe a soil with secondary gypsum […]

The cultivation of Elephant or Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) in the gypsum- producing region of Araripe, in the west of the state of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil, may be viable as alternative energy, especially when the soil fertility is improved. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of crude gypsum on the nutritional status, mineral composition, biomass production, and nutrient uptake efficiency of elephant grass varieties in Araripe, Pernambuco. For this purpose, three elephant grass varieties: Cameroon, […]

The chemistry of the soil solution can be regarded as an indicator of the presence of nutrients or contaminants in the soil. To evaluate the variation of this chemical composition in the soil pores, a sequential system of extraction of the soil solution from the different soil pore classes was used. Soil columns were constructed and filled with air-dried fine soil of a Dystrophic Ultisol, and irrigated with: distilled water (T1), treated wastewater (T2) and treated wastewater + 1.2 g […]

The cultivation of Atriplex nummularia on saline-sodic soils is economically attractive because it can be used as a forage crop as well as in landscape projects. The potential of Atriplex nummularia for phytoextraction of Na+ from a saline-sodic soil irrigated with saline water was evaluated. Additionally, gypsum was tested for improving phytoremediation. The experiment was set up as a randomized block design, in a 2 x 3 factorial scheme. The treatments consisted of: no gypsum and 50 % of the […]

This experiment was carried out on a dystrophic Dark-Red Latosol from Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil, to evaluate the yield of corn, wheat and soybean as a function of the changes in the chemical characteristics of soil due to surface application of lime and gypsum under a no-tillage system. A completely randomized block design was used, with three replications, in a split-plot experiment. Dolomitic limestone was applied at rates of 0, 2, 4 and 6 t ha-1 (main plots) in July […]

Deactivation of saltworks in Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, has been creating great amounts of organic residues originated from marine algae accumulation. Studies were carried out at the Soil Department of UFRRJ in 1996 to evaluate the potential for using such residues as organic fertilizers. Samples of the residue presented high contents of Ca, Mg, K, Na, S, and elevated values of bulk and real densities, water retention, pH and electrical conductivity; 89% of Na content was found in soluble […]

Salt-affected soils are characteristics of arid and semi-arid zones of the world. This study was undertaken at Açu valley region of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil, by means of a field experiment conducted from April/90 to January/91. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of subsoiling and amendment additions (gypsum, farmyard manure and Copernica cerifera straw), on chemical properties of saline sodic soil. Subsoiling treatment provided beneficial effects decreasing soil exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) and pH […]

The experiment was carried out in greenhouse at the Soil Science Departament – Federal University of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The objective was to study the effects of different CaSO4/CaCO3 ratios on the movement of nutrients in soil and cotton growth. The treatments consisted of four CaSO4/CaCO3 percentage ratios (100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and 0/100), in an equivalent basis. A control treatment, without application of either CaSO4 or CaCO3, was also established. Substantial calcium and sulfate movement downwards was observed […]

The purpose of present study was to evaluate the use of filter cake and stillage as amendment for reclamation of a saline-sodic soil. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse during July – October, 1993, utilizing an eutrophic alluvial sandy loam soil of Irrigated Perimeter of São Gonçalo-PB and adopting a 22 x 2 factorial in a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments consisted of presence/absence or combination of gypsum and filter cake and leaching with rainwater or stillage. […]