Tin mining in the Serra da Onça in the Jamari National Forest, State of Rondônia, Brazil, caused severe chemical, physical, and biological changes in the soil. In 1997, the area was divided into plots and a rehabilitation program was begun, which consisted of land surface modeling, construction of terraces, liming, fertilization, and planting of leguminous crops and native plants. In subsequent years, new plots were set up in the rehabilitation program so that at the time of sampling the different […]

The use of cover crops has been suggested as an effective method to maintain and/or increase the organic matter content, while maintaining and/or enhancing the soil physical, chemical and biological properties. The fertility of Cerrado soils is low and, consequently, phosphorus levels as well. Phosphorus is required at every metabolic stage of the plant, as it plays a role in the processes of protein and energy synthesis and influences the photosynthetic process. This study evaluated the influence of cover crops […]

The use of machinery in agricultural and forest management activities frequently increases soil compaction, resulting in greater soil density and microporosity, which in turn reduces hydraulic conductivity and O2 and CO2 diffusion rates, among other negative effects. Thus, soil compaction has the potential to affect soil microbial activity and the processes involved in organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling. This study was carried out under controlled conditions to evaluate the effect of soil compaction on microbial activity and carbon (C) […]

The influence of cover crops and their management on the maintenance of soil biological quality in areas under organic production should be better understood. This study aimed to determine the influence of the cover crops sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp), velvet bean (Mucuna aterrima), sorghum (Sorgum technicum), and fallow on biological properties of soil under organic common bean and corn, in no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems. The study was conducted in Santo Antônio […]

In the period of competition of weeds and the incidence of fall armyworm in the corn crop there is a need for herbicide and insecticide such as nicosulfuron and chlorpyrifos application within short time intervals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sequential applications of nicosulfuron and chlorpyrifos on the emergence of seedlings of the seed bank in the soil, the basal CO2 emission rate, and the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) of soil. Sequential applications of […]

Cultural practices, such as herbicide application, can directly interfere with microbial communities of soil and roots. These effects are complex and difficult to be detected, especially when analyzed by conventional methods. On the other hand, the recent development and use of molecular, DNA-based methods allows for a more accurate evaluation of these, often negative, effects. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of glyphosate and imazaquin-based herbicides, widely used in Brazil, on soil microbial biomass carbon, soil […]

The study was carried out in Urupema, state of Santa Catarina, to evaluate the effects of conventional and organic apple production systems on soil microbial biomass, soil microbial activity and the relationship between soil microbial biomass attributes and C and N soil contents. The soil under the canopy of 24 plants (0-10 cm) was sampled in a 45 x 54 m grid, in both orchards (conventional and organic), in December 2002 and June 2003, and analyzed for: microbial biomass carbon […]

Soil management systems, with different degrees of soil mobilization and different plant residue composition, alter soil biological properties, with consequences in soil quality and in plant productivity. In order to measure such alterations, soil microbial biomass and its activity were evaluated in a Paleudult soil, in the Central Depression of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, conducted under different soil management systems, in a long-term experiment, for 12 years. Soil samples were collected in four different times, during 12 months, […]