Benchmark soils are a collection of soil orders that represents a particular geographical region. Knowledge on their properties and behavior may be applied to solve management problems of other soils with similar properties. The present study was carried out to determine the Mn and Fe available concentration by different extractants and their distribution among soil fractions in benchmark soils of Pernambuco State, Brazil. It was also aimed at studying the relationship between routine extractants and micronutrient forms in the soils. […]

Copper and zinc adsorption is one of the main phenomena controlling the availability of these metals to plants. As a consequence, studies on the adsorption of such elements in soils may be useful tools to understand the relationship between soil characteristics and retention of these micronutrients. The present study examined the adsorption of copper and zinc in six Latosols (Oxisols) with a wide range of chemical properties. Solutions containing different Cu and Zn concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, […]

The use of industrial and city wastes with high heavy metal contents in agriculture have increased the need for obtaining the concentration of such elements that are available in the soil. Thus, a greenhouse experiment was carried out at the FCAV-UNESP, in Jaboticabal, São Paulo State, Brazil in order to compare analysis methods (DTPA, HCl 0.1 mol L-1, Mehlich-1, and Mehlich-3) to evaluate the Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn availability for corn (Zea mays L.) plants in two soils […]

The effects of pH changes and sewage sludge application on the distribution of Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn among exchangeable, organic, amorphous Fe and Al oxides, crystalline Fe and Al oxides, and residual fractions of two soils (and Eutrustox and a Ultipsamment) were studied in a greenhouse experiment carried out at the FCAV-UNESP, in Jaboticabal (SP), Brazil. The heavy metal contents in these fractions were related to those extracted with DTPA, HCl 0.1 mol L-1, Mehlich-1, and Mehlich-3 extractants […]

Although the value of sewage sludge (SS) as a fertilizer has long been recognized, it is still a matter of considerable concern, in view of the danger of excessive heavy metal uptake by plants, whereby these elements gain entry into the food chain. From 1983 to 1987, a field experiment was carried out in a split block design with four replications to evaluate grain and dry matter yield and heavy metal uptake by corn (Zea mays L.) grown on a […]

In Brazilian legislation, the control for micronutrient concentrations in mineral fertilizers considers the total content. As a consequence, low-cost by-products and even industrial residues are generally used as a source for micronutrients, despite their low availability to plants. To evaluate fertilizer solubilities, water, citric acid 20 g L-1, and neutral ammonium citrate (1 + 9) extracting solutions were applied to mixtures containing micronutrients. The same study was realized for micronutrient sources. Results were similar for both sources and mixtures. Citric acid solution 20 g L-1 was […]

The analysis of Brazilian commercial FTE fertilizers was the objective of this study, under application of routine laboratory methods used for the analysis of non-FTE fertilizers. Cd, Ni, and Pb contents were also determined. The methods proved to be adequate for the analysis of FTE fertilizers. This indicates that FTE fertilizers on the Brazilian market are not really FTE fertilizers; that is, they are not silicates founded with micronutrients. Uncontrolled contents of metal micronutrients in the products, as well as […]

Knowledge of the chemical forms of Zn in the soil and the relationships with soil available concentrations are important for predicting its behavior. This work aimed to study the influence of zinc on the desorption, extraction and fractioning of Zn in samples from six Oxisols. The soil samples, with and without lime application, were kept incubated for 30 days after receiving Zn doses (0.0, 20, and 40 mg dm-3). After incubation, the micronutrient was extracted with Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3, DTPA and […]

The consequences of micronutrient deficiency or toxicity for the agricultural productivity in the state of Rio de Janeiro are not adequately known. For this reason, in 1997, the levels of copper, zinc, iron, and manganese were quantified in 103 samples from surface horizons of representative soils of the state. The extractant solutions used were Mehlich-1, DTPA-TEA, and HCl 0.1 mol L-1. In general, the HCl 0.1 mol L-1 solution extracted the highest amounts of the studied micronutrients. Mehlich-1 extracted the […]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of molybdenum (Mo) leaf application in beans on leaf and grain concentration of Mo, total N, organic N and nitrate as well as the grain nutrient accumulation. Beans cv. “Ouro Negro” was cultivated at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Treatments consisted of increasing levels of Mo (0, 40, 80 and 120 g ha-1), using ammonium molybdate applied to the leaves 25 days after emergence. The experimental design was a randomized […]