Dry mass production, decomposition rate and nitrogen (N) release were evaluated in a field experiment under seven cover crop types: pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum sin. typhoides), brachiaria grass (Brachiaria brizantha), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Mill sp), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) and black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb), compared to a fallow and a traditional cropping system (control) in a cerrado soil (Uberaba-MG, Brazil). Among the tested cover crops, pearl millet and sunn hemp presented higher […]

The dynamics of nitrogen in soils under no-tillage in Southern Brazil are poorly studied so far. A field experiment on a typic Hapludalf on the experimental area of the Soil Science Department, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, was carried out in 1998/99 and 1999/00 to evaluate the effect of single crop and mixtures of black oat (BO) (Avena strigosa Schieb), common vetch (CV) (Vicia sativa L.) and oilseed radish (OR) (Raphanus sativus […]

An experiment was carried out to evaluate how mineralized nitrogen from cane trash and urea nitrogen applied to the soil is utilized by sugarcane ratoon. The field experiment was carried out from October 1997 to August 1998 on a Paleudalf soil in Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Four treatments were established: (T1) application of a vinasse and urea mixture over the whole soil area covered with cane trash-15N (crop residue); (T2) application of a vinasse and urea-15N mixture over […]

Dynamics of decomposition and nitrogen (N) release of cover crop residues in mixed and single cultures was evaluated in a field experiment. The following materials were used: (a) black oat (Avena strigosa Schieb); (b) common vetch (Vicia sativa L.); (c) oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. oleiferus Metzg.); (d) 32 % black oat + 68 % common vetch, and (e) 51 % black oat + 49 % common vetch. To monitor the residue decomposition, air-dried plant material was inserted in 0.5 mm mesh nylon-bags (0.2 […]