The chlorophyll meter (SPAD-502, Minolta) is a portable device that measures the relative chlorophyll index (RCI) in a simple, fast and non-destructive way in the field. This index is correlated with leaf N concentration in several crops, and allows the correction of N deficiency, optimizing fertigation. The objective of this study was to test RCI as an indicator of the nitrogen status in coffee trees to adjust fertigation during the development cycle. The experiment was carried out in Botucatu, state […]

The humification degree and the chemical nature of organic residues are essential factors controlling their degradation and nutrient release. To characterize the organic matrix, samples of sewage sludge, poultry, pig, cattle and quail manure, besides commercial compost, organic substrate and humic material were analyzed for: pH, electric conductivity, cation exchange capacity (CEC), water retention capacity, concentration of total N and mineral N, organic matter, total organic carbon (TOC) and the TOC fractions: humic acid C-fraction; fulvic acid C-fraction, water soluble […]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of coffee planting spacing on soil carbon and nitrogen storage and on the contents and distribution of organic matter fractions (light and heavy) of a dystroferric Red Latosol (Oxisol). An experiment installed 11 years ago on an experimental farm of EPAMIG in Machado (Minas Gerais State, Brazil) was evaluated. The treatments consisted of the combination of four spacings between rows (2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 m) with three spacings between plants (0.5, 0.75 and […]

No-tillage systems, associated to black oat as preceding cover crop, have been increasingly adopted. This has motivated anticipated maize nitrogen fertilization, transferring it from the side-dress system at the stage when plants have five to six expanded leaves to when the preceding cover crop is eliminated or to maize sowing. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of soil tillage system and timing of N fertilization on maize grain yield and agronomic efficiency of N applied to a soil […]

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important cash crop in the semi-arid region of Paraíba, Brazil. However, potato productivity is limited by low soil fertility and the limited and highly variable precipitation pattern of this region. Animal manure is the main nutrient source for soil fertility amelioration, but farm manure available is usually not enough to fertilize crops. A cover crop could decrease the demand for animal manure. The characteristics of Crotalaria (Crotalaria juncea L.) recommend it as green manure. […]

Soil fertility levels in the Agreste region, state of Paraíba, Brazil are generally low. Usually, animal manure is applied to soils to supply agricultural crops with nutrients. However, depending on the quality of the manure applied, incorporation can lead to soil nitrogen immobilization in the beginning of the growing season. It was hypothesized that planting and incorporating crotalaria (Crotalaria juncea) together with animal manure could synchronize the nutrient mineralization pattern more specifically with crop demand. In 2003, field and green-house […]

The alteration of spatial distribution of plants is an option to increase the grain yield. For high-yielding materials more information about the influence of nitrogen fertilization is needed. Thus, the influence of row spacing, population densities and nitrogen rates on the leaf nitrogen concentration, estimated concentration of chlorophyll, number of grains per ear, mass of thousand grains, grain yield, and protein content were evaluated. This study was carried out in the 2000/2001growth season; the treatments were two row spacings (0.60 […]

Leaf litter decay rates and N and P fluxes of tree species are different in pure and mixed stands because the decomposition process is not only defined by the quality of the substrate, but of the microenvironment (forest production systems) also. The objetive of this work was to estimate the decomposition rate and N and P release from leaf litter of native forest species planted under two different systems. Twenty two year-old mixed and pure stands of six hardwood species […]

The element Silicon is not deemed essential for plant growth and development, but its absorption can benefit cumulative cultures like rice greatly. The Si content of tropical soils, however, is very low, due to the advanced weathering degree. The objective of this work was to evaluate the growth of rice plants in highlands under plastic tunnels and the effects of nitrogen (N) and Si doses on dry matter production, grain productivity, N content; Si soil and plant contents; and on […]

Where sugarcane is harvested without burning, a thick layer of straw remains on the soil. This crop residue modifies the agroecosystem and requires a reformulation of the crop management. Urea is the most common nitrogen source for sugarcane but, when applied on top of the crop residue, NH3-Nloss rates are high. This work was carried out under field conditions in the sugarcane production region of Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil, on an Arenic Kanhaplodult, using the third rattoon of […]