ABSTRACT Plant production in nurseries, both in the forestry and horticultural sectors, has a large demand for substrates, making the use of natural resources such as peat high. The composition of substrates must not only have the necessary characteristics for good plant development, such as porosity, density, and water retention, but also look for sustainable and economical production. Biochar is a material derived from the processing of various organic residues which, due to its physical and chemical characteristics, presents great […]

The aim of this study was to calibrate the CENTURY, APSIM and NDICEA simulation models for estimating decomposition and N mineralization rates of plant organic materials (Arachis pintoi, Calopogonium mucunoides, Stizolobium aterrimum, Stylosanthes guyanensis) for 360 days in the Atlantic rainforest bioma of Brazil. The models´ default settings overestimated the decomposition and N-mineralization of plant residues, underlining the fact that the models must be calibrated for use under tropical conditions. For example, the APSIM model simulated the decomposition of the […]