Soil characteristics such as total organic carbon (TOC), microbial biomass and enzymatic activity are influenced by many factors and have been suggested as suitable indicators of changes caused by different land use systems and soil management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the COT, microbial biomass and enzymatic activity of a typical Inceptisol in agricultural, forest and grassland areas in the Middle Valley of the Paraíba do Sul river (RJ). The systems evaluated were: annual agriculture (Agan); perennial […]

The use of cover crops in autumn/winter, in the Planalto region of Rio Grande do Sul, contributes to the success of the no-tillage system. However, information about the biomass production and decomposition of such species in the region is still scarce, especially for cover crop species in consortium. The experiment was conducted in Não-Me-Toque, RS, on an Oxisol, evaluating nine treatments of four cover crops in monoculture [rye (Secale cereale L.), oat (Avena strigosa Schreb), pea (Pisum sativum subsp. arvense), […]

The clay minerals goethite and hematite are iron oxides serving as indicators of the soil environment, with great influence on the soil physical and chemical properties. Knowledge of spatial patterns of these oxides can help understand the interrelationships of cause and effect with soil properties. In this sense, the quality of the spatial estimates can affect the results and consequently the interpretation of the spatial patterns. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the geostatistical estimation methods by ordinary […]

The Restinga vegetation consists of a mosaic of plant communities, which are defined by the characteristics of the substrates, resulting from the type and age of the depositional processes. This mosaic complex of vegetation types comprises restinga forest in advanced (high restinga) and medium regeneration stages (low restinga), each with particular differentiating vegetation characteristics. The climate along the coast is tropical (Köppen). Of all ecosystems of the Atlantic Forest, Restinga is the most fragile and susceptible to anthropic disturbances. Plants […]

The use of a soil induces changes in the physical properties according to the management, tillage intensity and type of crop. The objective of this work was to measure the alterations of some of the soil physical properties and evaluate the physical quality by the S index, an indicator proposed by Dexter (2004), comparing the land uses: eucalyptus plantations at different ages, grazing pasture, annual crops, and an area of preserved secondary vegetation with an area of preserved native forest […]

Pedotransfer functions are regressions used to determine dependent soil properties by independent and easily measurable properties. In this sense, several pedotransfer functions were proposed in the literature, designed to predict the soil resistance to penetration. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency of five pedotransfer functions for the penetration resistance curve in the literature, by matching the data obtained from an impact penetrometer (field) and from an electronic penetrometer (laboratory) of a clay Oxisol, under different management […]

The use of rain simulators is fundamental to study rainfall erosion. They are used to monitor the experimental conditions, particularly the rain characteristics and to understand the soil erosion process better. Several types of rainfall simulators have been developed since 1930 around the world. Currently, the Swanson model is the most commonly used. However, a small number of these simulators is fully operational in Brazil, due to the high degree of wear and difficulties of maintenance. The purpose of this […]

The mapping of rainfall erosivity and rainfall is a practical and indispensable tool to plan the soil and water management on a regional scale, such as countries, states or basins. The purpose of this study was to analyze the spatial continuity of erosive potential of rainfall and rainfall, considering monthly and annual mean values, and to map them for the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, providing basic information for the planning of sustainable soil use and management. To this end, […]

The compaction caused by anthropic activities alters the soil physical properties, decreasing productivity and affecting the environment. Many studies on this topic have been conducted in agricultural soils; however there is little information in areas with native vegetation, where, usually, organic matter levels are higher. Thus, it is essential to evaluate the relationship between physical properties related to compaction under these conditions to establish reference values for the revegetation of native grassland or riparian forests. The objective was to relate […]

The soil penetration resistance is an important indicator of soil compaction and is strongly influenced by soil water content. The objective of this study was to develop mathematical models to normalize soil penetration resistance (SPR), using a reference value of gravimetric soil water content (U). For this purpose, SPR was determined with an impact penetrometer, in an experiment on a Dystroferric Red Latossol (Rhodic Eutrudox), at six levels of soil compaction, induced by mechanical chiseling and additional compaction by the […]