Estimates of water and soil losses have been carried out worldwide, using empirical or conceptual models, such as SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool). SWAT, widely used to predict the impact of changes in soil use and management on soil loss and stream flow rate, is extremely sensitive to the quality of input data. Consequently, prior to an application of the model, a sensitivity analysis is required to deal more carefully and with more precision with certain data, reducing the […]

Improper tillage operations cause serious problems of soil conservation, above all compaction, causing pore space reduction of mainly the macropores, and affecting the physical-hydric properties. The purpose of this study was to verify the influence of different periods of management systems on the maximum density of a Red Oxisol in Jaboticabal, São Paulo State, and establish correlations with soybean yield, relative density and the soil critical moisture for compaction. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with a […]

An increase in plant density of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L., cv. FM 966 LL) results in increased interplant competition for resources, and consequently the flowering period is shortened and the rate of dry matter accumulation changed. The purpose of this study was to determine the N, P and K uptake rates by cotton plants, identifying the time of greatest absorption and the total uptake and export in narrow spacing (48 cm – 20.58 plants m-2), intermediate (75 cm – 13.30 […]

Citrus rootstocks have a strong influence on shoot mineral nutrition and consequently on the adaptation of citrus trees to adverse soil conditions. Since citrus yield is often limited by low P availability, a greenhouse study was carried out to evaluate the effects of P application in the nutrient solution (0.0125; 0.05; 0.2 and 0.8 mmol L-1) on growth and P nutrition of the citrus rootstocks varieties (‘Rangpur’ lime, ‘Swingle’ citrumelo, ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘Sunki’ mandarin). After 100 days of P treatments, […]

The spatial variability of soil and plant properties exerts great influence on the yeld of agricultural crops. This study analyzed the spatial variability of the fertility of a Humic Rhodic Hapludox with Arabic coffee, using principal component analysis, cluster analysis and geostatistics in combination. The experiment was carried out in an area under Coffea arabica L., variety Catucai 20/15 – 479. The soil was sampled at a depth 0.20 m, at 50 points of a sampling grid. The following chemical […]

The rate of carbon dioxide production is commonly used as a measure of microbial activity in the soil. The traditional method of CO2 determination involves trapping CO2 in an alkali solution and then determining CO2 concentration indirectly by titration of the remaining alkali in the solution. This method is still commonly employed in laboratories throughout the world due to its relative simplicity and the fact that it does not require expensive, specific equipment. However, there are several drawbacks: the method […]

Soil compaction has been identified as one of the main factors causing yield reduction of several crops. The use of the load carrying capacity models to identify management techniques which leads to alterations on soil density is a proven and consolidated methodology. This study was carried out to: a) generate load carrying capacity models for different uses and managements of an Oxisol; b) identify the land use or management that is most susceptible or most resistant to compaction by these […]

Due to losses caused by water erosion, the development of techniques that increase the efficiency of soil conservation practices is fundamental. Terracing of agricultural lands is an important conservation practice. Bearing in mind that improperly built terraces may negatively affect the landscape, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the efficiency as well as the adequacy of retention terraces. Assessments were performed in four terraces implanted in different states, all located in the mideastern region of the state of […]

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is an environmental concern due to the risk of element mobilization, including toxic elements, and inclusion in the food chain. In this study, three cover layers were tested to minimize As, Fe and S mobilization from a substrate from former gold mining, containing pyrite and arsenopyrite. For this purpose, different layers (capillary break, sealant and cover layer) above the substrate and the induction of a geochemical barrier (GB) were used to provide suitable conditions for adsorption […]

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and physics properties of soil under different land use systems in central Amazonia. The DOC concentrations of primary forest soil were measured in three topographical positions, and in areas of pasture, secondary forest and an agroforestry system (AFs) down to a depth of 2 m. The soil solution was collected and analyzed for the organic C phase during a hydrological cycle. The average dissolved organic […]