Several studies have confirmed the benefits of silicon (Si) for crop growth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Si on the initial growth of coffee plants cv. Catuaí Vermelho. This study was carried out with potted plants grown in a greenhouse, without water deficiency. Dry matter partitioning of roots, stems and leaves as well as the chemical composition of plant tissues and soil and leaf gas exchange were evaluated in plants treated with 0 (control), […]

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the eucalypt cultivation at different ages and of phytophysiognomy of the cerrado biome on total organic C stocks and its pools and to verify which one is more sensitive to land use changes. The study was conducted in Brasilia, Distrito Federal, in a Yellow Latosol under eucalyptus after three (PEUC-3), six (PEUC-6) and seven (PEUC-7) years of cultivation, and under savannah strict sensu, dense savannah and open grassland with scattered shrubs. In […]

In the last decades the use of stable isotopes has gained importance in several research areas, e.g., for metabolic flux and pathway analysis and studies on effects of biotic and abiotic plant stresses and on soil organic matter (SOM). Studies on the alterations and dynamics of SOM based on the variation in natural 13C abundance require variations in the C isotopic composition, which are not always observed. One alternative is to label the plant material with 13C by 13CO2 fixation, […]

Heavy metals are a group of elements with specific features and natural occurrence in the environment, representing an accessory in the formation of rocks. These elements, although associated with toxicity, must be treated different from xenobiotics, since many metals are evidentially essentials (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Ni) and beneficial (Co) for plants. In this context, the objective was to determine the natural contents of the metals iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co) […]

In view of the different managements used in coffee production, this study aimed to quantify the changes of some physical properties of an Oxisol under four-year-old coffee, in southern Minas Gerais. Three management systems were compared to native forest. The following management systems were evaluated: mechanized coffee production (CCM), coffee without mechanization (CSM), dense coffee plantation (CA) and native forest (MN) as reference. Undisturbed samples were collected with an Uhland sampler and aluminum rings (diameter 6.35 cm, height 2.54 cm), […]

In tropical legumes, a careful selection of rhizobia strains, among other factors, is essential for the efficiency of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). This selection should be made for leguminous crops of social and economic interest, such as lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.). The aim of this study was to evaluate the symbiotic effectiveness of rhizobia from two regions of Piauí producing lima bean. Seventeen isolates and two reference strains CIAT 899 and NGR 234 were evaluated on the fava bean […]

Cover crops may difffer in the way they affect rhizosphere microbiota nutrient dynamics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal cover crops on soil phosphatase activity and its persistence in subsequent crops. A three-year experiment was carried out with a Typic Quartzipsamment. Treatments were winter species, either mycorrhizal black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) or the non-mycorrhizal species oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. oleiferus Metzg) and corn spurry (Spergula arvensis L.). The control […]

Precision agriculture can increase efficiency and sustainability of grain crops in Brazil, especially in support of soil and crop management. In this study the importance of spatially-variable soil and crop attributes on the variability of grain crop yield and the use of this information to improve management decisions was examined. The study used data from the 2005/6 corn growing season of a 18 ha commercial field on a clayey Latossolo Bruno (FAO: Ferralsol). Soil (0-0.10 m layer) and crop properties […]

Currently in Brazil, as in other parts of the world, the concern is great with the increase of degraded agricultural soil, which is mostly related to the occurrence of soil compaction. Although soil texture is recognized as a very important component in the soil compressive behaviors, there are few studies that quantify its influence on the structural changes of Latosols in the Brazilian Cerrado region. This study aimed to evaluate structural changes and the compressive behavior of Latosols in Rio […]

The use of inoculants containing N-fixing bacteria for cowpea in the regions North, Northeast, and Central-West of Brazil is on the rise every year. However, in some cases, strains recommended for soybean have been used despite the existence of specific strains for cowpea. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of Bradyrhizobium strains recommended for soybean in cowpea nodulation and development. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with cultivar BRS Guariba, evaluating the soybean recommended strains: SEMIA 5079 (= CPAC15), SEMIA […]