The N content of the sandy soils in the semi-arid region of Paraíba State cultivated with potato (Solanum tuberosum) is low. Annual applications of farm manure (FM) and mineral N, determined on an empirical basis, have led to accumulation and/or loss of soil nutrients. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the efficiency of ammonium sulphate (15N) combined with FM applied to potato as well as the residual effects on subsequent millet. A field experiment on an Alfisol […]

Macroporosity is often used in the determination of soil compaction. Reduced macroporosity can lead to poor drainage, low root aeration and soil degradation. The aim of this study was to develop and test different models to estimate macro and microporosity efficiently, using multiple regression. Ten soils were selected within a large range of textures: sand (Sa) 0.07-0.84; silt 0.03-0.24; clay 0.13-0.78 kg kg-1 and subjected to three compaction levels (three bulk densities, BD). Two models with similar accuracy were selected, […]

Macroscale soil behavior depends on the mechanical properties of individual aggregates. Tensile strength (TS) of soil aggregates has been used as an indicator of management effect on soil quality as related to land use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the change of TS in relation to the variation of soil organic carbon (SOC) content in two soils (Typic Hapludox) with different textures under a long term no-tillage system. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized 2 […]

The intensive and inadequate use of soils accelerates its degradation, requiring the intervention by means of conservation practices to restore the productive capacity of the same. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior and development of different legumes used as green manure in soils of the Cerrado, High Jequitinhonha Valley in Turmalina, MG. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with seven treatments and four replications, the treatments were the leguminous: Mucuna nivea, Mucuna aterrima, Dolichos lablab, […]

The intrinsic permeability or soil air permeability is an important soil property for the identification of changes in soil porous space caused by soil tillage, in estimations of soil properties that are expensive and difficult to be determined in the laboratory, and for the formulation of flux models in cropped and contaminated soils. The purpose of this study was to develop a data acquisition system (electronic module and software) for intrinsic permeability measurement, in laboratory. High precision of the acquisition […]

In no-tillage systems there is a tendency of better P use, particularly in areas under longstanding cultivation, but this observation still awaits confirmation. This study had the objective to quantify the inorganic and organic P fractions and evaluate the responses to different P levels in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and brachiaria (Brachiaria decumbens) grown in succession, on a Oxisol with distinct previous land use. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with samples from the 0-20 cm layer of […]

The aim of this study was a survey of the estimated costs of soil erosion, an issue of fundamental importance in view of the current worldwide discussions on sustainability. A list was drawn up of research papers on erosion (on-site and off-site effects) and their respective costs. The estimates indicate the amount of resources spent in the process of soil degradation, raising a general awareness of the need for soil conservation. On-site costs affect the production units directly, while off-site […]

Nitrogen influences the processes of morphogenesis and tillering in Poaceae. However, its effect on maize tillering is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess whether N rates and application time affect tiller emission, survival and contribution to maize grain yield. The experiment was set up in Lages, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, in the growing seasons of 2006/07 and 2008/09. The experimental design was arranged in randomized blocks with split plots. In the first year, the main plots consisted […]

The clay fraction mineralogy and the granular structure of Oxisols in the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) are the reason for the great volume of large pores as well as of extremely small pores, but no significant medium pore volume, resulting in low available water for plants. This study aimed to characterize and model the behavior of water retention in Oxisols with different texture classes of the Cerrado region. Samples were collected from the Bw horizon of 10 Oxisols under native vegetation. […]

The different periods of tillage and forms of management may influence the availability of nutrients, including P. The objective of this study was evaluate the beans plants response to phosphate fertilizer in four Cerrado Latosols with different land use history. Samples of a clayey dystrophic Red Latosol (LVd1), a high medium texture Red Latosol (LVd2), a medium dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol (LVAd1) and a low medium texture Red-Yellow Latosol (LVAd2) were collected in 0-20 cm depth layer in cultivated areas and […]