The soil-water retention curve (SWRC) is essential to understand the physical-hydric soil behavior. However, data for the construction of the SWRC are obtained in slow and expensive processes. This study hypothesized the possibility that SWRC could be constructed based on fewer tension data within a shorter time, without affecting the accuracy. The objective was to determine the tension data required for the construction of an accurate SWRC in less time. Undisturbed soil samples were collected from a Eutrophic Red Oxisol […]

The use of the shallow Neossolos (Leptosols and Regosols) is limited in view of the small depth and rock fragments on the surface. There is a lack of information about the definition of the contacts between soil, saprolite and rock in this soil class, as well as tools that would facilitate the morphologic field identification. The objectives of this research were an evaluation of the morphology of the contact between soil, saprolite and rock in the Neossolos derived from the […]

Salinity levels in soils of the Outer Coastal Plain of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, can be high, due to excess of Na in the irrigation water, evapotranspiration and soil development from marine sediments. The cultivation of irrigated rice could be an alternative, since ion uptake as well as leaching by the establishment of a water layer could mitigate the effects of soil salinity. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of basic cations in the solution of Albaqualf soils […]

In Brazil, along with the intensification of clonal forestry, the management of more productive and more nutrient-demanding genotypes has led to the appearance of micronutrient deficiency symptoms, mainly of Boron, and more recently, of Copper (Cu) and Zinc, especially in Cerrado areas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate three extractant solutions to determine Cu availability (Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3 and DTPA pH 7.3) for eucalyptus seedlings grown under greenhouse conditions in six Cerrado soil samples and to assess the influence of […]

Crop species with the C4 photosynthetic pathway are more efficient in assimilating N than C3 plants, which results in different N amounts prone to be washed from its straw by rain water. Such differences may affect N recycling in agricultural systems where these species are grown as cover crops. In this experiment, phytomass production and N leaching from the straw of grasses with different photosynthetic pathways were studied in response to N application. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and congo grass […]

The high oxygen diffusion in different materials makes the establishment and maintenance of oxygen-free environments difficult. The techniques used to obtain oxygen-free environments are little efficient and not representative of flooded soil conditions. The purpose of this study was to develop a method for obtaining roots in a hypoxic environment to evaluate iron plaque and aerenchyma formation in rice plants. A hypoxic condition similar to that of flooded soils was created in 50 L tanks, based on the oxygen diffusion capacity […]

The semi-arid region of Chiapas is dominated by N2 -fixing shrubs, e.g., Acacia angustissima. Urea-fertilized soil samples under maize were collected from areas covered and uncovered by A. angustissima in different seasons and N2O and CO2 emissions were monitored. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of urea and of the rainy and dry season on gas emissions from semi-arid soil under laboratory conditions. Urea and soil use had no effect on CO2 production. Nitrons oxide emission […]

There are great concerns about degradation of agricultural soils. It has been suggested that cultivating different plant species intercropped with coffee plants can increase microbial diversity and enhance soil sustainability. The objective of this study was to evaluate enzyme activity (urease, arylsulfatase and phosphatase) and alterations in C and N mineralization rates as related to different legume cover crops planted between rows of coffee plants. Soil samples were collected in a field experiment conducted for 10 years in a sandy […]

Organic acids can be adsorbed onto soil colloids, increasing the P availability to plants. Isotherms were used to evaluate the influence of fulvic acid (FA) on P adsorption in the clay fraction of two Rhodic Ferralsols (LVdf) and (LVd), poor crystallized natural kaolinite (KGa2), synthetic goethite (Gt) and hematite (Hm). The P adsorption isotherms adjusted to the Langmuir model in the presence of FA were suitable only for the region of low P concentration. In general, the presence of FA […]

As an alternative to the relatively complex and expensive spectroscopic methods, the redox properties of humic acids, determined by potentiometric titrations, have been used to evaluate the stability of soil organic C. The objective of the present study was to establish a Redox Index of C Stability (RICS) and to correlate it with some properties of the humic acids extracted from different modal soils in Brazil (distinct weathering stages or management) to facilitate system comparison. The RICS was efficient for […]