Considerations on the interactions of P in the soil-plant system have a long history, but are still topical and not yet satisfactorily understood. One concern is the effect of liming before or after application of soluble sources on the crop yield and efficiency of available P under these conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of soil acidity on availability of P from a soluble source, based on plant growth and chemical extractants. Nine soil samples […]

El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affects the weather and climate of several locations, causing changes in the atmospheric circulation and climate variables, mainly rainfall, in all regions of Brazil. In southern Brazil, during El Niño years (the positive phase of ENSO), rainfall is often above normal whereas during La Niña years (the negative phase of ENSO), rainfall is often below normal. Some rainfall properties are affected by ENSO, such as frequency, intensity and amount. These properties are important to define erosive rainfall events. […]

Methods of spatial representation to calculate the topographic factor (LS) of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) have been used to estimate soil erosion and sediment yield of watersheds. These procedures are based on equations traditionally used to determine the LS factor and information that characterize the hillslope forms and processes, derived from the Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Two computational methods commonly used to calculate LS factor in soil erosion and sediment yield models were analyzed in this study. […]

Phosphorus is among the macronutrients the least absorbed by plants. Nevertheless, the amount of P-containing fertilizers applied to humid tropical and subtropical soils in relatively high. The reason is the strong interaction between of P and Fe and Al oxides, which are abundant in these soils. The study of these interactions is fundamental to know more about the relations between phosphorus adsorption and soil constituents. The objective of this study was to evaluate how the minerals in the clay fraction, […]

Nitrogen and K deficiency are among the most yield limiting factors in Brazilian pastures. The lack of these nutrients can hamper the chlorophyll biosynthesis and N content in plant tissues. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate the relationship among N and K concentrations, the indirect determination of chlorophyll content (SPAD readings), nitrate reductase activity (RNO3–) in newly expanded leaf lamina (NL) and the dry matter yield for plant tops of Mombaça grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.). A fractionated 52 […]

The estimation of non available soil variables through the knowledge of other related measured variables can be achieved through pedotransfer functions (PTF) mainly saving time and reducing cost. Great differences among soils, however, can yield non desirable results when applying this method. This study discusses the application of developed PTFs by several authors using a variety of soils of different characteristics, to evaluate soil water contents of two Brazilian lowland soils. Comparisons are made between PTF evaluated data and field […]

The application of vinasse supplemented with nitrogen fertilizer to sugarcane with stubble maintained on the soil surface improves the physical, chemical and biological soil properties and may result in increased crop yield. The aim of this study was to evaluate residual effects of fertilization on cane plant, as wellas the effect of vinasse application to ratoon cane under different management systems in Conceição da Barra, state of Espírito Santo. The experiment was carried out from 2005 to 2007, on an […]

In a system in which fertilization is recommended, diagnosis of soil K availability and the establishment of critical levels are made difficult by the possibility of a contribution of non-exchangeable forms of K for plant nutrition. Due to its magnitude, this contribution is well diagnosed in long term experiments and in those which compare fertilization systems with positive and negative balances in terms of replacement of the K extracted by plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate K […]

Soil physical quality is essential to global sustainability of agroecosystems, once it is related to processes that are essential to agricultural crop development. This study aimed to evaluate physical attributes of a Yellow Latossol under different management systems in the savanna area in the state of Piaui. This study was developed in Uruçuí southwest of the state of Piauí. Three systems of soil management were studied: an area under conventional tillage (CT) with disk plowi and heavy harrow and soybean […]

Laser diffraction (LD) provides detailed analysis of particle size distribution. Its application to testing the stability of soil aggregates can assist studies on the aggregation of soils with contrasting electrochemical properties. The objectives of the present work were: (a) to propose a protocol for using LD to study soil aggregation, (b) to study the aggregation of an Acrisol under the influence of different doses and forms of lime. Samples were collected in 2005 from a Brazilian Acrisol that in 1994 […]