Dark subsurface horizons, with properties similar to the sombric horizon characterized by the USA Soil Taxonomy, are frequent in Southern Brazil. The genesis of this horizon is controversial and poorly understood. This study aimed to describe the occurrence of sombric-like horizons in Ultisols in the South of Santa Catarina State, at low altitudes, and suggest possible processes of humus transference, accumulation and persistence in these horizons. Physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of four Ultisols were evaluated; three were sampled in […]

The Depressão Central region in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, is characterized by large areas of sandy soil that were intensively cultivated with flooded rice in the last decades. Currently, the high rice yields, along with the low organic matter content of these soils and the fertilization practices are favorable conditions for the appearance of sulfur (S) deficiency. With the purpose of determining sulfur distribution in the soil profile and recommending levels of this element for flooded […]

Nitrogen is the nutrient required in the largest quantity by plants and is generally the most limiting nutrient for crop yield. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of cropping systems on N accumulation and availability in the soil. A long-term experiment (22 years) was conducted on a Paleudult soil at an experimental station of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (30 º 50 ‘ 52 ” S and 51 º 38 ‘ 08 ” W), in Eldorado do Sul, Brazil, established in 1983. The experiment consisted […]

The residues flue dust, aqueous lime and sewage sludge (centrifuge and biodigestor) may affect soil physical attributes. The use of industrial and urban residues in soil, with emphasis to sewage sludge, was done in tilled soil, and there are no repports on soil physical attributes affected by these residues on soil surface in no-till system The goal of this study was to evaluate the physical attributes of a an Oxisol in no-till system by surface dispoasal of sewage sludge, flue […]

Soil physical characteristics were evaluated of a typical dystrophic Red Latosol (Typic Haplorthox) located in Passo Fundo, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, after ten years (1993 to 2003) under mixed production systems. The effects of production systems integrating grain production with winter annual and perennial forages under no-tillage were assessed. Five mixed cropping systems were evaluated: I) wheat/soybean, white oat/soybean, and common vetch/corn; II) wheat/soybean, white oat/soybean, and annual forages (black oat + common vetch)/corn; III) perennial cool […]

The in situ ion exchange resin membrane allows a partial simulation of the behavior of plant roots regarding phosphorus absorption from soil solution. Soil sampling is rendered unnecessary since the technique is used directly in the soil where the plants are grown and may be a promising methodology in the determination of phosphorus availability for crops. To evaluate the technique, a greenhouse experiment was carried out with resin membranes buried in the soil when plants were sown (day zero) and […]

The available N in sewage sludge-amended soils is one of the restrictive factors for residue application in great amounts. This criterion must be considered in regulations for agricultural use of sewage sludge to avoid environmental pollution of soil and water bodies. The availability of mineral N from native soil organic-N is not considered in the calculation of the maximum rate of sewage sludge application, when these residues are applied for the first time, and this procedure is usual in the […]

Fertility properties, total C (Ctot), and chemical soil organic matter fractions (fulvic acid fraction – FA, humic acid fraction – HA, humin fraction – H) of anthropogenic dark earths (Terra Preta de Índio) of the Amazon basin were compared with those of Ferralsols with no anthropogenic A horizon. Terra Preta soils had a higher fertility (pH: 5.1-5.4; Sum of bases, SB: 8.93-10.33 cmolc kg-1 , CEC: 17.2-17.5 cmolc kg-1 , V: 51-59 %, P: 116-291 mg kg-1) and Ctot (44.6-44.7 g kg-1) than adjacent Ferralsols (pH: 4.4; SB: 2.04 cmolc kg-1, […]

The effect of urea-N rates (40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1 N) and the distance (0, 27 and 35 cm) from sink (leaf) to source (urea applied to soil) on leaf absorption of ammonia by the pasture species Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania was evaluated. A randomized design was used in a split-plot arrangement with four replicates. The distance had no effect on leaf ammonia absorption (p < 0.05), but the absorption decreased exponentially (p < 0.05) with increasing N-rates or ammonia volatilization rates. Leaf ammonia absorption varied […]

The impact of charcoal production on soil hydraulic properties, runoff response and erosion susceptibility were studied in both field and simulation experiments. Core and composite samples, from 12 randomly selected sites within the catchment of Kotokosu were taken from the 0-10 cm layer of a charcoal site soil (CSS) and adjacent field soils (AFS). These samples were used to determine saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), bulk density, total porosity, soil texture and color. Infiltration, surface albedo and soil surface temperature were also […]