Soil management practices adopted by farmers and how they perceive conservation agriculture
14/Apr/2022
ABSTRACT In some rural properties of Brazil, soil and water conservation practices are partially or inappropriately implemented, intensifying soil erosion, even in no-tillage (NT) areas. This study aimed to check the farmer’s understanding of conservation agriculture (CA) and assess whether they are using practices appropriate to soil conservation. A basin in the state of Paraná, in Southern Brazil, was selected. Surveys were conducted based on a structured questionnaire and in-person interviews of 234 farmers. Among these farmers, 67 % do […]
Model of inner-sphere adsorption of oxyanions in goethite – Why is phosphate adsorption more significant than that of sulfate?
07/Apr/2022
ABSTRACT Phosphorus availability in soils is low due to its strong retention by inner-sphere complexation on minerals in the clay fraction with pH-dependent charges, such as goethite. On the other hand, sulfur has greater availability because it is retained mainly by electrostatic attraction. We evaluated the intensities of the inner-sphere complexation of orthophosphate and sulfate (H2PO4-/HPO42- and SO42- – generically treated as PO4 and SO4) under different experimental conditions (pH, goethite purity, and contact times) on synthetic goethite samples to […]
Liming and grazing intensities effects on soil mineral nitrogen throughout the pasture cycle in a subtropical integrated crop-livestock system
06/Apr/2022
ABSTRACT Grazing intensity is a preponderant factor for the success of integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS). Management of grazing intensity impacts soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics, soil reacidification process, and amount and quality of residues added to the ICLS. Consequently, the soil mineral nitrogen (N) forms may present different behavior throughout the pasture cycle, because they are directed linked to SOM and soil acidity dynamics. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of grazing intensities and liming in the temporal variation […]
Using splines in the application of the instantaneous profile method for the hydrodynamic characterization of a tropical agricultural Vertisol
06/Apr/2022
ABSTRACT An important aspect in the study and understanding of the physical phenomena involved in water movement in the soil-plant system is the need to carry out the hydrodynamic characterization (HC) of non-saturated field soils. Studies of this type have been widely developed in soils of temperate climates, but they are infrequent in the tropics, hence there is a need for further research in tropical Vertisols under field conditions. Hydrodynamic characterization consists of finding the functional relationship between soil hydraulic […]
A novel approach based on X-ray fluorescence and photon attenuation to the analysis of soils for forensic investigation
06/Apr/2022
ABSTRACT Use of soil in forensic science is related to its several chemical, physical, and biological properties associated with its capacity to adhere to different materials and surfaces. Forensic soil experts and police investigators have been using soil samples as an aid in criminal investigations. Soils can act as fingerprints because they present contrasting physical, chemical, biological, and mineralogical properties. However, depending on the analytical tools utilized to characterize the soil, differentiating the samples when they have similar properties might […]
Soil characterization and drainage effects in a savanna palm swamp (vereda) of an agricultural area from Central Brazil
21/Mar/2022
ABSTRACT Brazilian palm swamps (veredas) are fundamentals in the hydrological balance of watercourses in the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado). The “sponge effect” of their soils is the main factor controlling local hydrology, storing rainwater, and functioning as headwaters. The restricted knowledge of these tropical ecosystems has led to increased losses, poor preservation, and reduction in their ecosystem services. Veredas have become refuges surrounded by croplands, often drained and inappropriately managed. This study shows the impacts of anthropization on soil processes and […]
CO2 emission affected by moisture content and aggregate sizes in a calcareous soil of Comarca Lagunera, Mexico
14/Mar/2022
ABSTRACT Soil CO2 emissions are formed from biotic and abiotic processes related to organic carbon (SOC) and inorganic carbon (SIC), respectively. Calcareous soil has a high amount of SIC and occurs mainly in arid areas, and little is known about CO2 emissions from aggregates of this soil. This study aims to evaluate the emission of CO2 of aggregates from calcareous soil in the Comarca Lagunera, Mexico. Soil samples were taken from the layers of 0.00-0.15 and 0.15-0.30 m, and soil […]
Soils with dark subsurface horizons in saline basins in the Brazilian Pantanal
04/Mar/2022
ABSTRACT Soils in the Brazilian Pantanal classified as Espodossolos and registered in the literature diverge from the central concept of pedogenesis by podzolization, especially due to the high values of pH and basic cations, although the morphology is similar to that of spodic horizons. In this sense, this study hypothesized that the neutral to alkaline conditions along the edges of the saline basins in the Lower Nhecolândia region do not inhibit the podzolization process nor the development of spodic soils. […]
Effects of Meloidogyne incognita on the fungal community in tobacco rhizosphere
04/Mar/2022
ABSTRACT The often widespread and serious Root-Knot Nematode (RKN) disease is an important soil-borne disease affecting tobacco production. This study aimed to understand micro-ecological changes caused by RKN disease and interactions between disease and rhizosphere soil fungal communities. The 18S rRNA gene sequencing was used to study changes in rhizosphere fungal community of tobacco plants having RKN disease. In June 2018, a paired comparison was performed between rhizosphere fungal community structures of healthy tobacco plants and those with RKN disease […]
Best tillage practices for eucalyptus growth and productivity: A review on the Brazilian experience
02/Feb/2022
ABSTRACT Commercial eucalyptus forestry has significantly increased in the last decades to supply the growing demand for forest goods (pulp, paper, sawmill, by-product industries, and biomass for bioenergy and biofuels). Among factors most influencing forest productivity, the soil physical environment is very important and can be harmful or beneficial to trees. In the effort to increase environmental and economic sustainability of commercial plantations, in this literature review, we summarize relationships between soil type and properties, forest rotation, and forest growth […]