Little is known about chemical and mineralogical attributes of soils from the upper Amazon, compared with well-studied soils from the middle and lower Amazon. In the well-drained uplands of Upper Amazon, due to the Andes Cordillera proximity, soils are expected to be chemically richer. This work aimed to increase the knowledge of soils from the upper Amazon, by means of studying three soils along a typical topossequence at Benjamin Constant, near the Brazilian-Peruvian Border. These soils range from the uplands, […]

An in-depth experimental study into heat and water transference in the soil – vegetation – atmosphere complex was carried out in a semi-arid region dominated by Caatinga (Xerophytic) vegetation in the state of Paraiba, Brazil. Results showed that the thermodynamic soil behaviour plays a fundamental role in soil evaporation and sensitive heat fluxes. In this paper we show how the thermal difusivity of the soil was calculated in situ by three different methods with different hypotheses. The harmonic method (HM) […]

The study aimed at evaluating of calibration models for two kinds of TDR waveguides used with Trase System and TDR 100 equipments linked to the cable tester or the multiplexer. Disturbed samples of three soils were packed in PVC columns and, after soil saturation, two TDR waveguides of three rods with capacitor and with resistor were inserted into the soil columns. The waveguides were connected to two TDR equipments (Trase System and TDR 100), directly to the cable tester or […]

To evaluate the decrease in infiltration rate in crusting soils an experiment was carried out using a rainfall simulator. Treatments were distributed in a factorial schedule 5 x 6, using five soils (Red Ultisol, Red-Yellow Ultisol, Red-Yellow Oxisol, Fluvic Entisol and Arenic Entisol) and six rainfall kinetic energies (0, 525, 1051, 2102, 3153, and 4204 J m-2) with three replications. According to the water infiltration rate and crust thickness, as determined by micromorphometry, the crust hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic resistance […]

Benchmark soils are a collection of soil orders that represents a particular geographical region. Knowledge on their properties and behavior may be applied to solve management problems of other soils with similar properties. The present study was carried out to determine the Mn and Fe available concentration by different extractants and their distribution among soil fractions in benchmark soils of Pernambuco State, Brazil. It was also aimed at studying the relationship between routine extractants and micronutrient forms in the soils. […]

Soil tillage systems and the crop residue management are essential for the sustainability of cassava production in sandy and sandy loam soils of Northwestern Paraná State, Southern Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different tillage systems used for planting cassava: no-tillage (NT), minimum tillage using chiseling (MT) and conventional tillage with moldboard plow and disking (CT) on some physical properties of a dystrophic Red Latosol. The following soil physical properties were evaluated in the […]

The final disposal of sewage sludge has become a cause of environmental concern. Because of its high content of both organic matter and plant nutrients, sewage sludge has been used as fertilizer. However, it is important to know the fractions and bioavailability of heavy metals in sludge-amended soils. In the case of zinc, one of the most abundant metals in sewage sludge, knowledge on forms and plant availability are important to predict its behavior in soils. The present experiment was […]

Different sugarcane management systems on soils of coastal tablelands can cause alterations in their original soil structure. Effects of the different sugarcane management systems on the properties of a cohesive Yellow Argisol were studied in four areas of the Triunfo sugar mill in Alagoas State, Brazil. The treatments consisted of a site with and without cultivation irrigation each, one site with vinasse application and another under undisturbed native forest. Samples were collected at depths of 0-0.2, 0.2-0.4 and 0.4-0.8 m to […]

This work aimed to evaluate the absorption and use of phosphorus (P) by soybean and common bean crops and by weeds. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse from August to November 2002. I was adopted a randomized block design with three replications, in a 6 x 4 factorial scheme. Six vegetal species (soybean (Glycine max), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), two Euphorbia heterophylla biotypes (susceptible and resistant to ALS inhibitor herbicides), Bidens pilosa and Desmodium tortuosum) and four doses of P […]

This study aimed to evaluate total N, N-NH4+ and N-NO3– concentrations and pH in columns of alkalinized anaerobic sewage sludge and in percolated liquid, in simulation of real storage conditions. The experiment was conducted in Curitiba – Paraná state, in Cfb climate and rainfall of 197 mm during the incubation period (48 days). The tested factors were: 3 sludge types (covered alkalinized sludge – LCC; uncovered alkalinized sludge – LCD; and uncovered raw sludge – LBD), 4 incubation periods (0; 15; 27; and 48 days) […]