Inadequate crop practices are among the main causes for reduced productivity of cashew crops in the Northeast of Brazil. Periodical elimination of vegetation and the use of heavy machines and implements influence soil temperatures and density, possibly affecting plant growthand development. This is an aggravating fact, considering the sandy soils and climate conditions of the region. This study had the objective to investigate the development of cashew nut plants (early-dwarf cultivar) at different levels of soil temperature and density, to […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reactivity of four Si sources: schist, two types of slag and a thermal-phosphate based on Si availability in the Typic Eutrustults and in the tomato crop uptake. Two experiments were carried out in a randomized block design with the following treatments: check plot, 6 t ha-1 of schist, 6 t ha-1 of Mannesman slag, 6 t ha-1 of Dedini slag and 2.5 t ha-1 of thermal-phosphate. The Si content (SiO2 total) […]

Rhizobacteria (PGPR) as plant growth boosters can be an option for increased productivity in several crops, including lettuce. Four assays with rhizobacteria isolates from different origins were carried out to verify their potential for growth enhancement in lettuce. Seventy seven fluorescent pseudomonads, 23 Bacillus, and 11 other rhizospheric bacteria isolates were tested in sterilized sand, in sterilized soil, and in a substrate mixture of soil and cattle manure (1:1, in volume), similar to the mixture used by producers, and in […]

Interactions between P and S anions and soil colloids are significant, mainly those rich in iron and aluminum oxides, whose electric surface charges vary according to the pH and ionic strength of the solution. The objective of this study was the evaluation of phosphate and sulfate adsorption on surface and subsoil samples of a clayey Anionic Acrudox, a medium-textured Anionic Acrudox and a clayey Rhodic Kandiudalf from the northern region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Maximum phosphate and […]

The objective of monitoring the adequate nitrogen (N) content in maize is to determine when a nutrient application becomes necessary, since the use of high doses of this nutrient may contaminate superficial and underground waters with nitrate. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the chlorophyll content in leaves, measured by a chlorophyll meter, as an indicator of the N level in maize, at four growth stages, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, during the growing season 1999/2000. […]

Solarization is a method for soil disinfestation, taking effect by increased soil temperatures under soil covers of transparent polyethylene sheets during the period of intense solar irradiation. Four field experiments were set up in the state of São Paulo, Brazil (districts of Mogi das Cruzes, Jarinú, Piracicaba and Itatiba), in the years 2000 and 2001, to evaluate the effects of soil solarization on physical, chemical and biological soil properties. Solarization caused a significant reduction in penetration resistance of the evaluated […]

Site-specific regression coefficient values are essential for erosion prediction with empirical models. With the objective to investigate the surface-soilconsolidation factor, Cf, linked to the RUSLE’s prior-land-use subfactor, PLU, an erosion experiment using simulated rainfall on a 0.075 m m-1 slope, sandy loam Paleudult soil, was conducted at the Agriculture Experimental Station of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (EEA/UFRGS), in Eldorado do Sul, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Firstly, a row-cropped area was excluded from cultivation […]

The magnitude of nitrogen reactions in the soil varies according to climate conditions, soil type, soil tillage, method of nitrogen application, and plant residue management. This study tried to evaluate the effect of nitrogen application methods and of black oat (Avena strigosa) residues on N leaching and immobilization in a Brazilian Haplumbrept by two experiments carried out in a greenhouse. The treatments were combinations of three N fertilization methods (without urea, urea incorporated into the soil and urea applied over […]

Functional relations between soil attributes may be used to associate different physical soil properties with soil characteristics. The objective of this work was to determine the relationships between some soil physical properties, namely bulk density (BD), particle density (PD), field capacity (θFC), permanent wilting point (θPWP) and available water capacity(θAD) with soil attributes measured in routine soil surveys. Eighteen representative soil profiles from Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil, were used in this study. Disturbed and […]

Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms play an important role in supplying phosphorous to plants. This ability has stimulated research on plant inoculation. In our study, microorganisms were isolated from Pinus and Eucalyptus plantations and selected in culture medium. They were then employed in a series of 28 experiments under greenhouse conditions in substrate, forest or sterilized nursery soil, with or without phosphate fertilization, in one of the following P forms: calcium phosphate, Araxá, or Catalão phosphate. Three isolates promoted a higher dry […]