Six soil profiles were selected in a drained lowland área at Coruripe sugarmill aiming to study chemical properties of acid sulfate soils occurring in the fluvial plain of the Coruripe river valley, Alagoas State, Brazil. The soils were morphologically characterized and samples were taken from each horizon to determine chemical properties of soil and saturation extract, using dry and wet samples (field conditions). A greenhouse liming experiment was carried out with compound samples collected at the sites of two selected […]

Ectomycorrhizal fungi are able to tolerate toxic heavy-metal concentrations in host plants, although being also negatively affected by excessive metal. Isolates of Pisolithus tinctorius and Scleroderma bovinus were grown for 20 days at 28°C in a liquid medium with increasing levels of Zn, Cu and Cd sulfates in 125 mL conical flasks containing 50 mL of MMN medium, adjusted to pH 4.8. Fungi growth was inhibited by heavy metal increasing concentration, which was different for fungi and metals. The 50% […]

An experiment was carried out at the Soil Science Department of Universidade Federal de Lavras, in Lavras (MG). in November 1998, to study the effect of aluminum on the initial growth of two forest species, under greenhouse conditions using a nutrient solution. After two weeks in dilute nutrient solution to 1/3 and without aluminum, two Moringa (Moringa oleifera) and two Angico (Anandenantha peregrina) plants were transplanted to 1.5 L pots, and grown in nutrient solution. The aluminum levels were 0.0, […]

Six soil profiles were selected in a drained lowland area at Coruripe Sugarmill, aiming to characterize acid sulfate soils occurring in the lowplain of the Coruripe River Valley, in the coastal humid zone of the state of Alagoas. The soils were morphologically characterized, and samples were taken from each horizon to determine particle size distribution, bulk and particle density, total porosity, pH (H2O and KCl), organic matter, exchangeable bases and CEC, soluble sulfate and electrical conductivity of the saturation extract. […]

This experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions with soil pots during 210 days, to evaluate the effect of calcitic papermill lime-sludge application (at the rates 0, 773, 1.547, and 2.320 mg kg-1 or respective equivalents to control, 2, 4, and 6 t ha-1), on chemical composition of soil leachate and its effects on eucalypt growth and yield. Highest soil leachate pH, SO4, and Na concentrations occurred in the 4 and 6 t ha-1 treatments. Soil leachate nitrate concentrations decreased […]

This study was carried out in the 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98 and 1998/99 cropping seasons, to evaluate the efficiency of the Bradyrhizobium strains as recommended by research, evaluation and biological nitrogen fixation efficiency of competitiveness of soybean crop under no-tillage. The experiments were carried out at FUNDACEP, in Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in an area cultivated under no-tillage over five to ten years. In the year of 1994/95, the treatments were: non-inoculated control; 200 kg ha-1 of nitrogen […]

Legumes cover-crops represent a good alternative to supply N as well as to improve yield of commercial crops. The acceptance of this technique by growers and extension agents, however, depends on its economical advantage in relation to traditional systems. In this study, the effect of four summer legumes cover-crops (Canavalia ensiformis, Cajanus cajan, Stizolobium niveum and Glycine sp), was evaluated in association with three N rates (0, 60 and 120 kg ha-1), on the net income of corn. Two medium-term […]

In a natural landscape, the soils present a wide variation on morphological, physical, chemical and mineralogical properties due to several soil formation factors. In a cultivated landscape others sources of variation may be present, such as anthropogenical processes. The knowledgement of these variations is important to soil survey, development of sampling designs and soil management practices. This work aimed to study the spatial variability of some physicals attributes of a Dystrophic Red Latosol cropped in no tillage system. It was […]

Manures used as phosphorus sources may have different efficiencies from those of commercial soluble fertilizers. These efficiencies may vary according to the manure origin and to the proportions of its total P in different chemical fractions. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to estimate the efficiencies of dairy cattle and chicken manures as phosphorus source, in comparison to triple superphosphate (TSP), as well as to relate these efficiencies to their P fractions. The treatments were: control, without fertilizer or […]

The integration between agriculture and cattle-raising in some areas can restrict the use of no-tillage system in clayey soils, due to soil surface compaction, which restricts root growth and limits crop yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in soil physical properties and maize parameters caused by animal trampling preceding the summer crop, under two tillage systems. The degree of degradation of the cultivated soil compared to the native forest was also evaluated. The experiment was […]