This paper reports the effects of applying solid urban waste compost to 21 acid soils and five alkaline soils on the electrical conductivity (EC), pH (both in CaCl2 0.01 mol L-1 and in water), and potential acidity (H + Al). The compost was collected at São Matheus Treatment Plant, São Paulo. In acid soils, the compost was applied with and without mineral fertilizers and dolomitic lime (to reach 70% of base saturation). Lime was substituted by gypsum in alkaline soils. […]

In this study the relationship between the pH SMP and H + Al concentrations was evaluated, in order to establish an equation for estimating the potential acidity of soils from Northeastern Brazil. The H + Al concentration (calcium acetate 0.5 mol L-1, pH 7.0) and pH SMP were analyzed in 81 soil samples. Soil carbon content ranged from 1.8 to 35.6 g kg-1, and clay content varied from 60 to 590 g kg-1. The equation H + Al = 31.521(pH […]

This study was carried out to assess the influence of winter plant cover on the chemical soil properties in a Structured Terra Roxa soil in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The plant cover consisted of an association of black oats (Avena stirgosa Schreb) with pasture turnip (Raphanus sativus L.) and organic fertilization using poultry manure and mineral fertilization. Soil samples collected in August 1994 and January 1995, at depths of 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm, were analyzed for an experiment initiated in […]

The term soil compaction refers to the compression of an unsaturated soil during which an increase of the bulk density of soil occurs in consequence of the reduction of its volume, due to the expulsion of the air caused by inadequate management. To study the effect of different soil management systems on maximum dry bulk density and optimum moisture content, an experiment was conducted in a Dusky Red Latosol of the Lavras (MG, Brazil) region, submitted to the following management […]

Microbial biomass plays an important role in phosphorus cycling in tropical and subtropical soils. The purpose of this research is to quantify the content of phosphorus stored in the microbial biomass in soils under different tillage and cropping systems. Four long term experiments were then used, involving no-tillage and conventional tillage and different crop rotations, installed in different soils (Heavy clay Rhodic Hapludox, Clay Rhodic Hapludox and fine-loamy Rhodic Paleudult) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil. […]

The existence of soil exchangeable Al in toxic levels inhibits root growth and elongation, with negative effects on water and nutrient uptake, especially of P. Thus, as soil P increases, plants become less dependent on a large root system, that may decrease crop response to liming. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of liming and phosphorus fertilization on corn yield. The experiment was conducted in Lages, Southern Brazil, from 1994 to 1998, in a clayed Oxisol (Hapludox) […]

Microorganisms were isolated from phenolic sands resulting from metallurgic activities, using Minimal Medium for fungi containing pentachlorophenol (PCP) as the only carbon source. After four successive subcultures every 15 incubation days, the final culture was plated on Martin Medium Agar. Three different fungi were isolated and subsequently identified as Acremonium sp., Paecilomyces sp. and Penicillium sp.; which were tested for their ability to degrade: PCP, indigo dye and Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR). The decolouration of indigo dye was 99% […]

Soil compaction of the agricultural soils is a result of soil machine interactions, which influence physical and biological soil properties and their relations with crop growth and yield. The objective of this study was to determine the compression index, the preconsolidation pressure and the soil strain of a Haplortox (LE) and a Paleudalf (PV), with different initial state of compaction and water saturation. Undisturbed soil samples were collected in two soils and at two depths, at no tillage and conventional […]

The purpose of this work was to verify the effect of hidroretentive polymers on the physical and hydraulic properties of two porous media. The experiments were carried out at the Soil Physics Laboratory at the Federal University of Paraná from 03/18 to 10/30/97. The research was developed using a Belgium type of retentive polymer incorporated in two porous media with their different physico-chemical properties; a Dark Red Oxisol and Marine Quartzous sand. The polymers were applied as dried grains at […]

Raindrop impact and runoff are the active agents of water erosion, which is influenced by soil roughness and cover, crop type and tillage system. Conservation tillage reduces water erosion in relation to conventional tillage by means of surface roughness and cover. This work was conducted in Centro de Ciência Agroveterinárias, in Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil, from January 1993, to October 1998 to quantify soil and runoff losses under natural rainfall in the following soil tillage downslope systems: no-tillage, chisel plow […]