Two split root trials were carried out in nutrient solution to evaluate nitrogen accumulation as a function of phosphorus supply applied in partial contact to maize roots. After a seven day growth period in complete nutrient solution, maize seedlings were transplanted to joint pots containing 1.6 L of nutrient solution. Roots were equally shared between the pots. In the first trial, two phosphorus levels (0.02 mmol L-1 and 0.1 mmol L-1) and phosphorus and nitrogen placement were evaluated. In the […]

This work was carried out to evaluate the alterations in organic-C, microbial-C and in the activities of the enzymes cellulase and amylase in soil samples of a Rhodustalf collected in the summer at 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm depths, under natural forest (NF), 20 (P20) and 25 (P25) year old pastures and 10 year old cotton cultivation. Organic-C and microbial-C contents and the amylase and cellulase activities were very similar in NF, P20 and P25. Reduction of 18% in organic-C […]

The present study was carried out in 1995 to investigate why plants cultivated in a Red-Yellow Podzolic in the State of Acre, in the Brazilian Amazon, presenting high amounts of exchangeable aluminum, have not shown symptoms of toxicity to this element or yield reduction. The exchangeable Al3+ in the B horizon is higher than 14 cmolc dm-3. Samples of the A and B horizons were incubated with increasing rates of lime and subjected to determination of pH in H2O, pH […]

A new approach is discussed for adoption of criteria in the application of the cultural profile methodology for tropical soil conditions. The evolution of this methodology has been analyzed since its beginning in France in the 1960s, until its proposal for tropical soil management studies. The cultural profile approach can be used to make qualitative diagnosis of the physical state of soil in the field, as well as to help with soil sampling, to study the effect of agricultural machinery, […]

The objective of this work was to study the spectral reflectance of a Brown Latosol (Haplohumox) and “Terra Bruna Estruturada” (Tropohumult) developed from volcanic acid rocks which occur in the center-south region of Paraná, Brazil. These soil samples were collected at depths of 0-20 and 40-60 cm. The characterization, discrimination and estimation of the soil attributes were studied by their reflected energy determined at the wavelength interval of 400 to 2.500 nm using an IRIS laboratory spectroradiometer. It was possible […]

Vegetative soil cover between citrus tree rows in sand soils originated from Caiuá sandstone geological formation in the northwest of the state of Parana, Brazil is a management practice required to protect soil from erosion. A field experiment was set up in 1993 in a citrus orchard with pear orange on rangpur lime rootstock located at Alto Paraná. Six types of soil management were evaluated in the 1995/1996 season and the following was determined: fruit yields (total weight and number), […]

The main purpose of this work was to evaluate differences in the superficial organic accumulation in soil with regard to some pedological parameters of a secondary forest (older than 40 years) submitted to anthropic intervention, i.e., harvest of economically important tree species. Thus, the present work compares two sites of the “Tabuleiro” Atlantic Forest in northern Espírito Santo: a primary forest, the “Mata Alta”, and a secondary forest, the “Capoeira de Extração”. The organic matter accumulation below the “Mata Alta” […]

The C and N mineralization potential of 20 soils from Pernambuco, Brazil (10 from the humid area and 10 from the semi-arid) was determined in a greenhouse experiment, conducted from January to October 1987. Samples of 50 g from 0-20 and 20-40 cm depth layers were incubated. The released C-CO2 and the accumulated mineral N (NO3– and NH4+) were periodically measured during 20 and 4 weeks, respectively. The mineralized amounts varied much among soils. In spite of this they were […]

Deactivation of saltworks in Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, has been creating great amounts of organic residues originated from marine algae accumulation. Studies were carried out at the Soil Department of UFRRJ in 1996 to evaluate the potential for using such residues as organic fertilizers. Samples of the residue presented high contents of Ca, Mg, K, Na, S, and elevated values of bulk and real densities, water retention, pH and electrical conductivity; 89% of Na content was found in soluble […]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of spectral reflectance in the detection of different erosion levels present in soils. Four soils, corresponding to a Red-Yellow Latosol (Oxisol), Latosolic Terra Roxa Estruturada (Ultisol), Cambisol (Inceptisol) and Vertisol, located in a toposequence in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil, were evaluated for their chemical, physical and mineralogical attributes. The spectral reflectance was measured between 400 and 2,500 nm using an Infra Red Intelligent Spectroradiometer. Each soil was collected according to […]