This study was conducted to characterize the morphology, physics, chemistry, mineralogy and pedography of soil profiles with Mollic horizon at Nazaré da Mata, Pernambuco, Brazil, 1995. Three soil profiles involving Litosol, Reddish Brunizém and Red Yellow Podzolic were morphologically described. Samples were taken from each horizon to determine the physical, chemical (including humic fraction quantification), mineralogical and pedographycal properties. Based on soil properties and environmental conditions, it could be assumed that the surface horizons were developed from climate – vegetation […]

The objective of this experiment was to quantify variations in maize canopy of plants submitted to two water managements (irrigated and terminal soil water deficit) in clayey, loamy and sandy soils. The experiment was conducted at the experimental area of the Rural Engineering Department of the Federal University of Santa Maria during the 1995/1996 growing season. A set of 12 drainage lysimeters was used. These were 156 cm long, 100 cm wide and 80 cm deep and were placed under a shelter to avoid […]

In a trial carried out at Santa Barbara, MG, Brazil, the influence of plant population on throughfall, crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and soil moisture regime of Eucalyptus grandis stands was evaluated. Plant population varied from 500 to 5000 trees ha-1. Soil moisture was measured down to a depth of 285 cm by a neutron probe, every 15 days. Rain water interception increased linearly with increasing plant population, whereas ETc was not significantly influenced. Soil moisture level tended to increase as plant population decreased. During […]

Simple linear correlations among runoff and rainfall erosivity parameters and soil losses caused by erosivity rainfall in Haplargids were studied. Data related to 1986-1990 were obtained in the Experimental Station at Sumé-Brazil. The rainfall erosivity parameters were the following: a) total height of the rainfall (P) in mm; b) maximum intensity (In): I5; I10; I15; I20; I25; I30; I35; I40; I45; I50; I55; I60 and I120 minutes in mm h-1, respectively; c) total kinetic energy by the Wischmeier & Smith’s […]

No-tillage soil management does not permit incorporation of crop residues and requires surface application of fertilizers and corrective agents, thereby affecting nutrient availability and distribution. This study was carried out to evaluate the chemical changes in no-tillage system compared to conventional tillage and native grass field. Samples from a sandy/clay Red-Yellow Podzolic (Typic Hapludalf), taken at 0-5, 5-10, 10-20 and 20-40 cm depth, were used to determine zero point of salt effect (ZPSE), humic substances, permanent charge, soil pH, exchangeable […]

The aim of this study was to test the effect of three methods of estimating the DRIS indices on the nutritional status of eucalipt plantations, based on the grouping of these indices by the Nutrient Application Potential Response Method. Nutrient concentrations of tree leaf, branch, stembark and stemwood, determined in 1986 trees of Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla hybrids growing in the States of Espírito Santo and Bahia, Brazil, were evalued by the methods of Jones, Elwali and Gascho, and […]

The objective of this study was to study the effects of soil macrofauna on physical and chemical attributes and spectral reflectance of an Oxisol, Ultisol and Vertisol in Piracicaba (SP), Brazil. Along a topossequence, the soil aggregates produced by ants (Atta sp.), termites (Cornitermes cumulans) and earthworms (Pontoscolex corethrurus), were collected and compared with the control soil without recent visible animal activity. Soil chemical analysis and granulometry were carried out. The soil spectral behavior was determined in laboratory with a […]

The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions at the Soil Science Department of the Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, from August 1995 to June 1996. The objectives were to evaluate the application of limestone on several chemical properties and on the nutrition and production of common bean cultivated in samples of four lowland soils and to compare the doses established as appropriate according to base saturation and Al and Ca + Mg methods. A 6×4 factorial scheme in a completely […]

In the tropical soil environment, raindrop impact is capable of disrupting natural soil aggregation and porosity, thus influencing the amount of infiltrated water and its redistribution. Under such conditions, a vegetation cover of weeds cannot be viewed simply as a crop competitor. This research project was designed to examine, under field conditions, the changes of soil properties, namely soil water content, structure and sealing, resulting from different types of weed management, with the aim of contributing to the establishment of […]

Representative soil profiles from the Agroindustrial District of Jaíba in northern Minas Gerais State, Brazil, were morphologically described, sampled and chemically, physically and mineralogically analyzed, to obtain data which could contribute to their improved utilization. Although the parent material was almost the same (Bambuí group limestone), and the apparent physiographical homogeneity (flat relief and deciduous forest), the soils presented great morphological, chemical and mineralogical diversity. From a mineralogical standpoint, illite and kaolinite are common minerals, the latter found even in […]