ABSTRACT An alternative for recovery of areas degraded by coal mining is revegetation with rapidly growing leguminous trees, which often do not establish in low fertility soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of native rhizobia isolated from coal mining areas in the nodulation and growth of leguminous trees. We isolated 19 strains of rhizobia from a degraded soil near Criciúma, SC, Brazil, and evaluated the nodulation and growth-promoting capacity of the inoculated isolates for bracatinga […]

ABSTRACT Knowledge of soils is increasingly important for their correct use in agriculture, in urban growth, and in conservation of natural resources, among other purposes. However, there is a lack of qualified professionals for pedological characterization and mapping, particularly at scales of greater detail. Due to this shortage and due to advances in computational tools and remote sensing, Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) arose in order to assist and expedite pedological survey activities. Thus, the aim of this study was to […]

ABSTRACT The management of nitrogen fertilization in wheat has proven to be a limiting factor for grain yield in the southern region of Brazil, and new techniques like the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) can be useful for estimating crop yield potential and, consequently, for determining N fertilization requirements. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of NDVI, obtained through active and passive sensors, as a tool for estimating the grain yield of wheat cultivars under different […]

ABSTRACT Soil use can change processes such as soil organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and particle aggregation, which, in turn, influence the occurrence of macrofauna. The objective of this study was to relate land use systems to their effects on the distribution of soil macrofauna groups, as well as their relation to soil physical and chemical properties. The land use systems evaluated were native forest, an Eucalyptus plantation, pasture, a crop-livestock integration area, and a no-tillage crop area. Samples were […]

ABSTRACT The literature on fertilization for carrot growing usually recommends nutrient application rates for yield expectations lower than the yields currently obtained. Moreover, the recommendation only considers the results of soil chemical analysis and does not include effects such as crop residues or variations in yield levels. The aim of this study was to propose a fertilizer recommendation system for carrot cultivation (FERTICALC Carrot) which includes consideration of the nutrient supply by crop residues, variation in intended yield, soil chemical […]

ABSTRACT Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) may improve the adaptation of eucalypts saplings to field conditions and allow more efficient fertilizer use. The effectiveness of EMF inoculum application in promoting fungal colonization, plant growth, nutrient uptake, and the quality of rooted cuttings was evaluated for Eucalyptus urophylla under commercial nursery conditions. For inoculated treatments, fertilization of the sapling substrate was reduced by 50 %. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design in a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement, wherein […]

ABSTRACT To reduce acidity in no-till systems, lime is broadcast on the soil surface without incorporation. Two experiments were carried out, one in a clayey Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico (Rhodic Hapludox) and another in a sandy loam Neossolo Litólico Húmico (Lithic Hapludoll), to test the hypothesis that the source and particle size of lime influence soil reaction in the short term, and crop response to surface liming under a no-till system. A randomized complete block design was used in a 2 […]

ABSTRACT Increasing attention has been given, over the past decades, to the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) from rhizobia, due to their various biotechnological applications. Overall characterization of biopolymers involves evaluation of their chemical, physical, and biological properties; this evaluation is a key factor in understanding their behavior in different environments, which enables researchers to foresee their potential applications. Our focus was to study the EPS produced by Mesorhizobium huakuii LMG14107, M. loti LMG6125, M. plurifarium LMG11892, Rhizobium giardini bv. giardini […]

ABSTRACT Nitrogen losses by ammonia (NH3) volatilization can be reduced by appropriate irrigation management or by alternative N sources, replacing urea. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of irrigation management and N source combinations in decreasing NH3 volatilization from an Argissolo Vermelho Distrófico típico cultivated for 28 years with black oat (Avena strigosa) and maize (Zea mays), under no-tillage in the region of Depressão Central, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The experiment was arranged in a […]

ABSTRACT Chemical control of weeds is an effective method used in planted forests and in forest restoration, which plays an important role in development of forest seedlings and reduces costs of intervention. However, when this strategy is not properly applied, it may have negative impacts on soil organisms and on the ecological processes in which they take part. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of herbicide use on soil biota through sampling of the soil fauna […]