As opposed to objective definitions in soil physics, the subjective term “soil physical quality” is increasingly found in publications in the soil physics area. A supposed indicator of soil physical quality that has been the focus of attention, especially in the Brazilian literature, is the Least Limiting Water Range (RLL), translated in Portuguese as “Intervalo Hídrico Ótimo” or IHO. In this paper the four limiting water contents that define RLL are discussed in the light of objectively determinable soil physical […]

Brazilian soils have natural high chemical variability; thus, apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) can assist interpretation of crop yield variations. We aimed to select soil chemical properties with the best linear and spatial correlations to explain ECa variation in the soil using a Profiler sensor (EMP-400). The study was carried out in Sidrolândia, MS, Brazil. We analyzed the following variables: electrical conductivity – EC (2, 7, and 15 kHz), organic matter, available K, base saturation, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Soil […]

In the geomorphological unit of the Coastal Tablelands of Brazil there is a predominance of cohesive soil horizons and some with the presence of cemented horizons, commonly of the fragipan type. These horizons interfere with water dynamics, root growth, and, consequently, mineral nutrition of plants. The objective of this study was to use selective dissolution to evaluate the participation of forms of Fe, Si, or Al, or their combination, in the cohesion or cementation or both of fragipans and cohesive […]

Information on rates of nutrient recovery by extractants as a function of added doses of the nutrients is scarce, yet necessary for fertilization and liming recommendation systems. The aim of this study was to determine boron recovery rates by boiling water and boiling CaCl2, with and without liming, in soils of the States of Bahia and Minas Gerais, Brazil. We set up three experiments under greenhouse conditions using a (6 × 2 + 9) × 6 factorial arrangement, consisting of […]

The production of soil maps through digital soil mapping (DSM) techniques may be hampered due to the lack of traditional reference soil maps. In these situations, the tacit knowledge of the field soil scientist can be used for manual delineation of soil mapping units (MUs) based on generation of a map of occurrence of soil types predicted by DSM. The objective of this study was to evaluate and to compare soil maps generated by two methods. One method, called “direct […]

The use of leaf total nitrogen concentration as an indicator for nutritional diagnosis has some limitations. The objective of this study was to determine the reliability of total N concentration as an indicator of N status for eucalyptus clones, and to compare it with alternative indicators. A greenhouse experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design in a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement with plantlets of two eucalyptus clones (140 days old) and six levels of N in […]

In order to study sampling techniques useful for digital soil mapping (DSM), we evaluated the effect of changes in sampling density, based on data from areas already mapped by traditional methods, in regard to the accuracy of decision trees models for generating soil maps using DSM. In two watersheds in northwestern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 1:50,000 scale conventional soils maps were used as reference maps. From the ASTER – GDEM Global Digital Elevation Model and the hydrographic network, maps […]

The use of diazotrophic bacteria can help to achieve higher yields and reduce negative environmental impacts caused by N fertilizers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of seed treatment with Azospirillum bacteria and the application of different rates of mineral N on maize agronomic performance at two levels of yield management. A field experiment was set up in Lages, SC, Brazil, in the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 growing seasons. A randomized block experimental design arranged in split-split […]

The identification of variability patterns through soil properties allows land use and occupation in a sustainable manner. The aim of this study was to ascertain the potential of magnetic susceptibility of the soil and landscape models in defining areas for specific management practices through the use of mathematical tools. The study area is in the municipality of Guariba, SP, Brazil. We chose an area of 110 ha in which three geomorphic surfaces (I, II, and III) had been identified and […]

The soils used to grow irrigated rice in the State of Santa Catarina have different mineralogical and chemical characteristics from the soils used for calibration studies of the Mehlich-1 extractant, for estimating soil phosphorus availability to plants. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3, Resin, Olsen and EDTA extractants in predicting P availability to flood irrigated rice in soils of State of Santa Catarina. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in […]