In modern agriculture, several factors cause changes in the soil physical properties. The time of establishment of a crop (plantation age) and the slope are examples of factors that moderate the impact of mechanized operations on the soil structure. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of machinery traffic on the physical properties of a Red-Yellow Latosol under coffee plantations with different ages (2, 7, 18, and 33 years) and slope positions (3, 9 and 15 %). […]

The S-index was introduced in 2004 in a publication by A.R. Dexter. S was proposed as an indicator of soil physical quality. A critical value delimiting soils with rich and poor physical quality was proposed. At present, Brazil is world leader in citations of Dexter’s publication. In this publication the S-theory is mathematically revisited and extended. It is shown that S is mathematically correlated to bulk density and total porosity. As an absolute indicator, the value of S alone has […]

Monitoring the variables that constitute the soil water balance equation in a farmed field is important for reliably evaluating water deficit periods during the crop cycle, managing irrigation and estimating nutrient losses through leaching. Components of the water balance equation may vary in space and time, and the study of the temporal stability of the spatial variability of these components is essential for determining the observation points in the field (sites) for monitoring soil moisture accurately with reduced effort in […]

The effects on soil chemical properties brought about by cover crops vary considerably. This study was conducted to evaluate nutrient uptake by five cover crops used for grain, seed and forage production at different seed densities per hectare, as well as uptake by spontaneous vegetation, and their effect on the chemical properties of two Oxisols when grown in rotation with soybean and corn. The experiments were set up in Votuporanga, SP, Brazil and Selvíria, MS, Brazil in March 2008 after […]

Incorporation of rice straw into the soil just before flooding for water-seeded rice can immobilize mineral nitrogen (N) and lead to the production of acetic acid harmful to the rice seedlings, which negatively affects grain yield. This study aimed to evaluate the formation of organic acids and variation in pH and to quantify the mineral N concentration in the soil as a function of different times of incorporation of rice straw or of ashes from burning the straw before flooding. […]

The use of Si in the cultivation of pot-grown ornamental species in greenhouse has increased the output and quality of the final product. The objective of this study was to evaluate yield and nutrient uptake of two rose cultivars grown in pots under Si application to the substrate. The treatments, arranged in a 2 x 5 factorial design, consisted of two rose cultivars (Yellow Terrazza® and Red White Terrazza®) and five Si doses (0.0; 0.25; 0.50; 0.75 e 1.00 g […]

The physical properties and fertility of the soil are important factors in the formation and establishment of pasture. Changes in physical properties affect the movement of water, air, nutrients and roots, which, in turn, affect the productivity and longevity of pastures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical properties of the soil and the dry matter yield of a pasture with signalgrass cv. Basilisk (Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk), fertilized with increasing nitrogen doses (N), on a dystrophic […]

The production and storage of construction and demolition residues (CDR) consist in an important environmental issue because they represent more than 50 % of total solid waste that has been produced in large and medium-sized urban centers. However, as limestone is one of the major raw materials used in cement and hydrated lime products in the preparation of concrete and mortar, recycling this material can, in principle, provide a subproduct with potential to be applied to correct soil acidity. This […]

Soil erosion is one of the chief causes of agricultural land degradation. Practices of conservation agriculture, such as no-tillage and cover crops, are the key strategies of soil erosion control. In a long-term experiment on a Typic Paleudalf, we evaluated the temporal changes of soil loss and water runoff rates promoted by the transition from conventional to no-tillage systems in the treatments: bare soil (BS); grassland (GL); winter fallow (WF); intercrop maize and velvet bean (M+VB); intercrop maize and jack […]

The least limiting water range (LLWR) has been widely used as an agronomic indicator of soil physical quality, however only a few studies have linked the LLWR to the plants growth and yield. The scarce results are insufficient to confirm or rebut the efficiency of LLWR, but indicate a discrepancy between LLWR and crop yields. The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation of LLWR with variables of growth and grain yield of corn (Zea mays L.) in […]