In a no-tillage system, cover crops must be used that combine shoot dry matter production and nutrient recycling. The aim of this study was to evaluate shoot dry matter production, decomposition rate and macronutrient and silicon release from pigeonpea and pearl millet in monoculture and intercropping systems. A randomized block design was used with a 3 x 6 factorial arrangement, with four replications. The first factor consisted of three cover crops (pigeonpea, pearl millet and intercropping of these cover crops) […]

The use of cover crops has been suggested as an effective method to maintain and/or increase the organic matter content, while maintaining and/or enhancing the soil physical, chemical and biological properties. The fertility of Cerrado soils is low and, consequently, phosphorus levels as well. Phosphorus is required at every metabolic stage of the plant, as it plays a role in the processes of protein and energy synthesis and influences the photosynthetic process. This study evaluated the influence of cover crops […]

Most studies related to soil aggregation associate the effect of managements or land use types with the organic matter content. However, a direct evaluation of microorganisms and their processes in undisturbed soil allows a better understanding of the real effect of different managements. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes induced by different types of land use (pasture, eucalyptus forest, araucaria forest, conventional tillage with carrot, and conventional tillage with pumpkin) on soil chemical properties (pH, Ca, […]

The grain yield of upland rice under no-tillage has been unsatisfactory and one reason could be the nitrate/ammonium balance in the soil. Cover crops and nitrogen fertilization can be used to change the nitrate/ammonium relation in the soil and improve conditions for the development of upland rice in the no-tillage (NT) system. The aim was to study the effect of cover crops and nitrogen sources on grain yield of upland rice under no tillage. The study was carried out on […]

The intercropping of Eucalyptus with legumes can promote an improvement of soil biological quality in degraded areas and also be advantageous for the species of the consortium. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of planting systems (monoculture and consortium) of Acacia mangium (AM), Sesbania virgata (SV) and Eucalyptus camaldulensis (EC) on the biological characteristics of the plants (dendrometric attributes) and specifically on the fauna in the litter and the surface soil layer (0-0.05 m). An experiment […]

In agriculture, the search for higher crop yields based on sustainable soil management has led to a gradual pursuit of knowledge of the variables related to production systems. The identification of the causes of variability of these properties has become a part of strategic planning in the sugar and ethanol industry. This study investigated the spatial variability of iron oxides in the clay fraction and its relationship to soil physical and chemical properties in different sugarcane cultivation systems in the […]

The soil hydraulic conductivity K is a property that expresses the ability of the soil in conducting water. It is important for soil management, crops yield and the preservation of soil and environment. The soil hydraulic conductivity can be determined by means of laboratory and field methods, the first better experimentally controlled and the second with less degree of soil disturbing. Among the field methods, the instantaneous profile one is the most used, both the original and the modified in […]

The assessment of soil quality is based on indicators and indices derived from soil properties. However, intrinsic soil properties may interfere with other soil properties that vary under different land uses and are used to calculate the indices. The aim of this study was to assess the extent to which intrinsic soil properties (clay and iron oxide contents) explain variable soil properties (sum of bases, potential acidity, organic carbon, total porosity, and bulk density) under different land uses (native forest, […]

Peatlands are soil environments that store carbon and large amounts of water, due to their composition (90 % water), low hydraulic conductivity and a sponge-like behavior. It is estimated that peat bogs cover approximately 4.2 % of the Earth’s surface and stock 28.4 % of the soil carbon of the planet. Approximately 612 000 ha of peatlands have been mapped in Brazil, but the peat bogs in the Serra do Espinhaço Meridional (SdEM) were not included. The objective of this […]

Research has been conducted to identify the best nitrogen (N) rate for maize in most diverse types of soil management. However, there is no agreement on the results, once the dynamic of N is influenced by soil management and cover crops. This study evaluated dry mass production and nutrient uptake by cover crops, agronomic parameters and grain yield of maize in response to soil management and N rates. Field trials were carried out in Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul State, […]